End effectors with same side closure and firing motions

• US 9,826,978 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Young, Joseph E., Aronhalt, Taylor W., Baxter, III, Chester O.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US14/549,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20150136833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751, 2271761
• 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 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 17/3209 Incision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• 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 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means

Abstract

A surgical end effector for use with a surgical stapler for stapling tissue is disclosed. The end effector may comprise a frame portion, a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples, a first jaw member, a second jaw member, and a rotation joint. The second jaw member is pivotably movable relative to the first jaw member about the rotation joint. The second jaw member is configured to apply a closing motion against the tissue and a firing motion to deform the staples, wherein both the closing motion and the firing motion are applied to the tissue from the same side of the tissue.

Claims

1. An end effector for use with a surgical stapler for stapling tissue, the end effector comprising:

a frame portion;

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a cartridge body including a proximal end and a distal end;

an elongate slot defining a longitudinal axis and extending between the proximal end and the distal end;

a tissue contacting portion, comprising;

a first tissue contacting surface; and

a second tissue contacting surface, wherein the first tissue contacting surface is stepped up from the second tissue contacting surface;

a plurality of first staples arranged in a first longitudinal row on a lateral side of the elongate slot, wherein the first longitudinal row extends along the first tissue contacting surface, and wherein each of the plurality of first staples is defined by a first unformed height; and

a plurality of second staples arranged in a second longitudinal row on the lateral side of the elongate slot, wherein the first longitudinal row is closer to the elongate slot than the second longitudinal row, wherein the second longitudinal row extends along the second tissue contacting surface, and wherein each of the plurality of second staples is defined by a second unformed height greater than the first unformed height;

a first jaw member positionable on a first side of the tissue, wherein the first jaw member extends fixedly from the frame portion;

a second jaw member positionable on a second side of the tissue;

a firing member translatable distally along the longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the firing member comprises;

a body portion;

a cutting member extending distally from the body portion;

a first camming member coupled to the body portion, wherein the first camming member is configured to engage the first jaw member; and

a second camming member coupled to the body portion, wherein the second camming member is configured to engage the second jaw member; and

a rotation joint, wherein the second jaw member is pivotably movable relative to the first jaw member about the rotation joint in response to at least one camming motion applied to the second jaw member by the second camming member, wherein the second jaw member is configured to apply a closing motion against the tissue and a firing motion to deform the staples, and wherein both the closing motion and the firing motion are applied to the tissue from the same side of the tissue.

2. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the second jaw member is an anvil.

3. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the cartridge body comprises a compressible material.

4. The end effector of claim 1, wherein the end effector is articulatable relative to a shaft of the surgical stapler.

5. An end effector for use with a surgical stapler for stapling tissue, the end effector comprising:

a frame portion;

a cutting member operably coupled with a firing system of the surgical stapler;

a staple cartridge, comprising;

a cartridge body including a proximal end and a distal end;

an elongate slot defining a longitudinal axis and extending between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the cutting member is moveable distally along the longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end;

a tissue contacting portion, comprising;

a first tissue contacting surface; and

a second tissue contacting surface, wherein the first tissue contacting surface is stepped up from the second tissue contacting surface;

a plurality of first staples arranged in a first longitudinal row on a lateral side of the elongate slot, wherein the first longitudinal row extends along the first tissue contacting surface, and wherein each of the plurality of first staples is defined by a first unformed height; and

a plurality of second staples arranged in a second longitudinal row on the lateral side of the elongate slot, wherein the first longitudinal row is closer to the elongate slot than the second longitudinal row, wherein the second longitudinal row extends along the second tissue contacting surface, and wherein each of the plurality of second staples is defined by a second unformed height greater than the first unformed height;

a first jaw member positionable on a first side of the tissue, wherein the first jaw member extends fixedly from the frame portion;

a second jaw member positionable on a second side of the tissue;

an I-beam assembly translatable distally along the longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the I-beam assembly comprises;

a body portion;

a cutting member extending distally from the body portion;

a first camming member coupled to the body portion, wherein the first camming member is configured to engage the first jaw member; and

a second camming member coupled to the body portion, wherein the second camming member is configured to engage the second jaw member; and

a rotation joint, wherein the second jaw member is pivotably movable about the rotation joint relative to the first jaw member in response to at least one camming force applied to the second jaw member by the second camming member, wherein the second jaw member is caused to effectuate a tissue capturing motion against the tissue in a first stage of operation and a staple deforming motion to deform the staples in a second stage of operation, and wherein both the tissue capturing motion and the staple deforming motion are applied to the tissue from the same side of the tissue.

6. The end effector of claim 5, wherein the second jaw member is an anvil.

7. The end effector of claim 5, wherein the cartridge body comprises a compressible material.

8. The end effector of claim 5, wherein the end effector is articulatable relative to a shaft of the surgical stapler.