Surgical stapling instrument having an electroactive polymer actuated medical substance dispenser
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle operably configured to produce a firing motion;
an elongate shaft attached to the handle;
an end effector distally attached to the elongate shaft and comprising opposing jaws for clamping tissue;
a firing member comprising a firing bar received for reciprocating longitudinal motion in the elongate shaft to transfer the firing motion, a cutting surface distally attached to the firing bar to sever the clamped tissue in the end effector, and a fluid passage defined longitudinally in the firing bar to the cutting surface, such that the fluid passage is configured to reciprocate longitudinally with the firing bar and unitarily with the firing bar, wherein the firing bar comprises a longitudinal laminate of a left half and a right half, wherein the fluid passage is defined by a groove formed in the left half and a complementary groove formed in the right half, such that the fluid passage is a unitary feature of the firing bar and such that at least part of the fluid passage extends through at least part of the elongate shaft, wherein the fluid passage is configured to communicate a fluid from a location proximal to the end effector to the cutting surface;
control circuitry operably configured to respond to a firing condition to generate a dispensing signal; and
an electrical fluid dispenser, wherein the electrical fluid dispenser is located proximal to the end effector, wherein the electrical fluid dispenser is in communication with the fluid passage and responsive to the dispensing signal to dispense a medical substance along the fluid passage to the cutting surface, wherein the electrical fluid dispenser further comprises an electroactive polymer actuator.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling and severing instrument enables minimally invasive surgical procedures by having upper and lower jaws (i.e., anvil and staple channel) that are positioned with an elongate shaft and handle through a surgical opening, and in particular through a cannula of a trocar. A pair of fluid bladders (lift bags) are positioned in the staple channel beneath a proximally projecting lever tray so that transfer of fluid from the handle causes closing and clamping of the anvil. The bi-directional fluid control may be mechanically produced at the handle or by activating an electroactive polymer actuator. Once firing is sensed, an EAP plunger in a medical substance syringe inserted into the elongate shaft is activated to dispense a medical substance (e.g., anesthetics, adhesives, cauterizing substances, antibiotics, etc.) and is guided along a firing bar to a cutting surface of an E-beam placing the substance on tissue as severed.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a handle operably configured to produce a firing motion; an elongate shaft attached to the handle; an end effector distally attached to the elongate shaft and comprising opposing jaws for clamping tissue; a firing member comprising a firing bar received for reciprocating longitudinal motion in the elongate shaft to transfer the firing motion, a cutting surface distally attached to the firing bar to sever the clamped tissue in the end effector, and a fluid passage defined longitudinally in the firing bar to the cutting surface, such that the fluid passage is configured to reciprocate longitudinally with the firing bar and unitarily with the firing bar, wherein the firing bar comprises a longitudinal laminate of a left half and a right half, wherein the fluid passage is defined by a groove formed in the left half and a complementary groove formed in the right half, such that the fluid passage is a unitary feature of the firing bar and such that at least part of the fluid passage extends through at least part of the elongate shaft, wherein the fluid passage is configured to communicate a fluid from a location proximal to the end effector to the cutting surface; control circuitry operably configured to respond to a firing condition to generate a dispensing signal; and an electrical fluid dispenser, wherein the electrical fluid dispenser is located proximal to the end effector, wherein the electrical fluid dispenser is in communication with the fluid passage and responsive to the dispensing signal to dispense a medical substance along the fluid passage to the cutting surface, wherein the electrical fluid dispenser further comprises an electroactive polymer actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a handle portion operable to produce a firing motion; an elongate shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion of the elongate shaft is coupled with the handle portion; an end effector coupled with the distal portion of elongate shaft, the end effector comprising opposing jaws operable to clamp tissue; a firing member comprising a firing bar disposed in the elongate shaft, wherein the firing bar is operable to longitudinally translate within the elongate shaft to distally transfer the firing motion from the handle to the end effector, wherein the firing member further includes a cutting blade and a fluid passage extending longitudinally along the firing bar such that the fluid passage is configured to translate longitudinally with the firing bar and unitarily with the firing bar in the same direction as the firing bar relative to the elongate shaft, wherein the fluid passage is configured to distally communicate a fluid from a location proximal to the end effector to a location adjacent to the blade as the firing bar and the fluid passage translate unitarily and distally relative to the elongate shaft; and an electrical fluid dispenser, wherein the electrical fluid dispenser is located proximal to the end effector, wherein the electrical fluid dispenser is in communication with the fluid passage, wherein the electrical fluid dispenser is operable to dispense a medical substance along the fluid passage to the location adjacent to the blade. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a handle portion; an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle portion; an end effector positioned at a distal portion of the elongate shaft, the end effector comprising opposing jaws operable to clamp tissue; a firing bar disposed in the elongate shaft, wherein the firing bar comprises a first half laminated with a second half, wherein the first half includes a first channel portion, wherein the second half includes a second channel portion complementing the first channel portion, wherein the first and second channel portions together define a longitudinally extending fluid passage, wherein the firing bar is operable to longitudinally translate within the elongate shaft to actuate the end effector, wherein the firing member further includes a cutting blade, wherein at least part of the fluid passage is configured to translate longitudinally with the firing bar, such that at least part of the fluid passage translates longitudinally within the elongate shaft at a location proximal to the end effector, wherein the fluid passage is configured to distally communicate a fluid from a location proximal to the end effector to a location adjacent to a region between the jaws; and a fluid dispenser, wherein the fluid dispenser is located proximal to the end effector, wherein the fluid dispenser is in communication with the fluid passage, wherein the fluid dispenser is operable to dispense a medical substance along the fluid passage to the region between the jaws. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification