Powered surgical stapling device platform

• US 9,364,222 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2013
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zemlok, Michael, Racenet, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US13/889,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20130284790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/179.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• 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 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a surgical instrument which includes a housing and an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument also includes an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion. The end effector includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly is pivotally coupled to the cartridge assembly to be movable from a first actuation position to at least one other second actuation position. The surgical instrument further includes a firing rod having a shaft defining a second longitudinal axis, the shaft having a cam member which is in mechanical cooperation with the anvil assembly and is configured to move the anvil assembly from the first actuation position to the at least one other second actuation position upon rotation of the firing rod about the second longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing having at least a drive motor, a shift motor, and a single drive gear in mechanical cooperation thereof;

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the shaft connected to the housing, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis therethrough; and

an end effector connected to the distal end of the shaft;

wherein the drive motor mechanically cooperates with the shift motor to actuate the single drive gear.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the drive motor enables rotation of the drive gear.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the shift motor enables the drive gear to move in a plurality of positions.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the drive motor, the shift motor, and the single drive gear are disposed along the longitudinal axis defined by the shaft.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is placed adjacent the drive gear.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is separated from the shift motor by a two-part housing, each part slidably engaged with the other.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein one part is secured to a drive motor casing of the drive motor, whereas the other part is secured to the drive motor and is translatable within the housing of the surgical instrument.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the drive motor casing includes two slots, each slot configured to mate with a position lock to maintain the drive gear in one of a plurality of positions.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the position lock is spring-loaded and biased against the drive motor casing.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein a shift sensor is disposed adjacent the position lock to electrically communicate with at least one switch to activate the shift motor and provide feedback relating to a position of the drive motor.

11. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing having at least a drive motor, a shift motor, and a single drive gear in mechanical cooperation thereof;

a shaft extending distally from the housing, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, and the shaft having at least a first flexible segment and a second flexible segment, each segment being rotatably movable with respect to the other between a plurality of positions via a drive end cap in mechanical cooperation with the single drive gear, the drive end cap rotated continuously until each segment attains an articulated position; and

an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft;

wherein the drive motor mechanically cooperates with the shift motor to actuate the single drive gear.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the drive motor enables rotation of the drive gear.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the shift motor enables the drive gear to move in a plurality of positions.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the drive motor, the shift motor, and the single drive gear are disposed along the longitudinal axis defined by the shaft.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the drive motor is placed adjacent the drive gear.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the drive motor is separated from the shift motor by a two-part housing, each part slidably engaged with the other.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein one part is secured to a drive motor casing of the drive motor, whereas the other part is secured to the drive motor and is translatable within the housing of the surgical instrument.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the drive motor casing includes two slots, each slot configured to mate with a position lock to maintain the drive gear in one of a plurality of positions.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the position lock is spring-loaded and biased against the drive motor casing.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein a shift sensor is disposed adjacent the position lock to electrically communicate with at least one switch to activate the shift motor and provide feedback relating to a position of the drive motor.