Electrosurgical instrument comprising closing and firing systems

• US 8,535,311 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schall, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIULIANI, THOMAS ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US12/765,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20110264093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 606/37, 606/39, 606/40, 606/51, 606/52, 606206-208, 607/99
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding

Abstract

An electrosurgical surgical instrument can comprise a handle and an end effector, wherein the end effector can comprise first and second jaws which can be opened and closed to capture tissue therebetween. The handle can comprise a closure drive for closing the jaws and a firing drive which can be actuated independently of the closure drive. In various embodiments, a single trigger can be utilized to actuate both the closure drive and the firing drive, wherein a first range of motion of the trigger can actuate the closure drive and a second range of motion of the trigger can actuate the firing drive.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw, wherein said first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw between an open position and a closed position; and

at least one electrode;

a closure member operably coupled with said first jaw;

a firing member movable between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein said firing member comprises;

a distal portion positionable within said end effector; and

a proximal drive portion; and

a handle, comprising;

a trigger rotatable between a first position, a second position, and a third position;

a cam operably engaged with said trigger, wherein said trigger is configured to orient said cam in a first orientation when said trigger is in said first position and a second orientation when said trigger is in said second position, and wherein said cam comprises;

a first cam portion operably engageable with said closure member, wherein the movement of said cam between said first orientation and said second orientation is configured to impart a closing motion to said closure member and move said first jaw between said open position and said closed position; and

a second cam portion operably engageable with said proximal drive portion of said firing member, wherein the movement of said trigger between said second position and said third position is configured to impart a firing motion to said firing member and move said firing member from said proximal position to said distal position, and wherein said cam is mounted to said trigger such that said cam is rotated with said trigger, wherein said first cam portion comprises a cam slot, wherein said closure member comprises a cam follower positioned within said cam slot, wherein said proximal drive portion comprises a proximal drive surface and a distal drive surface, and wherein said second cam portion comprises a drive member configured to engage said distal drive surface and move said firing member from said proximal position to said distal position when said trigger is moved from said second position to said third position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said drive member is configured to engage said proximal drive surface of said drive portion when said trigger is moved from said third position to said second position.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said drive member is not engaged with said distal drive surface when said trigger is in said first position.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said cam slot comprises an acceleration portion corresponding to the rotation of said cam between said first orientation and said second orientation and a dwell portion corresponding to the rotation of said cam between said second orientation and a subsequent orientation of said cam.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said cam follower is configured to enter said dwell portion when said drive member is engaged with distal drive surface.

6. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw, wherein said first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw between an open position and a closed position; and

at least one electrode;

a closure member operably coupled with said first jaw;

a firing member movable between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein said firing member comprises;

a distal portion positionable within said end effector; and

a proximal drive portion; and

a handle, comprising;

a trigger rotatable between a first position, a second position, and a third position;

a cam operably engaged with said trigger, wherein said trigger is configured to orient said cam in a first orientation when said trigger is in said first position and a second orientation when said trigger is in said second position, and wherein said cam comprises;

a first cam portion operably engageable with said closure member, wherein the movement of said cam between said first orientation and said second orientation is configured to impart a closing motion to said closure member and move said first jaw between said open position and said closed position; and

a second cam portion operably engageable with said proximal drive portion of said firing member, wherein the movement of said trigger between said second position and said third position is configured to impart a firing motion to said firing member and move said firing member from said proximal position to said distal position, and wherein said closing motion is configured to pull said closure member proximally in order to close said first jaw, and wherein said firing motion is configured to push said firing member distally in order to advance said firing member within said end effector.

7. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw, wherein said first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw between an open position and a closed position; and

at least one electrode;

a closure member operably coupled with said first jaw;

a firing member movable between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein said firing member comprises;

a distal portion positionable within said end effector; and

a proximal drive portion; and

a handle comprising a trigger movable through a first range of motion and a second range of motion, said trigger comprising;

a first cam portion operably engageable with said closure member, wherein the movement of said trigger through said first range of motion is configured to impart a closing motion to said closure member and move said first jaw between said open position and said closed position; and

a second cam portion operably engageable with said proximal drive portion of said firing member, wherein the movement of said trigger through said second range of motion is configured to impart a firing motion to said firing member and move said firing member from said proximal position to said distal position, and wherein said first cam portion comprises a cam slot, wherein said closure member comprises a cam follower positioned within said cam slot, wherein said proximal drive portion comprises a proximal drive surface and a distal drive surface, and wherein said second cam portion comprises a drive member configured to engage said distal drive surface and move said firing member from said proximal position to said distal position when said trigger is moved through said second range of motion.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said drive member is configured to engage said proximal drive surface of said proximal drive portion when said trigger is returned through said second range of motion.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said drive member is not engaged with said distal drive surface when said trigger is moved through said first range of motion.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said cam slot comprises an acceleration portion corresponding to said first range of motion of said trigger and a dwell portion corresponding to said second range of motion of said trigger.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said cam follower is configured to enter said dwell portion when said drive member is engaged with distal drive surface.

12. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw, wherein said first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw between an open position and a closed position; and

at least one electrode;

a closure member operably coupled with said first jaw;

a firing member movable between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein said firing member comprises;

a distal portion positionable within said end effector; and

a proximal drive portion; and

a handle comprising a trigger movable through a first range of motion and a second range of motion, said trigger comprising;

a first cam portion operably engageable with said closure member, wherein the movement of said trigger through said first range of motion is configured to impart a closing motion to said closure member and move said first jaw between said open position and said closed position; and

a second cam portion operably engageable with said proximal drive portion of said firing member, wherein the movement of said trigger through said second range of motion is configured to impart a firing motion to said firing member and move said firing member from said proximal position to said distal position, and wherein said closing motion is configured to pull said closure member proximally in order to close said first jaw, and wherein said firing motion is configured to push said firing member distally in order to advance said firing member within said end effector.