Surgical stapler with floating anvil

• US 10,743,877 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2017
• Issued: 08/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Young, Joseph E., Aronhalt, Taylor W., Baxter, III, Chester O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel C
• Application Number:
  US15/793,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20180103953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1801
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3209 Incision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• 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 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means

Abstract

A surgical instrument can include an anvil and, in addition, a staple cartridge support configured to support a staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the jaw can be moved toward the staple cartridge to deform staples contained within the staple cartridge. The anvil can be configured to be translated and/or rotated as the anvil is moved toward the staple cartridge. In certain embodiments, the anvil can be configured to float and adjust such that the anvil is moved downwardly in a level manner.

Claims

1. An end effector for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said end effector comprises:

a shaft assembly;

a first jaw;

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;

a closure member configured to apply a closure force to said second jaw to move said second jaw relative to said first jaw, wherein said closure member is positioned within said shaft assembly;

a jaw-coupling arrangement, comprising;

a vertical slot; and

a pin defining a pivot axis, wherein said pin is positioned within said vertical slot, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw about said pivot axis, and wherein said pin is movable within said vertical slot between;

a first vertical position where said second jaw and said first jaw comprise a first fully-closed configuration, wherein a first tissue gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said first fully-closed configuration; and

a second vertical position where said second jaw and said first jaw comprise a second fully-closed configuration which is different than said first fully-closed configuration, wherein a second tissue gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said second fully-closed configuration, wherein said second tissue gap distance is less than said first tissue gap distance, and wherein said closure member is configured to be pulled proximally to move said pin into said second vertical position from said first vertical position to move said second jaw into said second fully-closed configuration.

2. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising a firing member comprising:

a distal portion comprising a cutting member;

an upper camming member extending laterally from said distal portion, wherein said upper camming member is configured to engage said second jaw during a firing stroke of said firing member; and

a lower camming member extending laterally from said distal portion, wherein said lower camming member is configured to engage said first jaw during the firing stroke, wherein said upper camming member and said lower camming member are configured to control the distance between said first jaw and said second jaw during the firing stroke.

3. The end effector of claim 1, further comprising a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein.

4. A surgical stapling assembly, comprising:

a shaft defining a longitudinal axis; and

an end effector attached to said shaft, wherein said end effector comprises;

a first jaw;

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;

a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein;

a closure member configured to apply a closure force to said second jaw to move said second jaw relative to said first jaw, wherein said closure member extends through said shaft;

a vertical slot defining a vertical slot axis which is transverse to said longitudinal axis; and

a pin defining a pivot axis, wherein said pin is positioned within said vertical slot, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw about said pivot axis, wherein said vertical slot limits movement of said pin along said vertical slot axis, and wherein said pin is movable within said vertical slot between;

a first position where said second jaw and said first jaw comprise a first fully-closed configuration, wherein a first tissue gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said first fully-closed configuration; and

a second position where said second jaw and said first jaw comprise a second fully-closed configuration which is different than said first fully-closed configuration, wherein a second tissue gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said second fully-closed configuration, wherein said second tissue gap distance is less than said first tissue gap distance, and wherein said closure member is configured to move proximally to move said pin into said second position from said first position to move said second jaw into said second fully-closed configuration.

5. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 4, further comprising a firing member comprising:

a distal portion comprising a cutting member;

an upper camming member extending laterally from said distal portion, wherein said upper camming member is configured to engage said second jaw during a firing stroke of said firing member; and

a lower camming member extending laterally from said distal portion, wherein said lower camming member is configured to engage said first jaw during the firing stroke, wherein said upper camming member and said lower camming member are configured to control the distance between said first jaw and said second jaw during the firing stroke.

6. The surgical stapling assembly of claim 4, further comprising an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is attached to said shaft by way of said articulation joint, and wherein said end effector is articulatable relative to said shaft by way of said articulation joint.

7. A surgical fastening assembly, comprising:

a shaft defining a shaft axis; and

an end effector extending from said shaft, wherein said end effector comprises;

a first jaw;

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;

a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein;

a closure member configured to apply a closure force to said second jaw to move said second jaw relative to said first jaw, wherein said closure member extends through said shaft;

a vertical slot defining a vertical slot axis which is transverse to said shaft axis; and

a jaw-coupling pin defining a pivot axis, wherein said jaw-coupling pin is positioned within said vertical slot, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw about said pivot axis, wherein said vertical slot limits movement of said jaw-coupling pin along said vertical slot axis, and wherein said jaw-coupling pin is movable within said vertical slot between;

a first position where said second jaw and said first jaw comprise a first fully-closed configuration, wherein a first tissue gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said first fully-closed configuration; and

a second position where said second jaw and said first jaw comprise a second fully-closed configuration which is different than said first fully-closed configuration, wherein a second tissue gap distance is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said second jaw is in said second fully-closed configuration, wherein said second tissue gap distance is less than said first tissue gap distance, and wherein said closure member is configured to be pulled proximally to move said jaw-coupling pin into said second position from said first position to move said second jaw into said second fully-closed configuration.

8. The surgical fastening assembly of claim 7, further comprising a firing member comprising:

a distal portion comprising a cutting member;

an upper camming member extending laterally from said distal portion, wherein said upper camming member is configured to engage said second jaw during a firing stroke of said firing member; and

a lower camming member extending laterally from said distal portion, wherein said lower camming member is configured to engage said first jaw during the firing stroke, wherein said upper camming member and said lower camming member are configured to control the distance between said first jaw and said second jaw during the firing stroke.

9. The surgical fastening assembly of claim 7, further comprising an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is attached to said shaft by way of said articulation joint, and wherein said end effector is articulatable relative to said shaft by way of said articulation joint.