Surgical stapling instrument with interchangeable staple cartridge arrangements

• US 8,740,034 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jerome R., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Thanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US12/894,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20120080501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00064 Constructional details of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/008 Articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 : Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 : Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 : with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 : Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0053 : Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00884 : enhancing wound closure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00946 : malleable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 : Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 : Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 : containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 : achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 : with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 : characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 : characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 : characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 : characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 : characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 : characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 : flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2908 : Multiple segments connected by articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 : the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 : details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 : connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 : with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 : coded with colour
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 : with prestressing of part

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument that is configured to be used in connection with different sizes of interchangeable end effectors. The end effectors are removably couplable to an elongated shaft assembly that protrudes from a handle assembly. The end effectors are configured to support different sizes of implantable staple cartridges therein. The staples within the staple cartridge are formed as an anvil portion of the end effector is compressed into the staple cartridge. The surgical stapling instrument further includes removable adapters that facilitate attachment of different sizes of end effectors to the elongated shaft assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongated shaft assembly mounted to said handle assembly and protruding therefrom, said elongated shaft assembly comprising;

an elongated spine member having a distal end configured to be selectively couplable to either one of a first end effector and a second end effector wherein said first end effector differs from said second end effector;

a firing tube axially movable on said elongated spine member and interfacing with a firing system supported by said handle assembly to cause said firing tube to selectively move on said spine member such that said firing tube is selectively axially movable from an un-actuated position wherein the distal end of the spine member is removably couplable to a portion of either one of the first and second end effectors to a coupled position wherein a distal portion of said firing tube retains said portion of said first or second end effector in coupled engagement with said distal end of said spine member, said firing tube being further selectively axially movable to actuated positions to selectively apply at least one actuation motion to the first or second end effector coupled to said distal end of said spine member;

a first adapter removably couplable to said distal portion of said firing tube and configured to actuate a movable portion of the first end effector when the first end effector is coupled to said distal end of said spine member upon actuation of said firing tube to at least some of said actuated positions; and

a second adapter removably couplable to said distal portion of said firing tube and configured to actuate another movable portion of the second end effector when the second end effector is coupled to said distal end of said spine member upon actuation of said firing tube to at least some of said actuated positions.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said at least one actuation motion comprises a staple forming motion.

2. A surgical instrument configured to actuate an end effector including an anvil that is movably supported relative to an implantable cartridge that operably supports a plurality of surgical staples therein, said surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongated shaft assembly mounted to said handle assembly and protruding therefrom, said elongated shaft assembly comprising;

an elongated spine member having a distal end configured to be removably coupled to the end effector; and

a firing tube axially movable on said elongated spine member and interfacing with a firing system supported by said handle assembly to cause said firing tube to selectively move on said spine member such that said firing tube is selectively axially movable from an un-actuated position wherein the distal end of the spine member is removably couplable to a portion of the end effector to a coupled position wherein a distal portion of said firing tube retains said portion of said end effector in coupled engagement with said distal end of said spine member, said firing tube being further selectively axially movable to actuated positions wherein the firing tube moves the anvil of the end effector into forming contact with the surgical staples supported in the implantable cartridge; and

wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a cutting member movably supported within said elongated shaft assembly and interfacing with a knife advancement system supported by said handle assembly for selectively moving said cutting member from a starting position wherein a tissue-cutting edge formed on a distal-most end thereof is completely located within a distal end of said firing tube to cutting positions wherein said tissue cutting edge is distal to said distal end of said firing tube.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said distal end of said elongated spine member is selectively couplable to either one of a first end effector and a second end effector wherein said first end effector differs from said second end effector.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said first end effector supports an implantable staple cartridge having a first length and said second end effector supports a second implantable staple cartridge having a second length that differs from said first length.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said first end effector is sized to operably pass through a first opening and wherein said second end effector is sized to operably pass through a second opening that differs in size and/or shape from said first opening.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 3 further comprising a first adapter removably couplable to said distal end of said firing tube and configured to actuate a movable portion of the first end effector coupled to said distal end of said spine member upon actuation of said firing tube to at least some of said actuated positions.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 further comprising a second adapter removably couplable to said distal end of said firing tube and configured to actuate another movable portion of the second end effector that is coupled to said distal end of said spine member upon actuation of said firing tube to the at least some of said actuated positions.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said cutting member is configured to axially advance a separate cutting member in the end effector coupled to said distal end of said spine member upon advancement of said cutting member from said starting position to said cutting positions.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 2 further comprising a firing tube locking arrangement for releasably locking said firing tube in said coupled position.

11. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongated shaft assembly operably coupled to said handle assembly and protruding therefrom, said elongated shaft assembly comprising;

an elongated spine member having a distal end;

a firing tube axially movable on said elongated spine member and interfacing with a firing system supported by said handle assembly to cause said firing tube to selectively move on said spine member from an un-actuated position to actuated positions; and

a cutting member movably supported within said elongated shaft assembly and interfacing with a knife advancement system supported by said handle assembly for selectively moving said cutting member from a starting position wherein a tissue-cutting edge formed on a distal-most end thereof is completely located within a distal end of said firing tube to cutting positions wherein said tissue-cutting edge is distal to said distal end of said firing tube and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a first end effector removably couplable to said distal end of said spine member, said first end effector comprising a pair of first jaws wherein one said first jaw is moveable relative to another said first jaw in response to firing motions applied thereto by said firing tube when coupled to said distal end of said spine member.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said first end effector is configured to support an implantable staple cartridge therein.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 11 further comprising at least one second end effector that is removably couplable to said distal end of said spine member, said second end effector having a pair of second jaws wherein one said second jaw is moveable relative to another said second jaw in response to said firing motions applied thereto by said firing tube when coupled to said distal end of said spine member, said second end effector having a second length that differs from a first length of said first end effector.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said first end effector is configured to support a staple cartridge having a first length and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a second end effector that is configured to support a second staple cartridge having a second length that differs from said first length of said first staple cartridge.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein when said firing tube is in at least one of said actuated positions, said firing tube retains a portion of the first end effector in coupled engagement with a corresponding portion of the distal end of the spine member.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein when said firing tube is in a first one of said actuated positions, said firing tube retains a portion of an elongated shaft of the first end effector in coupled engagement with a portion of the distal end of the spine member.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 11 further comprising a first adapter removably couplable to said distal end of said firing tube and configured to actuate a movable portion of the first end effector coupled to said distal end of said spine member upon actuation of said firing tube to at least some of said actuated positions.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17 further comprising a second adapter removably couplable to said distal end of said firing tube and configured to actuate another movable portion of a second end effector that is coupled to said distal end of said spine member upon actuation of said firing tube to the at least some of said actuated positions.

19. A surgical kit for use with different sizes of interchangeable end effectors that each have a movable anvil and support a staple cartridge therein, said kit comprising:

a surgical instrument comprising;

a handle assembly;

an elongated shaft assembly mounted to said handle assembly and protruding therefrom, said elongated shaft assembly comprising;

an elongated spine member having a distal end configured to be removably coupled to an end effector; and

a firing tube axially movable on said elongated spine member and interfacing with a firing system supported by said handle assembly to cause said firing tube to selectively move on said spine member such that said firing tube is selectively axially movable from an un-actuated position wherein the distal end of the spine member is removably couplable to a portion of the end effector to a coupled position wherein a distal end of said firing tube retains said portion of said end effector in coupled engagement with said distal end of said spine member, said firing tube being further selectively axially movable to actuated positions to selectively apply at least one actuation motion to the end effector coupled to said distal end of said spine member and wherein said kit further comprises;

a first adapter removably couplable to said distal end of said firing tube and configured to actuate an anvil on one size of end effector coupled to said distal end of said spine member upon actuation of said firing tube to at least some of said actuated positions; and

a second adapter removably couplable to said distal end of said firing tube and configured to actuate another anvil on another size of end effector that is coupled to said distal end of said spine member upon actuation of said firing tube to the at least some of said actuated positions.

20. The surgical kit of claim 19 wherein the staple cartridges support by the different sizes of interchangeable end effectors are implantable staple cartridges.