Surgical stapling instrument having a restraining member

• US 9,737,302 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Balek, Stephen J., Timperman, Eugene L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US15/064,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20160183950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751, 2271761
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0688 Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• 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 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• 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 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 : additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 : additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 : with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320097 : with stapling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 : Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 : Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 : specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 : Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/37 : Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 : Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 : for collecting or disposing of used articles

Abstract

A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.

Claims

1. A stapling assembly, comprising:

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a channel;

a cartridge body positioned in said channel; and

a plurality of staples removably stored in said cartridge body;

a sled stored in an unfired position, wherein said sled is configured to slide under said staples and eject said staples from said cartridge body during a staple firing stroke;

an anvil configured to deform said staples;

a firing member configured to advance said sled through said staple firing stroke, wherein said firing member is configured to engage said anvil and said staple cartridge and hold said anvil and said staple cartridge relative to one another during said staple firing stroke; and

a restraining member,

wherein said stapling assembly is in an unlocked condition when said sled is in said unfired position, and wherein said restraining member does not stop said staple firing stroke when said stapling assembly is in said unlocked condition, and

wherein said stapling assembly is in a locked out condition when said sled is not in said unfired position and said staple firing stroke is initiated, and wherein said restraining member stops said staple firing stroke when said stapling assembly is in said locked out condition.

2. The stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said restraining member is in said channel.

3. The stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said cartridge body is replaceable and removable from said channel.

4. The stapling assembly of claim 1, wherein said firing member further comprises a cutting edge, and wherein said restraining member is configured to engage said firing member laterally with respect to said cutting edge.

5. The stapling assembly of claim 1, further comprising biasing means for placing said restraining member in the path of said firing member.

6. A stapling assembly, comprising:

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a channel;

a cartridge body positioned in said channel; and

a plurality of staples removably stored in said cartridge body;

a sled stored in an unfired position, wherein said sled is configured to slide under said staples and eject said staples from said cartridge body during a staple firing stroke;

an anvil configured to deform said staples;

a firing member configured to move through a longitudinal path to advance said sled through said staple firing stroke, wherein said firing member is configured to engage said anvil and said staple cartridge and hold said anvil and said staple cartridge relative to one another during said staple firing stroke; and

a restraining member extending laterally to said longitudinal path,

wherein said stapling assembly is in an unlocked condition when said sled is in said unfired position, and wherein said restraining member does not stop said firing member from moving along said longitudinal path when said stapling assembly is in said unlocked condition, and

wherein said stapling assembly is in a locked out condition when said sled is not in said unfired position prior to said staple firing stroke, and wherein said restraining member stops said firing member from moving along said longitudinal path when said stapling assembly is in said locked out condition.

7. The stapling assembly of claim 6, wherein said restraining member is in said channel.

8. The stapling assembly of claim 6, wherein said cartridge body is replaceable and removable from said channel.

9. The stapling assembly of claim 6, wherein said firing member further comprises a cutting edge, and wherein said restraining member is configured to engage said firing member laterally with respect to said cutting edge.

10. The stapling assembly of claim 6, further comprising biasing means for placing said restraining member in the path of said firing member.

11. A stapling assembly, comprising:

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a channel;

a cartridge body positioned in said channel; and

a plurality of staples removably stored in said cartridge body;

a sled stored in an unfired position, wherein said sled is configured to slide under said staples and eject said staples from said cartridge body during a staple firing stroke;

an anvil configured to deform said staples;

a firing member configured to advance said sled through said staple firing stroke, wherein said firing member is configured to engage said anvil and said staple cartridge and hold said anvil and said staple cartridge relative to one another during said staple firing stroke, and wherein said firing member comprises a cutting edge configured to incise the tissue of a patient during said staple firing stroke; and

a restraining member extending laterally to said cutting edge,

wherein said stapling assembly is in a ready-to-be-fired condition when said sled is in said unfired position, and wherein said restraining member does not impede said staple firing stroke when said stapling assembly is in said ready-to-be-fired condition, and

wherein said stapling assembly is in a locked out condition when said sled is not in said unfired position upon the initiation of said staple firing stroke, and wherein said restraining member is configured to engage said firing member laterally with respect to said cutting edge when said stapling assembly is in said locked out condition.

12. The stapling assembly of claim 11, wherein said restraining member is in said channel.

13. The stapling assembly of claim 11, wherein said cartridge body is replaceable and removable from said channel.

14. The stapling assembly of claim 11, further comprising biasing means for placing said restraining member in the path of said firing member.