Surgical instrument drive systems

• US 9,968,356 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2015
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Swayze, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US14/679,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20150209039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 2271761, 2271751
• 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 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3205 Excision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• 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 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0645 being elastically deformed for insertion
• 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 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2901 Details of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 Pistol grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

A surgical instrument for stapling the tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a shaft and an end effector. The end effector comprises a staple cartridge body including staple cavities defined therein, staples removably positioned in the staple cavities, an anvil configured to deform the staples, and a knife configured to cut tissue positioned intermediate the staple cartridge body and the anvil. The surgical instrument further comprises a staple drive system configured to eject the staples from the staple cavities and a knife drive system configured to move the knife relative to the staple cartridge body independently of the staple drive system.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for stapling the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a shaft;

an end effector, comprising;

a staple cartridge body including staple cavities defined therein;

staples removably positioned in said staple cavities;

an anvil configured to deform said staples; and

a knife configured to cut tissue positioned intermediate said staple cartridge body and said anvil;

a staple drive system configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities;

a knife drive system configured to move said knife relative to said staple cartridge body; and

a control system configured to selectively operate said staple drive system and said knife drive system independently of one another.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an electrically-driven actuator configured to actuate said staple drive system before said said knife drive system is actuated.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an electrically-driven actuator configured to drive said staple drive system and said knife drive system.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, further comprising a battery configured to supply power to said electrically-driven actuator.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein said end effector is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a closure system configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration, and wherein said electrically-driven actuator is configured to drive said closure system.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein said control system is configured to selectively operate said closure system independently of said staple drive system and said knife drive system.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said end effector is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a manually-operated closure system configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration.

8. A surgical instrument for stapling the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a shaft;

an end effector, comprising;

a staple cartridge body including staple cavities defined therein;

staples removably positioned in said staple cavities;

an anvil configured to deform said staples; and

a knife configured to cut tissue positioned intermediate said staple cartridge body and said anvil;

a staple drive system configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities; and

a knife drive system configured to move said knife relative to said staple cartridge body independently of said staple drive system.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, further comprising an electrically-driven actuator configured to drive said staple drive system and said knife drive system.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, further comprising a battery configured to supply power to said electrically-driven actuator.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein said end effector is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a closure system configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration, and wherein said electrically-driven actuator is configured to drive said closure system.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein said electrically-driven actuator drives said closure system independently of said staple drive system and said knife drive system.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein said end effector is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a manually-operated closure system configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration.

14. A surgical system for stapling the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a shaft;

an end effector, comprising;

a staple cartridge body including staple cavities defined therein;

staples removably positioned in said staple cavities;

an anvil configured to deform said staples; and

a knife configured to cut tissue positioned intermediate said staple cartridge body and said anvil;

a staple drive system configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities during a firing stroke; and

a knife drive system configured to move said knife relative to said staple cartridge body after said firing stroke.

15. The surgical system of claim 14, further comprising an electrically-driven actuator configured to drive said staple drive system and said knife drive system.

16. The surgical system of claim 15, further comprising a battery configured to supply power to said electrically-driven actuator.

17. The surgical system of claim 15, wherein said end effector is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said surgical system further comprises a closure system configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration, and wherein said electrically-driven actuator is configured to drive said closure system.

18. The surgical system of claim 17, wherein said electrically-driven actuator drives said closure system independently of said staple drive system and said knife drive system.

19. The surgical system of claim 14, wherein said end effector is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and wherein said surgical system further comprises a manually-operated closure system configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration.