Surgical instrument with multi-diameter shaft

• US 9,795,379 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Leimbach, Richard L., Laurent, Ryan J., Gagel, Jeffrey C., Fanelli, Nicholas, Zerkle, Jason E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tecco, Andrew M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stinson, Chelsea
• Application Number:
  US13/780,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20140239038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• 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 2017/2946 Locking means

Abstract

An apparatus includes an end effector and a shaft having a longitudinal axis. The end effector includes a first jaw and second jaw. The first jaw is pivotable relative to the second jaw. The distal end of the shaft has an articulation joint that pivots the end effector from a first position aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shaft to a second position angled from the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The articulation joint includes at least one articulation band that bends outwardly within the shaft when the end effector is in the first position. The articulation band then bends inwardly when the end effector is pivoted from the first position to the second position. The shaft includes an outer closure tube having a neck-down region that promotes a greater range of pivotal movement within a surgical passageway.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to the second jaw; and

(b) a shaft having a longitudinal axis, wherein a distal end of the shaft comprises;

(i) an articulation joint coupled with the end effector, wherein the articulation joint is operable to pivot the end effector from a first position where the end effector is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shaft to a second position where the end effector is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and

(ii) at least one articulation band, wherein a distal end of the articulation band is configured to bend outwardly to a flared position within the shaft when the end effector is in the first position, wherein a portion of the distal end of the articulation band is connected to the articulation joint, wherein the distal end of the articulation band is configured to form an oblique angle with the longitudinal axis when the distal end of the articulation band is in the flared position, wherein the distal end of the articulation band is configured to bend inwardly from the flared position within the shaft during a transition of end effector between the first position and the second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the end effector is configured to pivot from the second position to the first position, wherein the distal end of the articulation band is configured to bend outwardly when the end effector is pivoted from the second position to the first position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the articulation band is compliant.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the articulation band is coupled with a rotational member, wherein the rotational member is operable to pivot the end effector when the rotational member is rotated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a body, wherein a proximal end of the shaft is coupled with the body, wherein the articulation band extends through the shaft such that a proximal end of the articulation band is coupled with the body.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the body comprises a first actuator, wherein the proximal end of the articulation band is coupled with the first actuator such that the first actuator is operable to pivot the end effector via the articulation band.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the body comprises a second actuator, wherein the second actuator is operable to rotate the shaft and the end effector about the longitudinal axis of the shaft relative to the body.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the end effector is pivotable at least about 50 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the articulation joint comprises two articulation bands.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a first outer diameter, wherein the shaft comprises a second outer diameter proximal of the first outer diameter, wherein the second outer diameter is smaller than the first outer diameter.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first outer diameter corresponds to an outer diameter of the articulation joint.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second outer diameter is about 70% of the first outer diameter.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the shaft gradually slopes from the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the shaft comprises a third outer diameter proximal of the second outer diameter, wherein the third outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the shaft gradually slopes from the second outer diameter to the third outer diameter.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the end effector is configured to staple tissue between the first and second jaws of the end effector.

17. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a body;

(b) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is pivotable relative to the second jaw; and

(c) a shaft coupling the body with the end effector, wherein the shaft comprises an articulation joint, wherein the articulation joint is operable to pivot the end effector from a first position aligned with a longitudinal axis of the shaft to a second position angled from the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the articulation joint comprises a pair of articulation bands, wherein the articulation bands are configured to translate in opposing directions to pivot the end effector from the first position to the second position, wherein the articulation bands are configured to both bend inwardly or both bend outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft while translating in opposing directions, such that at least a portion of each articulation band is configured to move in a symmetrically opposing transverse motion relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft while the articulation bands translate in opposing longitudinal directions.

18. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a body;

(b) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to the second jaw; and

(c) a shaft coupling the body with the end effector, wherein the shaft comprises a pair of articulation bands, wherein the articulation bands are operable to simultaneously translate in opposing longitudinal directions relative to the shaft, wherein the articulation bands are further configured to both flare inwardly or both flare outwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft while simultaneously translating in opposing longitudinal directions, such that at least a portion of each articulation band is configured to move in a symmetrically opposing transverse motion relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft while the articulation bands translate in opposing longitudinal directions.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each articulation band is configured to translate within the shaft, wherein each articulation band is operable to pivot the end effector relative to the shaft.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the shaft further comprises a first outer diameter, a second outer diameter, wherein the second outer diameter is proximal to the first outer diameter, wherein the second outer diameter is smaller than the first outer diameter, wherein each articulation band extends through the first outer diameter and the second outer diameter, wherein the shaft comprises a third outer diameter proximal to the second outer diameter, wherein the third outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter.