Surgical instruments with lockable articulating end effector

• US 8,857,693 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schuckmann, John C., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Scheib, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tecco, Andrew M
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US13/048,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20120234893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 606/1, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/293 with means preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the actuating rod

Abstract

Hand-held surgical instruments that have and end effector attached to an elongate shaft are disclosed. The end effector has at least a portion that is movable in response to opening and closing motions applied thereto by a closure member. An articulation control system is provided to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft. An articulation locking system is provided to lock the end effector in a desired articulated position. The locking system interfaces with the closure member and is activated upon application of a closure motion to the end effector.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis;

an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft for selective pivotal travel relative to said elongate shaft, said end effector having at least one movable portion responsive to opening and closing motions;

a closure member interfacing with said at least one movable portion of said end effector to selectively apply said closing motion thereto;

an articulation control system operably interfacing with said end effector to apply articulation motions thereto, said articulation control system comprising;

a nozzle supported relative to said elongate shaft such that said nozzle is axially movable in first and second axial directions relative to said elongate shaft and rotation of said nozzle about said longitudinal axis causes said end effector to rotate about said longitudinal axis without causing the end effector to articulate relative to the longitudinal axis; and

an articulation assembly operably interfacing with said end effector and said nozzle such that movement of said nozzle in said first axial direction causes said articulation assembly to apply a first articulation motion to said end effector and movement of said nozzle in said second axial direction causes said articulation assembly to apply a second articulation motion to said end effector and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises an articulation lock system interfacing with said articulation control system and said closure member, said articulation lock system configured to move from an unlocked position wherein said articulation control system applies said articulation motions to said end effector and a locked position wherein said articulation lock system prevents said articulation control system from applying said articulation motions to said end effector upon application of said closing motion by said closure member.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said articulation assembly comprises:

a first elongated articulation member having a first proximal end and a first distal end wherein the first distal end operably interfaces with said end effector and said first proximal end operably interfaces with said nozzle; and

a second elongated articulation member having a second proximal end and a second distal end wherein the second distal end operably interfaces with said end effector and wherein said second proximal end operably interfaces with said nozzle.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said articulation lock system comprises a first locking member movably interfacing with said closure member and said first elongated articulation member such that, upon application of said closing motion to said end effector by said closure member, said first locking member is moved into locking engagement with said first elongated articulation member.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said end effector is articulatable to various articulated positions and wherein said first elongated articulation member comprises a plurality of first locking positions corresponding to said various articulated positions.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein said first locking member comprises a first locking ball movably supported for travel between said unlocked position and said plurality of first locking positions.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said articulation lock system further comprises a second locking member movably interfacing with said closure member and said second elongated articulation member such that upon application of said closing motion to said end effector by said closure member, said second locking member is moved into locking engagement with said second elongated articulation member.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein said second elongated articulation member defines a plurality of second locking positions corresponding to said plurality of said first locking positions.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 wherein said second locking member comprises a second locking ball movably supported for movable travel between said closure member and said second elongated articulation member and wherein said plurality of said second locking positions comprise a plurality of second locking detents in said second elongated articulation member for selective locking engagement with said second locking ball.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said end effector comprises a surgical cutting and fastening instrument.

10. A method of operating a surgical instrument, said method comprising:

providing a surgical instrument according to claim 1;

applying an articulation motion to the end effector to articulate the end effector to an articulated positions; and

applying a closing motion to the end effector such that upon application of said closing motion, the end effector is retained in the articulated position.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

applying an opening motion to the end effector;

applying another articulation motion to the end effector to articulate the end effector into another articulated position; and

applying the closing motion to the end effector such that upon application of said closing motion, the end effector is retained in the another articulated position.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the surgical instrument has a handle that operably supports a closure trigger for applying the closing motion and an articulation system for applying the articulation motions and wherein said method further comprises:

grasping the handle in a single hand;

activating the articulation system with the hand that is grasping the handle; and

activating the closure trigger with the hand that is grasping the handle.

13. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis;

an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft for selective pivotal travel relative to said elongate shaft to various articulated positions, said end effector having at least one portion movably responsive to opening and closing motions;

a closure member interfacing with said at least one portion of said end effector to apply said closing motion thereto when said closure member is moved in a closure direction and to apply said opening motion thereto when said closure member is moved in an opening direction;

a first elongated articulation member movably supported relative to said closure member and configured to apply a first articulation motion to said end effector when said first elongated articulation member is moved in a first actuation direction and a second articulation motion to said end effector when said first elongated articulation member is moved in a second actuation direction; and

a locking member operably interfacing with said closure member and said first elongated articulation member such that when said closure member is moved in said closing direction, said locking member lockingly engages said first elongated articulation member to prevent movement thereof in said first and second actuation directions and when said closure member is moved in said opening direction, said locking member disengages said first elongated articulation member to enable said first elongated articulation member to move in said first and second actuation directions, said locking member comprising a first locking ball movably supported for radial travel between said closure member and said first elongated articulation member and wherein said first elongated articulation member defines a plurality of first locking positions corresponding to said various articulated positions, said plurality of first locking positions comprising a plurality of first locking detents in said first elongated articulation member for selective locking engagement with said first locking ball.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13 further comprising:

a second elongated articulation member movably supported relative to said closure member; and

a second locking member operably interfacing with said closure member and said second elongated articulation member such that when said closure member is moved in said closing direction, said second locking member lockingly engages said second elongated articulation member to prevent movement thereof and when said closure member is moved in said opening direction, said second locking member disengages said second elongated articulation member to enable said second elongated articulation member to move.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 wherein said second elongated articulation member comprises a plurality of second locking positions corresponding to said plurality of said first locking positions.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15 wherein wherein said second locking member comprises a second locking ball movably supported for radial travel between said closure member and said second elongated articulation member and wherein said plurality of said second locking positions comprise a plurality of second locking detents in said second elongated articulation member for selective locking engagement with said second locking ball.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 13 wherein said end effector comprises a surgical cutting and fastening instrument.