Surgical end effectors and firing members thereof

• US 10,588,632 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Harris, Jason L., Baxter, III, Chester O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel C
• Application Number:
  US15/386,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20180168645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 2271801, 227 19, 2271751, 2271761, 2271811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• 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 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00964 composite
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/0725 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 2017/07264 : characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 : characterised by its cartridge
• 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 2017/2903 : transferring rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 : with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 : with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 : Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 : of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 : for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

Surgical end effectors are disclosed. The surgical end effectors can include a first jaw and a second jaw comprising a closure surface and an opening surface. The surgical end effectors can also include a pivot joint, wherein the second jaw is configured to pivot relative to the first jaw at the pivot joint, wherein the closure surface is positioned distal of the pivot joint, and the opening surface is positioned proximal to the pivot joint. The surgical end effectors can also include a firing member configured to move distally during a firing stroke, wherein the firing member comprises a first flange and a second flange. The second flange can be configured to engage the closure surface to pivot the second jaw toward a closed position, and the second flange can be configured to engage the opening surface to pivot the second jaw toward an open position.

Claims

1. A surgical end effector, comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw comprising a closure surface and an opening surface;

a pivot joint, wherein said second jaw is configured to pivot relative to said first jaw at said pivot joint, wherein said closure surface is positioned distal to said pivot joint and wherein said opening surface is positioned proximal to said pivot joint; and

a firing member configured to move distally during a firing stroke, wherein said firing member comprises;

a first flange positioned to engage said first jaw; and

a second flange positioned to engage said second jaw, wherein said second flange is configured to engage said closure surface to pivot said second jaw toward a closed position, and wherein said second flange is configured to engage said opening surface to pivot said second jaw toward an open position.

2. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said firing member is movable distally from a home position to pivot said second jaw toward the closed position, and wherein said firing member is movable proximally from the home position to pivot said second jaw toward the open position.

3. The surgical end effector of claim 2, wherein said second jaw comprises an intermediate surface between said closure surface and said opening surface, and wherein said second flange is spaced apart from said intermediate surface when said firing member is in the home position.

4. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said firing member further comprises a knife intermediate said first flange and said second flange.

5. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge.

6. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said second jaw comprises a staple-forming anvil.

7. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said first jaw comprises a first passageway for said first flange, and wherein said second jaw comprises a second passageway for said second flange.

8. The surgical end effector of claim 1, further comprising a spring configured to bias said second jaw toward the open position when said firing member is proximal to a home position.

9. A surgical end effector, comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw comprising a closure surface and an opening surface;

a pivot joint, wherein said second jaw is configured to pivot relative to said first jaw at said pivot joint; and

a firing member configured to move distally from a home position during a firing stroke, wherein said firing member comprises;

a first flange positioned to engage said first jaw; and

a second flange positioned to engage said second jaw, wherein said second flange is configured to engage said closure surface when said firing member is moved distally from the home position, and wherein said second flange is configured to engage said opening surface when said firing member is moved proximally from said home position.

10. The surgical end effector of claim 9, wherein said second flange is configured to engage said closure surface to pivot said second jaw toward a closed position, and wherein said second flange is configured to engage said opening surface to pivot said second jaw toward an open position.

11. The surgical end effector of claim 9, wherein said second jaw comprises an intermediate surface between said closure surface and said opening surface, and wherein said second flange is spaced apart from said intermediate surface when said firing member is in the home position.

12. The surgical end effector of claim 9, wherein said firing member further comprises a knife intermediate said first flange and said second flange.

13. The surgical end effector of claim 9, wherein said first jaw is configured to receive a staple cartridge.

14. The surgical end effector of claim 9, wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.

15. The surgical end effector of claim 9, wherein said first jaw comprises a first passageway for said first flange, and wherein said second jaw comprises a second passageway for said second flange.

16. The surgical end effector of claim 9, further comprising a spring configured to bias said second jaw away from said first jaw when said firing member is in the home position.

17. A surgical end effector, comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw comprising a first camming means and a second camming means;

a pivot joint, wherein said second jaw is configured to pivot relative to said first jaw at said pivot joint; and

a firing member configured to move distally from a home position during a firing stroke, wherein said firing member comprises;

a first flange positioned to engage said first jaw; and

a second flange positioned to engage said second jaw, wherein said second flange is configured to engage said first camming means when said firing member is moved distally from the home position, and wherein said second flange is configured to engage said second camming means when said firing member is moved proximally from said home position.

18. The surgical end effector of claim 17, wherein said first camming means is configured to cam said second jaw toward a closed position, and wherein said second camming means is configured to cam said second jaw toward an open position.

19. The surgical end effector of claim 18, wherein said first camming means comprises a distal closure ramp extending upward from an intermediate surface into a passageway in said second jaw, and wherein said second camming means comprises a proximal closure surface extending upward from the intermediate surface.

20. The surgical end effector of claim 18, wherein the home position comprises a range of positions.