Surgical cutting and stapling instruments with articulatable end effectors

• US 9,642,620 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Baxter, III, Chester O., Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Dugan, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/138,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20150173755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821
• 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00455 Orientation indicators, e.g. recess on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• 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 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• 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 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots

Abstract

Surgical instruments and end effectors therefor are disclosed. In various implementations, the surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft assembly that defines a longitudinal tool axis. An elongated channel of an end effector is movably coupled to the elongated shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel about a pivot axis that is transverse to the longitudinal tool axis upon application of articulation motions thereto. The elongated channel may be configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge. An anvil assembly is pivotally coupled to the elongated channel for selective pivotal travel relative thereto between open and closed positions about the pivot axis upon application of closing and opening motions thereto. In some implementations, the anvil assembly comprises a two part assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical end effector, comprising:

a lower jaw configured to be pivotally coupled to an elongate shaft assembly about a pivot axis;

an upper jaw comprising;

a proximal upper jaw portion pivotally coupled to said lower jaw for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about said pivot axis between open and closed positions upon application of closing and opening motions to said proximal upper jaw portion; and

a distal upper jaw portion movably coupled to said proximal upper jaw portion and supported for parallel movement toward and away from the lower jaw when the proximal upper jaw portion is in said closed position and wherein said surgical end effector further comprises;

a firing member operably supported for operable travel within said surgical end effector relative to said upper and lower jaws when said proximal upper jaw portion is in said closed position and firing motions are applied to said firing member and wherein said firing member is configured to move said distal upper jaw portion toward said lower jaw as said firing member travels in a distal direction through said surgical end effector.

2. The surgical end effector of claim 1 wherein said lower jaw comprises an elongated channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein said proximal upper jaw portion comprises a proximal anvil portion pivotally coupled to said elongated channel and wherein said distal upper jaw portion comprises a distal anvil portion slidably coupled to said proximal anvil portion.

3. A surgical end effector, comprising:

a lower jaw configured to be pivotally coupled to an elongate shaft about a pivot axis wherein said lower jaw comprises an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;

an upper jaw comprising;

a proximal upper jaw portion pivotally coupled to said lower jaw for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about said pivot axis between open and closed positions upon application of closing and opening motions to said proximal upper jaw portion wherein said proximal upper jaw portion comprises a proximal anvil portion pivotally coupled to said elongate channel; and

a distal upper jaw portion movably coupled to said proximal upper jaw portion and supported for parallel movement toward and away from the lower jaw when the proximal upper jaw portion is in said closed position, wherein said distal upper jaw portion comprises a distal anvil portion slidably coupled to said proximal anvil portion, and wherein said surgical end effector further comprises;

a surgical staple cartridge; and

a firing member operably supported for operable travel within said surgical end effector relative to said upper and lower laws when said proximal upper jaw portion is in said closed position and firing motions are applied to said firing member, said firing member comprising a tissue cutting head configured for axial travel through the surgical end effector such that upon application of one of said firing motions thereto, said firing member moves the distal anvil portion towards the elongate channel and severs tissue clamped between the surgical staple cartridge supported in the elongate channel and the distal anvil portion.

4. The surgical end effector of claim 3 wherein the surgical staple cartridge comprises a bio-absorbable cartridge body operably supporting a plurality of surgical staples therein.

5. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongated shaft assembly;

a surgical end effector comprising;

an elongated channel coupled to said elongated shaft assembly;

a surgical staple cartridge operably supported in said elongated channel; and

an anvil assembly comprising;

a proximal anvil portion pivotally coupled to said elongated channel about a pivot axis and being selectively movable between open and closed positions upon application of closing and opening motions thereto; and

a distal anvil portion slidably coupled to said proximal anvil portion such that when said proximal anvil portion is in said closed position, said distal anvil portion is movable relative thereto while remaining parallel to said elongated channel and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a firing member operably supported for operable movement within said surgical end effector upon application of firing and retraction motions thereto;

a firing system configured to selectively apply said firing and retraction motions to said firing member wherein, when said firing motion is applied to said firing member, said firing member moves said distal anvil portion towards said elongated channel; and

a closure system for applying said opening and closing motions to said proximal anvil portion.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said firing member comprises a tissue cutting head configured for axial travel through the end effector such that upon application of said firing motion thereto, said firing member moves the distal anvil portion towards the elongated channel and severs tissue clamped between the surgical staple cartridge supported in the elongated channel and the distal anvil portion.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein the surgical staple cartridge comprises a compressible bio-absorbable cartridge body operably supporting a plurality of surgical staples therein.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said elongated channel is movably coupled to the elongated shaft assembly for selective movement relative thereto.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 wherein said elongated channel is pivotably coupled to the elongated shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel relative to the elongated shaft assembly about said pivot axis.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 8 wherein said proximal anvil portion moves in an opening direction upon application of said opening motions thereto and wherein said proximal anvil portion moves in a closing direction upon application of said closing motions thereto and wherein said elongated channel is selectively movable in first and second directions relative to said elongated shaft assembly.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein said first direction is the same as the opening direction and wherein the second direction is the same as the closing direction.

12. A surgical instrument comprising:

an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis;

a surgical end effector comprising;

an elongated channel movably coupled to the elongated shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel about a pivot axis that is transverse to said longitudinal tool axis upon application of articulation motions thereto, said elongated channel configured to operably support therein a surgical staple cartridge;

an anvil assembly pivotally coupled to said elongated channel for selective pivotal travel relative thereto between open and closed positions about said pivot axis upon application of closing and opening motions thereto;

an actuation system operably interfacing with said anvil assembly and said elongate channel to selectively apply said closing and opening motions to said anvil assembly and said articulation motions to said elongated channel wherein said actuation system comprises;

an actuation pivot movably supported by said elongated channel and interfacing with said anvil assembly; and

a reciprocatable actuation bar operably coupled to said actuation pivot such that movement of said reciprocatable actuation bar to a closure position causes the actuation system to apply a closing motion to said anvil assembly and movement of said reciprocatable actuation bar to an articulation position causes said actuation system to apply an articulation motion to said elongated channel to cause said elongated channel to pivot about said pivot axis relative to said elongated shaft assembly;

a proximal cam surface on said actuation pivot configured to operably interface with a proximal pin on said anvil assembly; and

a distal cam surface on said actuation pivot configured to interface with a distal pin on said anvil assembly.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said proximal pin on said anvil assembly extends through proximal elongated slots in a mounting portion of said anvil assembly and wherein said distal pin extends through distal elongated slots in said mounting portion of said anvil assembly.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said actuation system comprises:

a reciprocatable articulation linkage coupled to said elongated channel for applying said articulation motions thereto;

an anvil pin slide operably interfacing with said anvil assembly for selectively applying camming motions to said anvil assembly upon application of reciprocating closure motions thereto

a reciprocatable closure linkage coupled to said anvil pin slide for applying said reciprocatable closure motions thereto.