Fastening system comprising a firing member lockout

• US 9,775,608 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Aronhalt, Taylor W., Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Vendely, Michael J., Schellin, Emily A., Zeiner, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tecco, Andrew M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stinson, Chelsea
• Application Number:
  US14/187,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20150238186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 2271752
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0688 Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• 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 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• 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: A61L 31/04 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/146 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/00 Compression moulding, i.e. applying external pressure to flow the moulding material; Apparatus therefor by liberation of internal stresses B29C61/006
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/52 : Heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 55/00 : Shaping by stretching, e.g. drawing through a die; Apparatus therefor B29C61/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/20 : for porous or cellular articles, e.g. of foam plastics, coarse-pored chemical aspects of working up macro-molecular substances to porous or cellular articles C08J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/04 : cellular or porous
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0056 : Biocompatible, e.g. biopolymers or bioelastomers
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7546 : Surgical equipment

Abstract

A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The fastener cartridge assembly can include a cartridge body, a plurality of fasteners removably stored within the cartridge body, and an implantable layer. The fastener cartridge assembly and/or the surgical instrument can include a lockout system configured to deactivate the fastener cartridge assembly and/or surgical instrument in the event that the implantable layer is prematurely removed from the fastener cartridge.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

an anvil including a distal end;

a firing member movable toward said distal end;

a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of said firing member toward said distal end;

a biasing member configured to bias said firing member into engagement with said firing lockout; and

a fastener cartridge assembly, comprising;

a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said fastener cavities;

a plurality of fastener drivers, wherein said fastener drivers are configured to eject said fasteners from said cartridge body;

a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to said deck; and

a sled movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during a firing stroke of said firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fastener drivers and said fasteners toward said anvil when said sled is moved between said proximal unfired position and said distal fired position, wherein said sled is configured to hold said firing member out of engagement with said firing lockout when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, wherein said sled is releasably engaged with said tissue thickness compensator when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, and wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to pull said sled from said proximal unfired position toward said distal fired position if said tissue thickness compensator is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke.

2. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said fasteners are movable between an unfired unlifted position and a fired lifted position by said sled, and wherein said fasteners are at least partially embedded in said tissue thickness compensator in said unfired unlifted position.

3. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises a tether, wherein said tether is removably attached to said sled, and wherein said tether is configured to pull said sled toward said distal fired position when said tissue thickness compensator is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke.

4. The surgical instrument system of claim 3, wherein said sled comprises a hook, and wherein said tether is releasably engaged with said hook such that said tether can release from said hook when said sled is advanced toward said distal fired position by said firing member.

5. The surgical instrument system of claim 4, wherein said hook defines a slot, wherein said slot comprises a closed distal end and an open proximal end, and wherein said tether is configured to slide out of said open proximal end when said sled is advanced toward said distal fired position by said firing member.

6. The surgical instrument system of claim 4, wherein said cartridge body comprises a longitudinal slot configured to slidably receive at least a portion of said firing member, and wherein said hook is configured to slide within said longitudinal slot.

7. The surgical instrument system of claim 6, wherein said hook is positioned below said deck.

8. The surgical instrument system of claim 4, wherein said sled comprises a ramp portion configured to lift said fastener drivers and said fasteners toward said anvil, and wherein said hook is rotatably mounted to said ramp portion.

9. The surgical instrument system of claim 8, wherein said hook extends from a hook arm including a support shoulder, wherein said firing member is supported by said support shoulder when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, and wherein said biasing member is configured to bias said firing member into engagement with said firing lockout if said tissue thickness compensator is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke.

10. The surgical instrument system of claim 9, wherein said firing member is configured to slide off of said support shoulder onto said ramp portion after said sled has been pulled toward said distal fired position by said tissue thickness compensator.

11. The surgical instrument system of claim 8, wherein said hook is configured to contact said cartridge body and rotate relative to said ramp portion between a raised position and a lowered position when said sled is moved into said distal fired position by said firing member.

12. The surgical instrument system of claim 11, further comprising a resilient biasing member positioned intermediate said hook and said ramp portion, wherein said resilient biasing member is configured to bias said hook into said raised position.

13. The surgical instrument system of claim 4, wherein said hook is comprised of a flexible material, and wherein said hook is configured to contact and be deformed by said cartridge body when said sled is moved into said distal fired position by said firing member.

14. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises an attachment portion, and wherein said attachment portion is releasably engaged with said sled such that said attachment portion can release from said sled when said sled is advanced toward said distal fired position by said firing member.

15. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said firing member is supported by said sled when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, and wherein said firing member is unsupported by said sled when said sled is advanced toward said distal fired position by said tissue thickness compensator.

16. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises a tether, wherein said tether is removably attached to said sled, wherein said tether is configured to pull said sled toward said distal fired position when said tissue thickness compensator is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke, and wherein said tether comprises an adhesive.

17. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises a tether, wherein said tether is removably attached to said sled, wherein said tether is configured to pull said sled toward said distal fired position when said tissue thickness compensator is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke, and wherein said tether comprises a suture including a first end embedded in said tissue thickness compensator and a second end embedded in said tissue thickness compensator.

18. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said fasteners comprise staples.

19. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, the surgical fastening instrument including an anvil, a movable firing member, and a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of the firing member toward a distal end of said fastener cartridge, said fastener cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said fastener cavities;

a layer positioned relative to said deck; and

a sled movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke of the firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil when said sled is moved between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said sled is configured to hold the firing member out of engagement with the firing lockout when said sled is in said unfired position, wherein said sled is releasably engaged with said layer when said sled is in said unfired position, and wherein said layer is configured to pull said sled from said unfired position toward said fired position if said layer is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke.

20. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

an anvil including a distal end;

a firing member movable toward said distal end;

a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of said firing member toward said distal end;

a biasing member configured to bias said firing member into engagement with said firing lockout; and

a fastener cartridge assembly, comprising;

a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said cartridge body;

a plurality of fastener drivers, wherein said fastener drivers are configured to eject said fasteners from said cartridge body;

a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to said deck, wherein said tissue thickness compensator comprises a key; and

a sled movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position during a firing stroke of said firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fastener drivers and said fasteners toward said anvil when said sled is moved between said proximal unfired position and said distal fired position, wherein said key and said sled are configured to co-operatively hold said firing member out of engagement with said firing lockout when said sled is in said proximal unfired position, and wherein said tissue thickness compensator is configured to pull said key away from said sled if said tissue thickness compensator is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke so that said firing member engages said firing lockout.

21. The surgical instrument system of claim 20, wherein said key is comprised of a bioabsorbable material.

22. The surgical instrument system of claim 20, wherein said key is removably positioned between said sled and said firing member when said sled is positioned in said proximal unfired position and said tissue thickness compensator is positioned relative to said deck.

23. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, the surgical fastening instrument including an anvil, a movable firing member, and a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of the firing member toward a distal end of said fastener cartridge, said fastener cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said cartridge body;

a layer positioned relative to said deck, wherein said layer comprises a key; and

a sled movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke of the firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil when said sled is moved between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said key is configured to hold the firing member out of engagement with the firing lockout when said sled is in said unfired position, and wherein said layer is configured to pull said key away from the firing member if said layer is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke so that the firing member engages the firing lockout.

24. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, the surgical fastening instrument including an anvil, and a movable firing member, said fastener cartridge comprising:

a distal end;

a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of the firing member toward said distal end;

a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said fastener cavities;

a layer positioned relative to said deck; and

a sled movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke of the firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil when said sled is moved between said unfired position and said fired position, wherein said sled is configured to hold the firing member out of engagement with said firing lockout when said sled is in said unfired position, wherein said sled is releasably engaged with said layer when said sled is in said unfired position, and wherein said layer is configured to pull said sled from said unfired position toward said fired position if said layer is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke.

25. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a fastener cartridge assembly, comprising;

a cartridge body comprising a distal end, a deck, and a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said fastener cavities; and

an implantable portion positioned relative to said deck;

a firing member movable toward said distal end to eject said fasteners from said fastener cavities during a firing stroke; and

means for preventing said firing member from ejecting said fasteners from said fastener cavities if said implantable portion is at least partially removed from said fastener cartridge assembly prior to said firing stroke.

26. A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical fastening instrument, the surgical fastening instrument including an anvil, a movable firing member, and a firing lockout configured to prevent the movement of the firing member toward a distal end of said fastener cartridge, said fastener cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities;

a plurality of fasteners at least partially positioned within said fastener cavities;

a layer positioned relative to said deck; and

a sled movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke of the firing member, wherein said sled is configured to lift said fasteners toward the anvil during said firing stroke, wherein said sled is releasably engaged with said layer when said sled is in said unfired position, wherein said sled comprises a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein said sled is configured to hold the firing member out of engagement with the firing lockout when said sled is in said first configuration, wherein said sled is unable to hold the firing member out of engagement with the firing lockout when said sled is in said second configuration, and wherein said sled is configured to enter into said second configuration if said layer is pulled away from said deck prior to said firing stroke.