Firing members with non-parallel jaw engagement features for surgical end effectors

• US 10,624,635 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Harris, Jason L., Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Bakos, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US15/385,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20180168638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 2271801, 2271751
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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 2017/00367 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 2017/00393 with means for switching between functions
• 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 2017/00473 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 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/2927 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 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 : with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 : Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 : Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 : specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 : abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0808 : for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus
• 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

A surgical instrument that includes a shaft axis and first and second jaws that are configured to move relative to each other about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A firing member is configured to move between a starting position and an ending position. A first jaw engagement member extends laterally from each lateral side of the firing member. Each first jaw engagement member is oriented along a first jaw engagement axis that intersects the shaft axis. A second jaw engagement member extends laterally from each lateral side of the firing member. Each second jaw engagement member is oriented along a second jaw engagement axis that intersects the shaft axis and the first jaw engagement axis.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said shaft assembly and comprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other to move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other; and

a firing member configured to move between a starting position and an ending position relative to said surgical end effector, said firing member comprising;

a vertically extending firing body comprising two lateral sides;

a first jaw engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body, each said first jaw engagement member oriented along a first jaw engagement axis that intersects said shaft axis and being arranged to slidably engage said first jaw as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position; and

a second jaw engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body and being spaced vertically from said first jaw engagement members, each said second jaw engagement member being oriented along a second jaw engagement axis that intersects said shaft axis and said first jaw engagement axis, each said second jaw engagement member being arranged to slidably engage said second jaw as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein each said first jaw engagement member comprises a first proximal end and a first distal end and wherein said first proximal end comprises a first proximal thickness and wherein said first distal end comprises a first distal thickness that differs from said first proximal thickness.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said first proximal thickness is less than said first distal thickness.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein each said second jaw engagement member comprises a second proximal end and a second distal end and wherein said second proximal end has a second proximal thickness and wherein said second distal end has a second distal thickness that differs from said second proximal thickness.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said second proximal thickness is less than said second distal thickness.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein said proximal end of each said first jaw engagement member is oriented a proximal vertical distance from said proximal end of a corresponding one of said second jaw engagement members and wherein said distal end of each said first jaw engagement member is oriented a distal vertical distance from said distal end of a corresponding one of said second jaw engagement members wherein said proximal vertical distance differs from said distal vertical distance.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said proximal vertical distance is less than said distal vertical distance.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said firing member further comprises a central first jaw engagement member extending from each said lateral side of said firing body.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; and

a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said shaft assembly and comprising;

an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;

an anvil, said elongate channel and anvil being configured for movable travel relative to each other about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other; and

a firing member configured to move between a starting position and an ending position relative to said surgical end effector, said firing member comprising;

a vertically extending firing body comprising two lateral sides;

a channel engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body, each said channel engagement member comprising a first proximal end and a first distal end and being arranged to slidably engage said elongate channel as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position; and

an anvil engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body and being spaced vertically from a corresponding one of said channel engagement members, each said anvil engagement member comprising a second proximal end spaced a proximal vertical distance from said shaft axis, each said anvil engagement member further comprising a second distal end that is spaced from said shaft axis a distal vertical distance that differs from said proximal vertical distance, each said anvil engagement member being arranged to slidably engage said anvil as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said proximal vertical distance is less than said distal vertical distance.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said first proximal end has a first proximal thickness and wherein said first distal end has a first distal thickness that differs from said first proximal thickness.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said first proximal thickness is less than said first distal thickness.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said second proximal end has a second proximal thickness and wherein said second distal end has a second distal thickness that differs from said second proximal thickness.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein said second proximal thickness is less than said second distal thickness.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said firing member further comprises a central channel engagement member extending from each said lateral side of said firing body.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface.

18. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;

a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said shaft assembly and comprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other to move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other; and

a firing member configured to move between a starting position and an ending position relative to said surgical end effector, said firing member comprising;

a vertically extending firing body comprising two lateral sides;

a first jaw engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body, each said first jaw engagement member oriented along a first jaw engagement axis that is not parallel with said shaft axis and being arranged to slidably engage said first jaw as said firing member is moved between said starting position and ending position; and

a second jaw engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body and being spaced vertically from said first jaw engagement members, each said second jaw engagement member being oriented along a second jaw engagement axis is not parallel to said shaft axis and said first jaw engagement axis.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein said firing member further comprises a central first jaw engagement member extending from each said lateral side of said firing body.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein said firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface.

21. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; and

a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said shaft assembly and comprising;

an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;

an anvil, said elongate channel and anvil being configured for movable travel relative to each other about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other; and

a firing member configured to move between a starting position and an ending position relative to said surgical end effector, said firing member comprising;

a vertically extending firing body comprising two lateral sides;

a channel engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body, each said channel engagement member comprising a first proximal end and a first distal end and being arranged to slidably engage said elongate channel as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position; and

an anvil engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body and being spaced vertically from a corresponding one of said channel engagement members, each said anvil engagement member comprising a second proximal end spaced a proximal vertical distance from said first proximal end of a corresponding one of said channel engagement members, each said anvil engagement member further comprising a second distal end that is spaced from said first distal end of said corresponding channel engagement member a distal vertical distance that differs from said proximal vertical distance, each said anvil engagement member being arranged to slidably engage said anvil as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position, wherein said first proximal end has a first proximal thickness and wherein said first distal end has a first distal thickness that differs from said first proximal thickness.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein said first proximal thickness is less than said first distal thickness.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein said second proximal end has a second proximal thickness and wherein said second distal end has a second distal thickness that differs from said second proximal thickness.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 23, wherein said second proximal thickness is less than said second distal thickness.