END EFFECTOR FOR USE WITH A SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING INSTRUMENT

• US 20100065605A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. VI, Schwemberger, Richard F., Smith, Richard C., Yates, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• 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 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure

Abstract

An end effector for a surgical cutting and stapling instrument. In various embodiments, the end effector may include an elongate channel that is configured to support a staple cartridge therein and which is also operably coupled to a surgical cutting and stapling instrument. An anvil may be movably supported relative to the elongate channel for selective movement between an open position and a closed position wherein tissue is clamped between the anvil and a staple cartridge supported within the elongate channel in response to a closing motion applied thereto from the surgical cutting and stapling instrument. At least one light source may be provided on at least one of the staple cartridge and the elongate channel. The light sources may interface with the anvil to provide a visual indication viewable through a portion of the anvil to indicate a position of tissue clamped between the anvil and the staple cartridge.

Claims

1. An end effector for a surgical cutting and stapling instrument, said end effector comprising:

an elongate channel configured to support a staple cartridge therein and operably coupled to the surgical cutting and stapling instrument;

an anvil movably supported relative to said elongate channel for selective movement between an open position and a closed position wherein tissue is clamped between said anvil and a staple cartridge supported within said elongate channel in response to a closing motion applied thereto from the surgical cutting and stapling instrument; and

at least one light source on at least one of the staple cartridge and said elongate channel, said at least one light source interfacing with said anvil to provide a visual indication viewable through a portion of said anvil to indicate a position of tissue clamped between said anvil and the staple cartridge.

2. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said anvil has a plurality of light-viewing openings therethrough through which said at least one light source may project when said anvil is in said closed position.

3. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said at least one light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes in said staple cartridge.

4. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said anvil has at least one tissue locator thereon.

5. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said at least one light source is electrically coupled to a source of electrical energy supported by the surgical cutting and stapling instrument.

6. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said elongate channel is coupled to an elongate frame of the surgical instrument that supports said source of electrical energy therein.

7. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said at least one light source comprises at least one fiber optic member supported within said elongate channel and operably communicating with a source of light supported in one of the elongate channel and the surgical cutting and stapling instrument.

8. The end effector of claim 1 wherein said elongate channel is operably coupled to an elongate frame of the surgical cutting and stapling instrument that supports said light source.

9. The end effector of claim 8 wherein said elongate frame is operably coupled to a handle assembly of the surgical cutting and stapling apparatus that supports said light source.

10. A method for processing an end effector for surgery, the method comprising:

obtaining the end effector of claim 1;

sterilizing the end effector; and

storing the end effector in a sterile container.

11. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical cutting and stapling instrument, said staple cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body having a plurality of staple-receiving channels therein, each said staple receiving channel operably supporting at least one surgical staple therein; and

a plurality of light sources supported within said cartridge body for projecting light towards an anvil portion of the surgical cutting and stapling instrument when the staple cartridge is operably supported therein and the anvil portion is oriented in a tissue clamping position.

12. The staple cartridge of claim 11 wherein said plurality of light sources comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

13. The staple cartridge of claim 12 wherein said light emitting diodes are electrically coupled to a source of electrical power in the surgical cutting and stapling instrument when cartridge body is operably coupled thereto.

14. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical cutting and stapling instrument having at least one source of light therein, said staple cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body having a plurality of staple-receiving channels therein, each said staple receiving channel operably supporting at least one surgical staple therein; and

a plurality of light-projecting openings extending through said cartridge body in such positions as to projecting light from the light source towards an anvil portion of the surgical cutting and stapling instrument when the staple cartridge is operably supported therein and the anvil portion is oriented in a tissue clamping position.

15. A surgical cutting and stapling instrument comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongate shaft operably coupled to said handle assembly;

an elongate channel operably coupled to said elongate shaft and configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein;

an anvil movably supported relative to said elongate channel for selective movement between an open position and a closed position wherein tissue is clamped between said anvil and a staple cartridge supported within said elongate channel in response to opening and closing motions applied thereto from the elongate shaft; and

at least one light source on at least one of the staple cartridge and said elongate channel, said at least one light source interfacing with said anvil to provide a visual indication viewable through a portion of said anvil to indicate a position of tissue clamped between said anvil and the staple cartridge.

16. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 15 wherein said anvil has a plurality of light-receiving passageways therethrough through which said at least one light source may project when said anvil is in said closed position.

17. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 15 wherein said at least one light source comprises:

at least one light emitting member supported in one of said elongate shaft and said handle assembly; and

at least one fiber optic cable supported within said elongate channel operably communicating with said at least one light source to receive light therefrom.

18. The surgical cutting and stapling instrument of claim 15 wherein said at least one light source comprises a plurality of electrical powered light sources in the staple cartridge and wherein said surgical cutting and stapling instrument further comprises at least one electrical contact supported in said elongate channel and in electrical communication with a source of electrical energy such that when the staple cartridge is operably supported within said elongate channel, said at least one electrical contact electrically interfaces with a corresponding at least one electrical contact in the staple cartridge to transmit electrical power to the plurality of light sources therein.

19. The surgical cutting and stapling apparatus of claim 18 wherein said plurality of electrical powered light sources comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

20. The surgical cutting and stapling apparatus of claim 19 wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes are provided in at least two different colors.