Surgical instrument comprising drive systems

• US 10,149,679 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2015
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• 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:
  US14/679,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20150209031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271761, 2271801
• 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 treating the tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a staple cartridge. The staple cartridge comprises staple cavities and a longitudinal slot. The surgical instrument further comprises staples removably positioned in the staple cavities, a cutting member movable within the longitudinal slot, a firing system configured to elect the staples from the staple cavities to staple the tissue, a cutting system configured to move the cutting member within the longitudinal slot to cut the tissue, and a control system configured to operate the firing system and the cutting system independently of one another.

Claims

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

a staple cartridge comprising staple cavities and a longitudinal slot;

staples removably positioned in said staple cavities;

a cutting member movable within said longitudinal slot;

a firing system configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities to staple the tissue;

a cutting system configured to move said cutting member within said longitudinal slot to cut the tissue; and

a control system configured to operate said firing system and said cutting system one at a time.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising:

a firing actuator configured to operate said firing system; and

a cutting actuator configured to operate said cutting system, wherein said cutting actuator is separate and distinct from said firing actuator.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, further comprising:

an end effector including said staple cartridge, wherein said end effector is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a closure system configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration; and

a closure actuator configured to operate said closure system, wherein said closure actuator is separate and distinct from said firing actuator and said cutting actuator.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said firing system generates a firing stroke and said cutting system generates a cutting stroke, and wherein said firing stroke is separate and distinct from said cutting stroke.

5. A surgical instrument for treating the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising staple cavities and a longitudinal slot;

staples removably positioned in said staple cavities;

a cutting member movable within said longitudinal slot;

a firing system configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities to staple the tissue;

a cutting system configured to move said cutting member within said longitudinal slot to cut the tissue; and

a control system configured to operate said firing system and said cutting system independently of one another.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, further comprising:

a firing actuator configured to operate said firing system; and

a cutting actuator configured to operate said cutting system, wherein said cutting actuator is separate and distinct from said firing actuator.

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

an end effector including said staple cartridge, wherein said end effector is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a closure system configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration; and

a closure actuator configured to operate said closure system, wherein said closure actuator is separate and distinct from said firing actuator and said cutting actuator.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein said firing system generates a firing stroke and said cutting system generates a cutting stroke, and wherein said firing stroke is separate and distinct from said cutting stroke.

9. A surgical instrument for treating the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising staple cavities and a longitudinal slot;

staples removably positioned in said staple cavities;

a cutting member movable within said longitudinal slot;

a firing system configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities to staple the tissue;

a cutting system configured to move said cutting member within said longitudinal slot to cut the tissue; and

a control system configured to operate said firing system and permit a user of said surgical instrument to selectively choose whether to operate said cutting system.

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

a firing actuator configured to operate said firing system; and

a cutting actuator configured to operate said cutting system, wherein said cutting actuator is separate and distinct from said firing actuator.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising:

an end effector including said staple cartridge, wherein said end effector is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a closure system configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration; and

a closure actuator configured to operate said closure system, wherein said closure actuator is separate and distinct from said firing actuator and said cutting actuator.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein said firing system generates a firing stroke and said cutting system generates a cutting stroke, and wherein said firing stroke is separate and distinct from said cutting stroke.

13. A surgical instrument for treating the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising staple cavities and a longitudinal slot;

staples removably positioned in said staple cavities;

a cutting member movable within said longitudinal slot;

a firing system configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities to staple the tissue;

a cutting system configured to move said cutting member within said longitudinal slot to cut the tissue; and

a control system configured to operate said firing system and permit a user of said surgical instrument to selectively choose when to fire the cutting system.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, further comprising:

a firing actuator configured to operate said firing system; and

a cutting actuator configured to operate said cutting system, wherein said cutting actuator is separate and distinct from said firing actuator.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, further comprising:

an end effector including said staple cartridge, wherein said end effector is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a closure system configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration; and

a closure actuator configured to operate said closure system, wherein said closure actuator is separate and distinct from said firing actuator and said cutting actuator.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein said firing system generates a firing stroke and said cutting system generates a cutting stroke, and wherein said firing stroke is separate and distinct from said cutting stroke.

17. A surgical instrument for treating the tissue of a patient, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising staple cavities and a longitudinal slot;

staples removably positioned in said staple cavities;

a cutting member movable within said longitudinal slot;

a firing system configured to eject said staples from said staple cavities to staple the tissue;

a cutting system configured to move said cutting member within said longitudinal slot to cut the tissue; and

a toggle configured to permit said cutting system to be selectively operated relative to operating said firing system.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, further comprising:

an end effector including said staple cartridge, wherein said end effector is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a closure system configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration; and

a closure actuator configured to operate said closure system, wherein said closure actuator is separate and distinct from said toggle.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein said firing system generates a firing stroke and said cutting system generates a cutting stroke, and wherein said firing stroke is separate and distinct from said cutting stroke.