Tissue stop for surgical instrument

• US 9,364,232 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2015
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien PLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Sponsoring Entity: Covidien PLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Marczyk, Stanislaw
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• APPLICATION: US 20150320421A1
• Time in USPTO: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 18/1442 : Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 : curved
• 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 2017/2945 : Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/033 : Abutting means, stops, e.g. abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an end effector, and a stop member is disclosed. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. At least one jaw member is movable with respect to the other jaw member between spaced and approximated positions. The first jaw member includes an upper tissue-contacting surface and a lower shelf portion. The shelf portion includes a groove disposed therein. The stop member is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the first jaw member and is pivotable with respect to the first jaw member between a first position, a significant portion of the stop member being positioned external to the first jaw member, and a second position where a lower portion of the stop member being positioned at least partially within the groove.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector having a first jaw member and a second jaw member, at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member being movable with respect to the other jaw member, the first jaw member being a staple cartridge assembly having a tissue contacting surface and a groove, a sled member being disposed in a staple cartridge of the staple cartridge assembly; and

a stop member disposed adjacent a distal portion of the staple cartridge assembly, the stop member being configured to impede tissue from distally escaping the jaw members;

the sled member being configured to accommodate a portion of the stop member.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaw members is curved, and wherein the stop member is pivotable with respect to the first jaw member between a first position where a portion of the stop member is external to the groove, and a second position where a portion of the stop member is positioned at least partially within the groove.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, further comprising a biasing member disposed in mechanical cooperation with the stop member, wherein the biasing member biases the stop member towards its first position.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the stop member is pivotally coupled to the first jaw member.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein at least one jaw member includes a knife channel.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the stop member further comprises a first leg and a second leg, the first leg and the second leg being positioned on opposite sides of the knife channel.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an I-beam assembly.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the I-beam assembly has a notch, the I-beam assembly engaging a connecting member of the sled member at the notch.

9. A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector having a first jaw member and a second jaw member, at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member being movable with respect to the other jaw member, the first jaw member being a staple cartridge assembly having a tissue contacting surface and a groove, a sled member being disposed in a staple cartridge of the staple cartridge assembly; and

a stop member disposed adjacent a distal portion of the staple cartridge assembly, the stop member being configured to impede tissue from distally escaping the jaw members;

the sled member being configured to accommodate a portion of the stop member, wherein the stop member has a lip, the sled member being configured to accommodate the lip.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the sled member includes a connecting member that is positioned at a proximal portion of the sled member.