Surgical instrument having a hydraulically actuated end effector

• US 20070102473A1
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick, Morgan, Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 7,799,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• 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 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• 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 2017/2901 Details of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 Pistol grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

A hydraulically actuated surgical instrument. The instrument may comprise a handle portion and a shaft. The shaft is mechanically coupled to the handle. The instrument may also include an end effector mechanically coupled to the shaft along its longitudinal axis. The end effector may comprise a surgical implement and a hydraulic device. At least a portion of the surgical implement may be translatable along a transverse axis, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Also, the hydraulic device may be positioned to be expandable toward the surgical instrument in a direction substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the shaft.

Claims

1. A hydraulically actuated surgical instrument, the instrument comprising:

a handle portion;

a shaft having a longitudinal axis, the shaft mechanically coupled to the handle;

an end effector mechanically coupled to the shaft along the longitudinal axis, the end effector comprising;

a surgical implement, at least a portion of the surgical implement translatable along a transverse axis, wherein the transverse axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

a hydraulic device positioned to be expandable toward the surgical instrument in a direction substantially parallel to the transverse axis.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the surgical implement is selected from the group consisting of a cutting edge, a surgical fastener, graspers, a clip applier, a clamp and an access device.

3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic device is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic bladder and a hydraulic cylinder.

4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises an articulation pivot, whereby the end effector pivots away from the longitudinal axis at the articulation pivot.

5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a staple cartridge comprising a staple oriented in a first direction, and wherein the hydraulic device is positioned to be expandable in the first direction toward the staple.

6. The instrument of claim 5, further comprising a staple driver positioned between the hydraulic device and the staple.

7. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising a second surgical implement, at least a portion of the second surgical implement translatable along a second transverse axis;

and a second hydraulic device positioned to be expandable toward the second surgical implement in a direction substantially parallel to the second transverse axis.

8. An end effector for use with a surgical fastening instrument, wherein the end effector is configured to drive surgical fasteners in a first direction, the end effector comprising:

a surgical fastener cartridge comprising a surgical fastener oriented in the first direction; and

a fastener hydraulic device positioned to be expandable in the first direction toward the surgical fastener.

9. The end effector of claim 8, further comprising:

a blade having a cutting edge oriented in the first direction;

a cutting hydraulic device positioned to be expandable in the first direction toward the cutting edge.

10. The end effector of claim 9, further comprising a cutting bar positioned between the cutting hydraulic device and the cutting edge.

11. The end effector of claim 8, wherein the surgical fastener is a staple.

12. The end effector of claim 8, wherein the surgical fastener cartridge comprises a plurality of surgical fasteners oriented in the first direction.

13. The end effector of claim 12, wherein the fastener hydraulic device comprises a hydraulic bladder in contact with a rigid deployment plate;

wherein the rigid deployment plate defines a plurality of apertures;

wherein each of the plurality of apertures corresponds to one of the plurality of surgical fasteners; and

wherein the hydraulic bladder is expandable only through the apertures of the rigid deployment plate.

14. The end effector of claim 8, wherein the fastener hydraulic device is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic bladder and a hydraulic cylinder.

15. The end effector of claim 8, further comprising a surgical implement selected from the group consisting of graspers, a clip applier, and an access device.

16. A surgical instrument comprising:

a valve unit;

a first surgical implement;

a first hydraulic device fluidically coupled to the valve unit and positioned to be expandable toward the first surgical implement;

a second surgical implement;

a second hydraulic device fluidically coupled to the valve unit and positioned to be expandable toward the second surgical implement; and

a firing pattern control device in communication with the valve unit, wherein the firing pattern control device configures the valve unit to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid to the first and second hydraulic devices according to a firing pattern.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the firing pattern specifies at least one of the first and second surgical implements to be driven.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the firing pattern specifies a delay between the driving of the first surgical implement and the driving of the second surgical implement.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 16, further comprising:

a third surgical implement; and

a third hydraulic device fluidically coupled to the valve unit and positioned to be expandable toward the third surgical implement.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the first surgical implement and the second surgical implement are selected from the group consisting of a cutting edge, a surgical fastener, graspers, a clip applier, and an access device.