Interchangeable tools for surgical instruments

• US 8,758,391 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Swayze, Jeffrey S., Huitema, Thomas W., Armstrong, Glen A., Parihar, Shailendra K., Korvick, Donna L., Timm, Richard W., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Doll, Kevin R., Smith, Bret W., Kelly, William D., Kolata, Ronald J., Uth, Joshua R., Scheib, Charles J., Timperman, Eugene L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan V
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TIN DUC
• Application Number:
  US12/031,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20090209946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,322 Days
• Field of Search: 606/174, 606/207, 606/206, 606/205, 606/51, 606/46, 606/52, 227/175.1, 227/177.1, 227/181.1, 227/175.2, 227/175.3, 227/19
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/00 Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. instruments for taking a cell sample, for biopsy, for vaccination diagnosis vaccination prophylaxis, vaccination therapy A61B17/20; Sex determination; Ovulation-period determination menstruation tables G06C3/00; Throat striking implements
• 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 17/068 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3205 Excision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3401 Puncturing needles for the peridural or subarachnoid space or the plexus, e.g. for anaesthesia local anaesthesia A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• 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 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00287 Bags for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 : Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1157 : applying the staples radially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 : flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 : Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 : Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 : Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 : powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 : Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 : Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/28 : Syringe ampoules or carpules, i.e. ampoules or carpules provided with a needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3135 : characterised by constructional features of the proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31581 : performed by rotationally moving or pivoting actuator operated by user, e.g. an injection lever or handle

Abstract

A surgical tool system. Various embodiments of the surgical tool system may comprise surgical instrument that has a handle assembly that operably supports a drive system therein for generating drive motions upon actuation of a movable handle portion operably coupled to the handle assembly. An elongated body protrudes from the handle assembly and operably supports a control rod therein that interfaces with the drive system. The surgical tool system further includes at least two surgical tools selected from the group of surgical tools consisting of: manipulators, nippers, scissors, endocutters, tissue thickness measurement devices, staple appliers, clip appliers, syringes for applying glue, sealant, drugs or medicaments and cauterization devices wherein each of the surgical tool within the group of surgical tools at least has a housing that is removably couplable to the elongated body and a drive assembly that is removably couplable to the control rod for receiving the drive motions therefrom.

Claims

1. A disposable loading unit comprising:

a housing configured to be coupled to a portion of a surgical instrument, said housing having a first lateral side and a second lateral side;

a carrier coupled to said housing;

an anvil movably supported for selective movement relative to said carrier in response to opening and closing motions from the surgical instrument to selectively move said anvil toward and away from said carrier;

a cartridge body configured to be removably received within said carrier;

a tissue measuring platform pivotally coupled to said cartridge body for movable travel relative thereto;

an indicator base movably supported by said cartridge body for axial travel relative thereto;

a gear assembly operably interfacing with said tissue measuring platform and said indicator base, such that movement of said tissue measuring platform causes said indicator base to move axially relative to said cartridge body; and

a plurality of thickness identifiers on said indicator base corresponding to particular tissue thicknesses and viewable from at least one location in said housing when tissue having said corresponding amount of tissue thickness is clamped between said anvil and said cartridge body.

2. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 wherein said indicator base comprises:

a first lateral indicator leg portion; and

a second lateral indicator leg portion and wherein a first group of said plurality of thickness identifiers are on a first indicator plate coupled to said first lateral leg portion and wherein another group of said plurality of thickness identifiers are on a second indicator plate coupled to said second lateral leg portion.

3. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 wherein a first group of said plurality of thickness indicators are viewable from said first lateral side of said housing and wherein a second group of said plurality of thickness indicators are viewable from said second lateral side of said housing.

4. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 wherein said plurality of thickness identifiers comprises:

a first thickness identifier corresponding to a first range of tissue thicknesses; and

a second thickness identifier corresponding to a second range of tissue thicknesses.

5. The disposable loading unit of claim 4 wherein said first range of tissue thicknesses comprises tissue thicknesses from 0.75 millimeters to 1.0 millimeters and wherein said second range of tissue thicknesses comprises tissue thicknesses from greater than 1.0 millimeters to 1.5 millimeters.

6. The disposable loading unit of claim 4 wherein said plurality of thickness identifiers further comprises a third tissue thickness identifier corresponding to a third range of thicknesses.

7. The disposable loading unit of claim 6 wherein said third range of tissue thicknesses comprises tissue thicknesses from greater than 1.5 millimeters to less than 2.0 millimeters.

8. The disposable loading unit of claim 6 wherein said plurality of thickness identifiers further comprises a fourth tissue thickness identifier corresponding to a fourth tissue thickness.

9. The disposable loading unit of claim 8 wherein said fourth tissue thickness comprises 2.0 millimeters.

10. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 wherein said plurality of thickness identifiers are selected from a group of thickness identifiers consisting of numbers, letters and colors.

11. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 wherein said plurality of thickness identifiers are viewable through at least one window in said housing.

12. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 wherein the surgical instrument comprises:

a handle assembly including a stationary portion and a movable portion; and

an elongated body protruding from the handle assembly and configured for removable attachment to the housing of the disposable loading unit, the elongated body interfacing with the movable portion of the handle assembly such that movement of the movable portion causes the elongated body to apply the opening and closing motions to the anvil.

13. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 further comprising tissue grip members on said cartridge body.

14. A surgical system comprising:

a surgical instrument comprising;

a handle assembly including a stationary portion and a movable portion; and

an elongated body protruding from the handle assembly and wherein said surgical system further comprises a plurality of disposable loading units comprising;

a disposable loading unit according to claim 1; and

at least one other disposable loading unit configured to cut and staple tissue.

15. A surgical method comprising:

providing a disposable loading unit according to claim 1;

removably coupling the disposable loading unit to an elongated body of a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument including a movable portion configured to generate the opening and closing motions for application to the disposable loading unit coupled to the elongated body;

positioning target tissue between the anvil and the tissue measuring platform of the disposable loading unit;

moving the movable portion of the surgical instrument to cause the anvil to compress the target tissue between the anvil and tissue measuring platform; and

viewing the plurality of thickness identifiers on the indicator base to determine a thickness of the target tissue.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

releasing the target tissue from disposable loading unit;

detaching the disposable loading unit from the elongated body;

providing a plurality of other disposable loading units configured to cut and staple tissue wherein each other disposable loading unit has a plurality of staples corresponding to a particular thickness of tissue;

selecting one of the plurality of other disposable loading units that includes surgical staples that correspond to the target tissue thickness;

coupling the selected one of the other disposable loading units to the elongated body of the surgical instrument;

moving the movable portion of the surgical instrument to clamp the target tissue within the selected one of the other disposable loading units; and

actuating the surgical instrument to cause the selected other disposable loading unit to cut and staple the target tissue clamped therein.