JAW ACTUATED LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING ADVANCEMENT OF A FIRING MEMBER IN A SURGICAL END EFFECTOR UNLESS AN UNFIRED CARTRIDGE IS INSTALLED IN THE END EFFECTOR

• US 20180168576A1
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Published: 06/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hunter, Morgan R., Aronhalt, Taylor W., Wise, Austin E., Vandewalle, James A., Schultz, Darwin L., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Koch, JR., Robert L., Overmyer, Mark D., Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Harris, Jason L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,517,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 17/068 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 17/2816 Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2833 Locking means
• 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 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00469 for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00818 Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 : achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 : with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 : characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 : characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• 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 2017/2912 : transmission of forces to actuating rod or piston
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2934 : arcuate shaped guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 : with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 : Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2947 : Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 : pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 : with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0808 : for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus
• 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 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 : coded with colour
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/94 : coded with symbols, e.g. text

Abstract

A surgical end effector including a first jaw that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and a second jaw that is movably supported relative to the first jaw between open and closed positions. A firing member is supported for axial movement within the first jaw along a shaft axis between a starting position and an ending position. A firing member lockout system is movable between an unlocked position wherein the firing member lockout system is out of engagement with the firing member and a locked position wherein the firing member lockout system is configured to prevent the firing member from being distally advanced from the starting position unless an unfired staple cartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position is supported within the first jaw. The firing member lockout system is configured to be moved from the unlocked position to the locked position when the second jaw is moved to the closed position.

Claims

1. A surgical end effector, comprising:

a first jaw configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;

a second jaw movably supported relative to said first jaw for selective movement between open and closed positions;

a firing member supported for axial movement within said first jaw along a shaft axis between a starting position and an ending position upon applications of firing and retraction motions thereto; and

a firing member lockout system movable by said second jaw between an unactuated position and a locking position wherein when said firing member is initially distally advanced from said starting position, said firing member lockingly engages said firing member lockout system to prevent further distal advancement of said firing member unless an unfired surgical staple cartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position is supported within said first jaw.

2. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said firing member lockout system comprises a lock member mounted to said first jaw.

3. The surgical end effector of claim 2, wherein said lock member further comprises a spring tab configured to support said lock member on said first jaw and bias said lock member into said unlocked position.

4. The surgical end effector of claim 2, wherein said lock member comprises at least one laterally movable locking portion configured to lockingly engage a portion of said firing member upon said initial distal advancement of said firing member when said second jaw is in said closed position unless said unfired surgical staple cartridge is supported within said first jaw.

5. The surgical end effector of claim 4, wherein said firing member comprises a firing member body comprising a lock protrusion that corresponds to each of said laterally movable locking portions, each said lock protrusion oriented for locking engagement with said corresponding laterally movable locking portion upon said initial distal advancement of said firing member when said second jaw is in said closed position unless said unfired surgical staple cartridge is supported within said first jaw.

6. The surgical end effector of claim 5, wherein said cam assembly comprises an unlocking feature corresponding to each said laterally movable locking portion to laterally bias each of said corresponding laterally movable locking portions out of locking engagement with said corresponding lock protrusion when said unfired surgical staple cartridge is supported in said first jaw and said cam assembly thereof is in said unfired position.

7. The surgical end effector of claim 5, wherein each of said laterally movable locking portions comprises a locking window configured to lockingly receive a portion of said corresponding lock protrusion when said laterally movable locking portion is in said locking engagement with said corresponding lock protrusion.

8. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said firing member lockout system comprises at least one lock member movably coupled to said second jaw for travel along a corresponding lock axis that is transverse to said shaft axis when said anvil is in said closed position.

9. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said firing member lockout system comprises:

a locking member movably supported for travel between said unlocked position and said locking position wherein upon said initial distal advancement of said firing member, at least a portion of said locking member is configured to hookingly engage a corresponding portion of said firing member to prevent said firing member from being advanced from said starting position to said ending position; and

biasing means for biasing said firing member to said unlocked position.

10. A surgical end effector, comprising:

an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;

an anvil supported relative to said elongate channel such that said anvil is selectively movable relative to said elongate channel between open and closed positions;

a firing member supported for axial movement within the elongate channel along a shaft axis between a starting position and an ending position upon applications of firing and retraction motions thereto; and

a firing member lockout system movable by said anvil between an unactuated position and a locking position wherein when said firing member is initially distally advanced from said starting position, said firing member lockingly engages said firing member lockout system to prevent further distal advancement of said firing member unless an unfired surgical staple cartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position is supported within said elongate channel, said firing member lockout system configured to be moved from said unactuated position to said locking position when said anvil is moved to said closed position.

11. The surgical end effector of claim 10, wherein said firing member lockout system comprises a lock member comprising:

a pair of laterally movable locking portions;

a mounting portion configured to support said lock member on said surgical end effector and bias the lock member into said unactuated position; and

at least one anvil tab on said lock member for contact by a corresponding portion of said anvil as said anvil is moved to said closed position.

12. The surgical end effector of claim 11, wherein each said laterally movable locking portion comprises a locking window configured to retainingly engage a corresponding portion of said firing member when said lock member is in said locking position unless an unfired surgical staple cartridge is supported within said elongate channel.

13. The surgical end effector of claim 12, wherein said each corresponding portion of said firing member comprises a laterally protruding lock lug corresponding to each of said lock windows of said corresponding laterally movable locking portions and sized to be retainingly received therein in locking engagement therewith when said lock member is in said locking position unless an unfired surgical staple cartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position is supported within said elongate channel.

14. The surgical end effector of claim 13, wherein said cam assembly comprises an unlocking feature corresponding to each said laterally movable locking portion to laterally bias each of said corresponding laterally movable locking portions out of locking engagement with said corresponding lock lug when said unfired surgical staple cartridge is supported in said elongate channel and said cam assembly thereof is in said unfired position.

15. The surgical end effector of claim 10, wherein said firing member lockout system comprises at least one lock member and wherein said anvil comprises:

an anvil body; and

an anvil mounting portion comprising a pair of spaced anvil mounting walls, each said anvil mounting wall being pivotally supported on said elongate channel and wherein each said anvil mounting wall movably supports a corresponding one of said lock members therein.

16. The surgical end effector of claim 10, wherein said firing member lockout system comprises at least one lock member movably coupled to said anvil for travel along a corresponding lock axis that is transverse to said shaft axis when said anvil is in said closed position.

17. The surgical end effector of claim 10, further comprising a tissue cutting surface on said firing member.

18. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an elongate shaft defining a shaft axis;

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

an anvil supported relative to said elongate channel such that said anvil is selectively movable relative to said elongate channel between open and closed positions;

a firing member supported for axial travel within said elongate channel between a starting position and an ending position upon applications of firing and retraction motions thereto; and

means for preventing said firing member from moving from said starting to said ending position unless said anvil is in said closed position and an unfired surgical staple cartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position is supported within said elongate channel.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein said anvil comprises:

an anvil body; and

a pair of anvil mounting walls extending from said anvil body portion, each said anvil mounting wall pivotally coupled to said elongate channel such that said anvil is selectively movable relative to said elongate channel between said open and closed positions upon application of closing and opening motions to said anvil by a closure portion of said elongate shaft assembly.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein said means for preventing comprises:

a locking member movably supported for travel between said unlocked position and said locked position wherein at least a portion is configured to hookingly engage a corresponding portion of said firing member to prevent said firing member from being advanced from said starting position to said ending position; and

means for biasing said firing member to said unlocked position.