End effector for use with a surgical fastening instrument

• US 8,763,875 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• 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): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US13/787,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20130181030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/180.1
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/2932 : Transmission of forces to jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 : using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 : pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 : abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 : for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

An end effector for use with a surgical fastening instrument comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing member is disclosed. The firing member, in various embodiments, further includes a cutting surface, a first portion configured to engage the first jaw, and a second portion configured to engage the second jaw. The first portion can be comprised of a first material wherein the firing member can further include an insert engaged with the first portion comprised of an insert material which is different than the first material. In various instances, the first portion and the second portion are configured to co-operatively set a tissue gap distance between the first jaw and the second jaw.

Claims

1. A disposable end effector for use with a surgical fastening instrument, said disposable end effector comprising:

a proximal end configured to be attached to a shaft of the surgical fastening instrument;

a distal end;

a first jaw;

a second jaw rotatably coupled relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein said fasteners are removably positioned in said fastener cavities; and

a cutting member movable toward said distal end, wherein said cutting member comprises;

a knife edge;

a first portion configured to engage said first jaw, wherein said first portion is comprised of a first material;

a second portion configured to engage said second jaw; and

an insert engaged with said first portion configured to engage said first jaw, wherein said insert is comprised of an insert material which is different than said first material.

2. The disposable end effector of claim 1, further comprising a sled configured to be pushed distally by said cutting member to eject said fasteners from said fastener cavities.

3. The disposable end effector of claim 1, wherein said second jaw is rotatable relative to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil, and wherein said first jaw comprises said fastener cavities.

4. The disposable end effector of claim 1, wherein said first jaw comprises a first outer surface, and wherein said insert material comprises a resilient material configured to contact said first outer surface.

5. The disposable end effector of claim 1, wherein said first portion comprises a first camming portion and said second portion comprises a second camming portion, and wherein said first camming portion and said second camming portion are configured to co-operatively set a tissue gap distance between said first jaw and said second jaw.

6. The disposable end effector of claim 5, wherein said insert is configured to facilitate the setting of said tissue gap distance.

7. A disposable end effector for use with a surgical fastening instrument, said disposable end effector comprising:

a proximal end configured to be attached to a shaft of the surgical fastening instrument;

a distal end;

a first jaw comprising a first tissue engaging surface;

a second jaw rotatably coupled relative to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw comprises a second tissue engaging surface, wherein said first tissue engaging surface and said second tissue engaging surface comprise a tissue engaging interface, and wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw;

a jaw drive surface facing away from said tissue engaging interface;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein said fasteners are removably positioned in said fastener cavities; and

a tissue cutting member movable toward said distal end, wherein said tissue cutting member comprises;

a knife edge;

a first camming member configured to engage said first jaw;

a second camming member configured to engage said second jaw, wherein said first camming member and said second camming member are configured to co-operatively set a tissue gap between said first jaw and said second jaw; and

an affix extending from one of said first camming member and said second camming member, wherein said affix is configured to facilitate in setting the tissue gap between said first jaw and said second jaw, and wherein said affix is configured to contact said jaw drive surface.

8. The disposable end effector of claim 7, wherein said second jaw is rotatable relative to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil, and wherein said first jaw comprises said fastener cavities.

9. The disposable end effector of claim 7, wherein said first camming member and said second camming member are comprised of a first material, and wherein said affix is comprised of a second material which is different than said first material.

10. A disposable end effector for use with a surgical fastening instrument, said disposable end effector comprising:

a proximal end configured to be attached to a shaft of the surgical fastening instrument;

a distal end;

a first jaw;

a second jaw rotatably coupled relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw;

a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein said fasteners are removably positioned in said fastener cavities; and

a tissue cutting member movable toward said distal end, wherein said tissue cutting member comprises;

a knife edge;

a first camming member configured to engage said first jaw;

a second camming member configured to engage said second jaw, wherein said first camming member and said second camming member are configured to co-operatively set a tissue gap between said first jaw and said second jaw; and

an affix extending from one of said first camming member and said second camming member, wherein said affix is configured to facilitate in setting the tissue gap between said first jaw and said second jaw, and wherein said first jaw comprises a first outer surface, and wherein said affix is comprised of a resilient material configured to contact said first outer surface.

11. An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said end effector comprising:

a proximal end configured to be attached to a shaft of the surgical stapling instrument;

a distal end;

a first jaw comprising a first outer surface;

a second jaw rotatably coupled relative to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw comprises a second outer surface, and wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw;

a plurality of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples, wherein said staples are removably positioned in said staple cavities; and

a firing member movable relative to said distal end, wherein said firing member comprises;

a first foot configured to engage said first jaw, wherein said first foot comprises a pad attached thereto which is configured to engage said first jaw; and

a second foot configured to engage said second jaw.

12. The end effector of claim 11, wherein said second jaw is rotatable relative to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil, and wherein said first jaw comprises said staple cavities.

13. The end effector of claim 11, wherein said pad is comprised of a resilient material configured to contact said first outer surface.

14. The end effector of claim 11, wherein said first foot comprises a first camming portion and said second foot comprises a second camming portion, and wherein said first camming portion, said second camming portion, and said pad are configured to co-operatively set a tissue gap between said first jaw and said second jaw.

15. The end effector of claim 11, wherein said firing member further comprises a knife edge.

16. The end effector of claim 11, wherein said first foot is comprised of a first material, and wherein said pad is comprised of a second material which is different than said first material.

17. An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said end effector comprising:

a proximal end configured to be attached to a shaft of the surgical stapling instrument;

a distal end;

a jaw assembly comprising a pair of jaws comprising a first jaw and a second jaw movable between an open condition and a closed condition;

a plurality of staple cavities;

a plurality of staples, wherein said staples are removably positioned in said staple cavities;

a knife member movable toward said distal end, wherein said knife member comprises;

a cutting portion;

a first foot configured to engage said first jaw;

a second foot configured to engage said second jaw;

a first surface comprising a first pad, wherein said first pad is comprised of a material which is different than said first surface; and

a second surface comprising a second pad, wherein said second pad is comprised of a material which is different than said second surface, and wherein said first pad and said second pad are configured to engage said jaw assembly and facilitate the closing of said pair of jaws.