Actuator for releasing a layer of material from a surgical end effector

• US 9,585,657 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Morgan, Jerome R., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Vendely, Michael J., Aronhalt, Taylor W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, THANH K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mitchell, Dianne
• Application Number:
  US13/763,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20130146641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/180.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/005 hardenable using external energy source, e.g. laser, ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0053 Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00964 composite
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• 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 2017/07264 : 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 2017/2908 : Multiple segments connected by articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 : details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 : reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 : Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 : with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 : Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40

Abstract

An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument. The end effector assembly can comprise an anvil, a fastener cartridge including fastener cavities, fasteners removably positioned in the fastener cavities, a piece of buttress material releasably secured intermediate the anvil and the fastener cartridge, a connector, and an actuator configured to overcome the connector when actuated. The connector can secure the piece of buttress material relative to the anvil or the fastener cartridge at a location that is distal to at least one fastener cavity. The actuator can overcome the connector prior to the removal of the fasteners from the fastener cavities. Further, the actuator can extend past the fasteners in the fastener cavities, and can be actuated proximal to the fastener cavities.

Claims

1. An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:

an anvil;

a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is removably positioned in one of said fastener cavities;

a piece of buttress material releasably secured intermediate said anvil and said fastener cartridge;

a connector, wherein said connector secures said piece of buttress material intermediate said anvil and said fastener cartridge at a location, and wherein the location is distal to at least one said fastener cavity; and

an actuator configured to overcome said connector when actuated, wherein said actuator overcomes said connector prior to the removal of said fasteners from said fastener cavities, wherein said actuator comprises a slot, and wherein said slot comprises a release stop.

2. The end effector assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuator breaks said connector when actuated.

3. The end effector assembly of claim 2, wherein said piece of buttress material is released from said fastener cartridge when said connector breaks.

4. The end effector assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuator dislodges said connector when actuated to release said piece of buttress material from said fastener cartridge.

5. The end effector assembly of claim 1, comprising a firing element configured to move along said slot and configured to push through said release stop, wherein said firing element is configured to shift said actuator when said firing element pushes against said release stop.

6. The end effector assembly of claim 5, wherein said slot comprises a first width, wherein said release stop comprises a second width that is narrower than said first width, and wherein said firing element is configured to widen said second width to pass through said release stop.

7. The end effector assembly of claim 5, wherein said release stop comprises a breakable portion, and wherein said firing element breaks said breakable portion to pass through said release stop.

8. The end effector assembly of claim 5, comprising a hard stop, wherein said hard stop blocks distal movement of said actuator past said hard stop.

9. The end effector assembly of claim 1, wherein said connector comprises braided fibers.

10. The end effector assembly of claim 1, wherein said actuator extends through at least a portion of said anvil.

11. The end effector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second piece of buttress material releasably secured to said anvil.

12. An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:

an anvil;

a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners, wherein each said fastener is removably positioned in one of said fastener cavities;

a piece of buttress material releasably secured intermediate said anvil and said fastener cartridge;

a connector, wherein said connector secures said piece of buttress material intermediate said anvil and said fastener cartridge at a location, and wherein the location is distal to at least one said fastener cavity; and

an actuator configured to overcome said connector when actuated, wherein said actuator overcomes said connector prior to the removal of said fasteners from said fastener cavities, wherein said actuator surrounds at least a portion of said fastener cartridge.

13. An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:

an anvil;

a fastener cartridge comprising a fastener cavity;

a fastener removably positioned in said fastener cavity;

a piece of buttress material releasably secured intermediate said anvil and said fastener cartridge;

a connector, wherein said connector secures said piece of buttress material to one of said anvil or said fastener cartridge, and wherein said connector is positioned distal to said fastener cavity;

an actuator configured to overcome said connector when actuated, wherein said actuator extends past said fastener in said fastener cavity, wherein said actuator is actuated proximal to said fastener cavity, and wherein said actuator comprises a slot; and

a firing element configured to lift said fastener toward said anvil, wherein said firing element is configured to translate along said slot.

14. The end effector assembly of claim 13, wherein said slot comprises a release stop, wherein said firing element is configured to push through said release stop when translating along said slot, and wherein said firing element is configured to shift said actuator when said firing element pushes against said release stop.

15. The end effector assembly of claim 14, wherein said release stop comprises a breakable portion, and wherein said firing element breaks said breakable portion to pass through said release stop.

16. The end effector assembly of claim 14, comprising a hard stop, wherein said hard stop blocks distal movement of said actuator past said hard stop.

17. The end effector assembly of claim 13, further comprising a second piece of buttress material releasably secured to said anvil.

18. An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:

an anvil;

a fastener cartridge comprising a fastener cavity;

a fastener removably positioned in said fastener cavity;

a piece of buttress material releasably secured intermediate said anvil and said fastener cartridge;

a connector, wherein said connector secures said piece of buttress material to one of said anvil or said fastener cartridge, and wherein said connector is positioned distal to said fastener cavity; and

an actuator configured to overcome said connector when actuated, wherein said actuator extends past said fastener in said fastener cavity, wherein said actuator is actuated proximal to said fastener cavity, wherein said actuator comprises a distal cutting edge, and wherein said distal cutting edge cuts said connector when said actuator is actuated.

19. The end effector assembly of claim 18, wherein said actuator overcomes said connector prior to the removal of said fastener from said fastener cavity.

20. An end effector assembly, comprising:

an anvil;

a fastener cartridge comprising a fastener cavity;

a fastener removably positioned in said fastener cavity;

a piece of buttress material releasably secured intermediate said anvil and said fastener cartridge;

a connector, wherein said connector secures said piece of buttress material to one of said anvil or said fastener cartridge, and wherein said connector is positioned distal to said fastener cavity;

a firing element configured to lift said fastener toward said anvil during a firing stroke;

an actuator configured to overcome said connector when actuated, wherein said firing element is configured to actuate said actuator proximal to said fastener cavity, and wherein said actuator is configured to translate distally when actuated by said firing element.