SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH IMPROVED CLOSURE ARRANGEMENTS

• US 20160174983A1
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Morgan, Jerome R., Baxter, Chester O. III
• Granted Patent: US 10,004,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• 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 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• 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 2017/2937 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots

Abstract

A surgical instrument that includes jaw members, at least one of which may be moved to closed positions relative to the other jaw member upon actuation of a closure actuator. Actuation of the closure actuator causes an axially moveable closure member to apply closure motions to at least one of the jaw members. In at least one form, the closure actuator includes a first actuator portion that is configured to move through a first range of axial travel upon actuation of the closure actuator. A second actuator portion interfaces with the axially movable closure member such that upon actuation of said closure actuator, the second actuator portion moves the axially movable closure member through a second range of axial travel that is greater than the first range of axial travel.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of the at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and

a closure system comprising;

an axially movable closure member configured to apply said closure motion to said at least one of said first and second jaw members;

a closure actuator including a first actuator portion configured to move axially through a first range of axial travel upon actuation of said closure actuator; and

a closure transmission interfacing with said first actuator portion and comprising a second actuator portion interfacing with said axially movable closure member such that upon actuation of said closure actuator, said second actuator portion moves said axially movable closure member through a second range of axial travel that is greater than said first range of axial travel.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said closure transmission further comprises:

a transfer member axially movable between said first actuator portion and said second actuator portion, said transfer member in operable engagement with said first actuator portion such that axial movement of said first actuator portion results in axial movement of said transfer member; and

a multiplier member in operable engagement with said transfer member and said second actuator portion such that axial movement of said transfer member results in axial movement of said second actuator portion.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said first actuator portion comprises a first axially movable closure rack and wherein said second actuator portion comprises a second axially movable closure rack in operable engagement with said first axially movable closure rack.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said closure transmission further comprises:

a transfer rack axially movable between said first axially movable closure rack and said second axially movable closure rack;

a closure pinion gear supported in operable meshing engagement with said first closure rack and said transfer rack;

a transfer pinion gear supported in operable meshing engagement with said transfer rack; and

a multiplier pinion gear coupled to said transfer pinion gear and in operable meshing engagement with said second axially movable closure rack.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing operably supporting said closure actuator; and

a shaft assembly operably coupled to said housing and said surgical end effector, said shaft assembly comprising said axially movable closure member.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said shaft assembly is configured for removable operable attachment to said housing.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein said shaft assembly comprises a chassis configured for operable removable attachment to said housing, said chassis operably supporting said closure transmission.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said closure member comprises a tubular member configured to move axially relative to a frame portion of said shaft assembly.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein one of said first and second jaw members comprises an elongate channel configured to support a surgical staple cartridge therein and the other of said first and second jaw members comprises an anvil.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said end effector is operably coupled to said shaft assembly by an articulation joint.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein said shaft assembly comprises a frame assembly coupled to said housing and wherein said closure member comprises a closure tube assembly axially movably supported on said frame assembly.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said closure tube assembly comprises:

a proximal closure tube segment operably interfacing with said closure transmission; and

a flexible closure tube segment interfacing with said proximal closure tube segment and extending over said articulation joint to operably interface with the at least one of said first and second jaw members.

13. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector comprising;

a surgical staple cartridge; and

an anvil, at least one of said surgical staple cartridge and said anvil being movable in response to a closure motion applied thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a shaft assembly operably interfacing with at least one of said surgical staple cartridge and said anvil;

a handle operably coupled to said shaft assembly;

a closure actuator operably supported by said handle and including a first actuator portion configured to move axially a predetermined first range of axial travel upon actuation of said closure actuator;

an axially movable closure member configured to apply said closure motion to the at least one of said surgical staple cartridge and said anvil; and

a closure transmission interfacing with said first actuator portion and comprising a second actuator portion interfacing with said axially movable closure member such that upon actuation of said closure actuator, said second actuator portion moves said axially movable closure member through a second range of axial travel that is greater than said first range of axial travel.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13 wherein at least one of said surgical staple cartridge and said anvil is coupled to said shaft assembly by an articulation joint.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 wherein said shaft assembly comprises a frame assembly coupled to said handle and said at least one of said surgical staple cartridge and said anvil wherein said closure member comprises a closure tube assembly axially movably supported on said frame assembly.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15 wherein said closure tube assembly comprises:

a proximal closure tube segment operably interfacing with said second actuator portion; and

a flexible closure tube segment interfacing with said proximal closure tube segment and extending over said articulation joint to operably interface with the at least one of said surgical staple cartridge and said anvil.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said second actuator portion is operably coupled to said first actuator portion by an axially movable transfer rack and a plurality of gears.

18. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of the at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and

a closure system comprising;

an axially movable closure member configured to apply said closure motion to said at least one of said first and second jaw members;

a closure actuator including a first actuator portion configured to move axially through a first range of axial travel upon actuation of said closure actuator; and

means for moving the axially movable closure member through a second range of axial travel that is greater than said first range of axial travel upon actuation of said closure actuator.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18 wherein one of said first and second jaws comprises a surgical staple cartridge and the other of said first and second jaws comprises an anvil.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 18 wherein said closure actuator comprises a closure trigger support on a housing that is operably coupled to said end effector by a shaft assembly.