One handed stapler

• US 9,861,358 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Marczyk, Stanislaw, Pribanic, Russell, Ross, Adam J., Zemlok, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Thanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US13/690,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20130092717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 2271761, 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a surgical instrument, which includes a handle assembly and an elongate member having two jaw members. The second jaw member is movable in relation to the first jaw member between an open position and a closed position. The first jaw member is supported by the elongate body and contains a plurality of fasteners. The elongate member extends distally from the handle assembly and defines both a longitudinal axis and a distal portion. A switch is placed about the handle assembly to allow the handle assembly to operate in multiple modes.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly including a housing having at least two sides, the housing coupled to a movable handle that is movable relative to the housing;

an elongate body extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;

an end effector supported on a distal end portion of the elongate body; and

a switch extending through the at least two sides of the housing, the switch adapted to move a slide cam along the longitudinal axis to alternate the surgical instrument between at least two modes of operation, the slide cam positionable between a firing position and a return position as the slide cam moves along the longitudinal axis, wherein in the firing position, the slide cam is disposed between an engagement finger of a return pawl and a toothed rack, and wherein in the return position, the slide cam is disposed between an engagement finger of an advancement pawl and another toothed rack.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least two modes of operation include at least one mode of operation selected from a firing mode, a clamping mode, a retraction mode, or combinations thereof.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an actuation member operatively connected to the handle assembly, the actuation member being movable relative to the end effector to effectuate a sequential ejection of fasteners supported within the end effector.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a rack member having teeth arranged in a diametrically opposed relation.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an articulation mechanism configured to pivot a distal portion of the elongate body about a longitudinal axis defined by the elongate body.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the articulation mechanism includes a motor.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, further comprising a power supply.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a first pawl and a second pawl.

9. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly including a housing and a movable handle coupled to the housing, the movable handle movable relative to the housing;

an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;

an end effector supported on a distal end portion of the elongate body;

a slide cam movable between a firing position and a return position, wherein in the firing position, the slide cam is disposed between an engagement finger of a return pawl and a toothed rack, and wherein in the return position, the slide cam is disposed between an engagement finger of an advancement pawl and another toothed rack; and

a switch supported on the housing and adapted to move the slide cam along the longitudinal axis to alternate the surgical instrument between at least two modes of operation.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the at least two modes of operation include at least one mode of operation selected from a firing mode, a clamping mode, a retraction mode, or combinations thereof.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 9, further comprising an actuation member operatively connected to the handle assembly, the actuation member being movable relative to the end effector to effectuate a sequential ejection of fasteners supported within the end effector.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the handle assembly includes a rack member having a teeth arranged in a diametrically opposed relation.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 9, further comprising an articulation mechanism configured to pivot a distal portion of the elongate body about a longitudinal axis defined by the elongate body.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the articulation mechanism includes a motor.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, further comprising a power supply.

16. A surgical instrument comprising:

a housing;

a return pawl including a first engagement finger;

a first toothed rack;

an advancement pawl including a second engagement finger;

a second toothed rack;

a slide cam supported within the housing and movable between a firing position and a return position, wherein in the firing position, the slide cam is disposed between the first engagement finger and the first toothed rack, and wherein in the return position, the slide cam is disposed between the second engagement finger and the second toothed rack.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, further comprising a switch supported on the housing, the switch adapted to move the slide cam to alternate the surgical instrument between at least two modes of operation.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the at least two modes of operation include at least one mode of operation selected from a firing mode, a clamping mode, a retraction mode, or combinations thereof.