ARTICULATING SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING A TWO-PIECE E-BEAM FIRING MECHANISM

• US 20170007242A1
• Filed: 09/20/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Setser, Michael E., Doll, Kevin R., Morgan, Jerome R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,278,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• 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 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0688 Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• 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 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 : additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 : additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 : with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320097 : with stapling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 : Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 : Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 : specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 : Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/37 : Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 : Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 : for collecting or disposing of used articles

Abstract

A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A stapling system, comprising:

an anvil comprising an anvil ledge;

a channel comprising a channel ledge;

a firing bar comprising a first projection configured to engage said anvil ledge and a second projection configured to engage said channel ledge;

a replaceable staple cartridge, comprising;

a proximal end positionable adjacent said firing bar;

a distal end positioned opposite said proximal end;

staples;

a vertical slot extending longitudinally from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said vertical slot is configured to receive said firing bar during a staple firing stroke; and

a sled spanning across said vertical slot, wherein said sled is movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position; and

a locking member movable vertically and spring-biased into a locked configuration which inhibits said firing member from being advanced through said staple firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises a proximally-extending portion configured to overcome the spring bias of said locking member if said sled is in its proximal unfired position.

22. The stapling system of claim 21, wherein said sled is positioned in front of said firing bar when said unfired staple cartridge is assembled to said stapling system.

23. The stapling system of claim 21, wherein said sled is positioned intermediate said first projection and said second projection of said firing bar when said unfired staple cartridge is assembled to said stapling system.

24. The stapling system of claim 21, wherein said sled comprises a central portion configured to slide within said vertical slot during said staple firing stroke, and wherein said proximally-extending portion extends from said central portion.

25. The stapling system of claim 21, further comprising an articulation joint, wherein said unfired staple cartridge is attached to said stapling system at a location which is distal with respect to said articulation joint.

26. The stapling system of claim 21, further comprising a frame, wherein said locking member is rotatable relative to said frame.

27. A stapling system, comprising:

an anvil comprising an anvil ledge;

a channel comprising a channel ledge;

a firing bar comprising a first projection configured to engage said anvil ledge and a second projection configured to engage said channel ledge;

a replaceable staple cartridge, comprising;

a proximal end positionable adjacent said firing bar;

a distal end positioned opposite said proximal end;

staples;

a vertical slot extending longitudinally from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said vertical slot is configured to receive said firing bar during a staple firing stroke; and

a sled spanning from one side of said vertical slot to another side of said vertical slot, wherein said sled is movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position; and

a locking element movable vertically and spring-biased into a locked state which inhibits said firing member from being advanced through said staple firing stroke, wherein said sled comprises a proximally-extending portion configured to overcome the spring bias of said locking element if said sled is in its proximal unfired position.

28. The stapling system of claim 27, wherein said sled is positioned in front of said firing bar when said staple cartridge is assembled to said stapling system.

29. The stapling system of claim 27, wherein said sled is positioned intermediate said first projection and said second projection of said firing bar when said staple cartridge is assembled to said stapling system.

30. The stapling system of claim 27, wherein said sled comprises a central portion configured to slide within said vertical slot during said staple firing stroke, and wherein said proximally-extending portion extends from said central portion.

31. The stapling system of claim 27, further comprising an articulation joint, wherein said staple cartridge is attached to said stapling system at a location which is distal with respect to said articulation joint.

32. The stapling system of claim 27, further comprising a frame, wherein said locking member is rotatable relative to said frame.

33. A stapling system, comprising:

an anvil;

a channel;

a firing bar comprising a first cam configured to engage said anvil and a second cam configured to engage said channel;

a replaceable staple cartridge, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end positioned opposite said proximal end;

staples;

a vertical slot extending longitudinally from said proximal end toward said distal end, wherein said vertical slot is configured to receive said firing bar during a staple firing stroke; and

a sled which traverses said vertical slot, wherein said sled is movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position; and

a vertically-movable spring-biased lockout system which inhibits said firing member from being advanced through said staple firing stroke when said sled is not in said proximal unfired position, wherein said sled comprises a proximally-extending portion configured to overcome the spring bias of said lockout system if said sled is in its proximal unfired position.

34. The stapling system of claim 33, wherein said sled is positioned in front of said firing bar when said staple cartridge is assembled to said stapling system.

35. The stapling system of claim 33, wherein said sled is positioned intermediate said first cam and said second cam of said firing bar when said staple cartridge is assembled to said stapling system.

36. The stapling system of claim 33, wherein said sled comprises a central portion configured to slide within said vertical slot during said staple firing stroke, and wherein said proximally-extending portion extends from said central portion.

37. The stapling system of claim 33, further comprising an articulation joint, wherein said staple cartridge is attached to said stapling system at a location which is distal with respect to said articulation joint.

38. The stapling system of claim 33, further comprising a frame, wherein said locking member is rotatable relative to said frame.