MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

• US 20150173747A1
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Baxter, Chester O. III, Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Granted Patent: US 9,724,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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 2017/00473 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 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• 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 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0808 for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus

Abstract

A surgical instrument equipped with a coupler arrangement for coupling end effectors to an elongated shaft assembly of the surgical instrument. The end effectors may include a pair of jaws in the form of a carrier supporting a surgical staple cartridge and an anvil. The anvil is movable relative to the carrier in opening and closing directions. The end effector may include an articulation joint that facilitates pivotal travel of the carrier and anvil as a unit relative to the elongated shaft assembly in the same directions in which the anvil is opened and closed relative to the carrier.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis, the elongated shaft assembly comprising;

a proximal firing member operably interfacing with a firing system for receiving firing and retraction motions therefrom;

a proximal articulation assembly operably interfacing with an articulation system for receiving articulation motions therefrom and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises;

a surgical end effector comprising;

first and second end effector portions wherein the second end effector portion is selectively movable relative to the first end effector portion in a first direction upon application of an opening motion to the second end effector portion, the second end effector portion being further selectively movable in a second direction upon application of a closing motion to the second end effector portion;

an articulation joint configured to selectively articulate the first end effector portion about an articulation axis in the first and second directions relative to the longitudinal tool axis;

an articulation link assembly operably interfacing with the articulation joint for applying the articulation motions to the articulation joint;

a drive assembly supported for operable movement within the surgical end effector upon application of the firing and retraction motions thereto, the drive assembly configured to apply the opening and closing motions to the second end effector portion and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises;

means for simultaneously coupling;

a distal end of the first end effector portion to the elongated shaft assembly;

the articulation link to the articulation assembly; and

the drive assembly to the proximal firing member.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the surgical end effector further comprises and end effector housing having a distal end and proximal end and wherein the first end effector portion is movably coupled to the distal end of the end effector housing by the articulation joint and wherein the coupling means couples the proximal end of the end effector housing to the elongated shaft assembly.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein the surgical end effector comprises a disposable loading unit.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the surgical instrument comprises a carrier configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the second portion comprises an anvil assembly.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein the drive assembly comprises:

a cutting head comprising;

a vertically extending portion including an upper end and a lower end and a tissue cutting portion oriented between the upper end and the lower end;

a bottom foot protruding from the lower end of the vertically extending portion and configured to movably engage a bottom portion of the carrier;

an upper tab portion protruding from the upper end of the vertically extending portion and configured to engage a portion of the anvil assembly; and

a drive beam assembly operably coupled to the cutting head and configured to interface with the coupling means.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein the drive beam assembly comprises:

an upper firing bar segment coupled to the upper end of the vertically extending portion of the cutting head; and

a lower firing bar segment coupled to the lower end of the vertically extending portion of the cutting head.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein the upper and lower firing bars are coupled to a proximal engagement member configured to operably interface with the coupling means.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 wherein the upper and lower firing bars are each pivotally coupled to the proximal engagement member.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein the surgical staple cartridge comprises an implantable cartridge body operably supporting a plurality of surgical staples therein.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the articulation joint comprises an articulation ball coupled to the first end effector portion, the articulation ball including a first set of gear teeth and wherein the articulation link assembly comprises an articulation tube in meshing engagement with the first set of gear teeth on the articulation ball.

17. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 wherein the articulation joint comprises an articulation ball coupled to the carrier, the articulation ball including a first set of gear teeth and wherein the articulation link assembly comprises an articulation tube in meshing engagement with the first set of gear teeth on the articulation ball.

11. A disposable loading unit for attachment to an elongated shaft assembly of a surgical instrument, the disposable loading unit comprising:

a housing assembly having a distal and proximal end, the proximal end operably couplable to the elongated shaft assembly;

a carrier operably supporting a surgical staple cartridge therein;

an anvil movably supported on the carrier and being selectively movable relative to the carrier in a first direction upon application of an opening motion to the anvil, the anvil being further selectively movable in a second direction upon application of a closing motion to the anvil;

an articulation joint configured to selectively articulate the carrier about an articulation axis in the first and second directions;

an articulation link assembly operably interfacing with the articulation joint for applying the articulation motions to the articulation joint and being selectively couplable to a corresponding portion of the elongated shaft assembly; and

a drive assembly supported for operable movement within the surgical end effector upon application of firing and retraction motions from a corresponding firing portion of the elongated shaft assembly, the drive assembly configured to apply the opening and closing motions to the anvil.

12. The disposable loading unit of claim 11 wherein the drive assembly comprises:

a cutting head comprising;

a vertically extending portion including an upper end and a lower end and a tissue cutting portion oriented between the upper end and the lower end;

a bottom foot protruding from the lower end of the vertically extending portion and configured to movably engage a bottom portion of the carrier;

an upper tab portion protruding from the upper end of the vertically extending portion and configured to engage a portion of the anvil; and

a drive beam assembly operably coupled to the cutting head and configured to interface with the corresponding firing portion of the elongated shaft assembly.

13. The disposable loading unit of claim 12 wherein the drive beam assembly comprises:

an upper firing bar segment coupled to the upper end of the vertically extending portion of the cutting head; and

a lower firing bar segment coupled to the lower end of the vertically extending portion of the cutting head.

14. The disposable loading unit of claim 13 wherein the upper and lower firing bars are coupled to a proximal engagement member configured to operably interface with the corresponding firing portion of the elongated shaft assembly.

15. The disposable loading unit of claim 14 wherein the upper and lower firing bars are each pivotally coupled to the proximal engagement member.

16. The disposable loading unit of claim 11 wherein the surgical staple cartridge comprises an implantable cartridge body operably supporting a plurality of surgical staples therein.

18. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis, the elongated shaft assembly comprising;

a proximal firing member operably interfacing with a firing system for receiving firing and retraction motions therefrom;

a proximal articulation assembly operably interfacing with an articulation system for receiving articulation motions therefrom and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises;

a surgical end effector comprising;

first and second end effector portions wherein the second end effector portion is selectively movable relative to the first end effector portion in a first direction upon application of an opening motion to the second end effector portion, the second end effector portion being further selectively movable in a second direction upon application of a closing motion to the second end effector portion;

an articulation joint configured to selectively articulate the first end effector portion about an articulation axis in the first and second directions relative to the longitudinal tool axis;

an articulation link assembly operably interfacing with the articulation joint for applying the articulation motions to the articulation joint;

a drive assembly supported for operable movement within the surgical end effector upon application of the firing and retraction motions thereto, the drive assembly configured to apply the opening and closing motions thereto and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises;

a coupler assembly comprising;

a first coupler portion configured to couple a distal end of the first end effector portion to the elongated shaft assembly;

a second coupler portion configured to couple the articulation link to the articulation assembly at a same time as the first coupler portion is coupled to the distal end of the first end effector portion; and

a third coupler portion configured to couple the drive assembly to the proximal firing member when the first coupler portion has coupled to the distal end of the first end effector portion to the elongated shaft assembly and when the second coupler portion has coupled the articulation link to the articulation assembly.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18 wherein the surgical end effector further comprises and end effector housing having a distal end and proximal end and wherein the first end effector portion is movably coupled to the distal end of the end effector housing by the articulation joint and wherein the first coupler portion couples the proximal end of the end effector housing to the elongated shaft assembly.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 18 wherein the first portion of the surgical instrument comprises a carrier configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein the second portion comprises an anvil assembly.