Surgical instruments with articulatable end effectors and improved firing beam support arrangements

• US 9,968,355 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Baxter, III, Chester O., Harris, Jason L., Swayze, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US14/575,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20160174973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751, 2271761, 227 19, 606208
• 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• 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 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• 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 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots

Abstract

A surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector that is coupled to a shaft assembly by an articulation joint. A flexible firing beam extends through the articulation joint to interface with a firing member in the surgical end effector to apply a firing motion thereto. In at least one form, a pair of firing beam support members flank the flexible firing beam across the articulation joint. The firing beam support members are movably coupled together to prevent lateral movement away from each other in directions transverse to a shaft axis that is defined by the shaft assembly while permitting the firing beam support members to move axially relative to each other.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising;

first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of the at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and

a firing member supported in one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein in respond to an application of a firing motion thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an articulation joint coupling said surgical end effector to said shaft assembly for selective articulation relative thereto about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector;

a flexible firing beam comprising first and second lateral sides and extending through said articulation joint to interface with said firing member in said surgical end effector to apply said firing motion thereto; and

a pair of firing beam support members flanking said flexible firing beam across said articulation joint, said pair of firing beam support members of said pair cacti comprising;

a first compression plate positioned against a portion of said first lateral side of said flexible firing beam; and

a second compression plate positioned against another portion of said second lateral side of said flexible firing beam and being coupled to said first compression plate by;

a proximal coupler extending around corresponding upper and lower proximal notches in each of said first and second compression plates; and

a distal coupler extending around corresponding upper and lower distal notches in each of said first and second compression plates such that said first and second compression plates are movably coupled together to prevent lateral movement away from each other in directions transverse to said shaft axis while permitting said firing beam support members to move axially relative to each other.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower proximal notches and said upper and lower distal notches define a predetermined amount of axial travel that said first and second compression plates may move relative to each other.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said proximal and distal couplers extend completely around corresponding portions of the first and second compression plates and portions of said firing beam extending therebetween.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein a distal end of each said first and second compression plates is coupled to a corresponding portion of one of said first and second jaw members and a proximal end of each said first and second compression plates is coupled to a corresponding portion of said shaft assembly.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein each said distal end is movably coupled to said corresponding portion of one of said first and second jaw members and each said proximal end is movably coupled to said corresponding portion of said shaft assembly.

6. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising;

first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of the at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and

a firing member supported in one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein in response to an application of a firing motion thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an articulation joint coupling said surgical end effector to said shaft assembly to enable said surgical end effector to be selectively articulated relative to said shaft assembly about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector;

a flexible firing beam extending through said articulation joint to interface with said firing member in said surgical end effector to apply said firing motion thereto; and

a flexible firing beam support assembly flanking the flexible firing beam across said articulation joint, said flexible firing beam support assembly comprising;

a first side member adjacent a portion of a first side of said flexible firing beam;

a second side member adjacent another portion of a second side of said flexible firing beam and being coupled to said first side member in a spaced apart relation thereto;

a first support lip on said first side member and extending in a direction toward said second side member;

a second support lip on said second side member and extending in another direction toward said first side member;

a distal end coupled to one of said first and second jaw members; and

a proximal end coupled to a portion of said shaft assembly.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said distal end is movably coupled to a mounting member of said one of said first and second jaw members and said proximal end is movably coupled to said portion of said shaft assembly.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said distal end comprises a distal flange assembly extending between said first and second side members and coupled thereto, said distal flange assembly being sized to be movably received within an aperture in said mounting member for axial travel therein and wherein said proximal end comprises a proximal flange assembly coupled to said first and second side members and extending therebetween and being configured to be movably received within another aperture in said portion of said shaft assembly for axial travel therein.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 6, further comprising:

a closure system operably interfacing with at least one of said first and second jaw members for applying said closure motion thereto; and

a firing system operably interfacing with said flexible firing beam to apply said firing motion thereto, said firing system being independently operable from said closure system.

10. A surgical instrument comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising;

first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of the at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and

a firing member supported in one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein in response to an application of a firing motion thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an articulation joint coupling said surgical end effector to said shaft assembly to enable said surgical end effector to be selectively articulated relative to said shaft assembly about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector;

a flexible firing beam extending through said articulation joint to interface with said firing member in said surgical end effector to apply said firing motion thereto; and

a flexible firing beam support assembly flanking the flexible firing beam across said articulation joint, said flexible firing beam support assembly comprising;

a first side member adjacent a portion of a first side of said flexible firing beam;

a second side member adjacent another portion of a second side of said flexible firing beam and being coupled to said first side member in a spaced apart relation thereto;

a top portion spanning said portion and said another portion of said flexible firing beam and interconnecting said first and second side members;

a bottom portion spanning said portion and said another portion of said flexible firing beam and interconnecting said first and second side members, said first and second side members and said top and bottom portions forming a flexible box-shaped member spanning said articulation joint;

a distal end coupled to one of said first and second jaw members; and

a proximal end coupled to a portion of said shaft assembly.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said first and second side members include a plurality of openings therethrough.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10 further comprising

a first friction spacer supported adjacent said first side of said flexible firing beam;

and

a second friction spacer adjacent said second side of said flexible firing beam.

13. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising;

first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of the at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and

a firing member supported in one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein in respond to an application of a firing motion thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

an articulation joint coupling said surgical end effector to said shaft assembly for selective articulation relative thereto about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector;

a flexible firing beam extending through said articulation joint to interface with said firing member in said surgical end effector to apply said firing motion thereto; and

a pair of firing beam support members comprising first and second lateral sides flanking said flexible firing beam across said articulation joint, said pair of firing beam support members comprising;

a first compression plate positioned against a portion of said first lateral side of said flexible firing beam; and

a second compression plate positioned against another portion of said second lateral side of said flexible firing beam, and wherein said first and second compression plates are coupled together by a proximal coupler and a distal coupler that each extend completely around corresponding portions of said first and second compression plates and portions of said flexible firing beam that extend

between said first and second compression plates to prevent lateral movement away from each other in directions transverse to said shaft axis while permitting said firing beam support members to move axially relative to each other.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein a distal end of each said first and second compression plate is coupled to a corresponding portion of one of said first and second jaw members and a proximal end of each said first and second jaw members is coupled to a corresponding portion of said shaft assembly.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein each said distal end is movably coupled to said corresponding portion of one of said first and second jaw members and each said proximal end is movably coupled to said corresponding portion of said shaft assembly.