SURGICAL END EFFECTORS AND ADAPTABLE FIRING MEMBERS THEREFOR

• US 20180168651A1
• 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: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Harris, Jason L., Bakos, Gregory J., Smith, David B., Hensel, Adam D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,973,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• 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 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• 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 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• 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 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00964 composite
• 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 2017/07242 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 2017/2903 : transferring rotary motion
• 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 2017/2931 : with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• 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 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 : Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 : of the patient or his organs
• 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 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

Surgical end effectors are disclosed. The surgical end effectors can include a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing member configured to translate relative to the first jaw and the second jaw during a firing stroke. The firing member can include at least one floating flange. The floating flange can be configured to shift or slide relative to a fixed portion of the firing member such as a fixed flange.

Claims

1. A surgical end effector, comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw; and

a firing member configured to translate relative to said first jaw and said second jaw during a firing stroke, wherein said firing member comprises;

a support portion comprising a slot;

a first flange extending from said support portion, wherein said first flange is configured to engage said first jaw during the firing stroke; and

a second flange positioned in said slot, wherein said second flange is configured to engage said second jaw during the firing stroke, and wherein said second flange is configured to move in said slot away from said first flange when a threshold force is applied to said second flange.

2. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said slot comprises a wedge-shaped slot.

3. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said slot comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said second flange is friction-fit in said distal end of said slot.

4. The surgical end effector of claim 3, wherein the threshold force is configured to overcome a friction-fit securing said second flange in said distal end.

5. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said slot comprises a contoured upper edge, and wherein said second flange is configured to slide along said contoured upper edge when the threshold force is applied to said second flange.

6. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said second flange comprises a groove aligned with said slot.

7. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said firing member further comprises a guide secured to said second flange.

8. The surgical end effector of claim 1, wherein said second jaw is rotatably coupled to said first jaw.

9. A surgical end effector, comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw; and

a firing member configured to translate relative to said first jaw and said second jaw during a firing stroke, wherein said firing member comprises;

a fixed flange configured to engage said first jaw during the firing stroke;

a floating flange configured to engage said second jaw during the firing stroke; and

a spring configured to bias said floating flange toward a first position.

10. The surgical end effector of claim 9, wherein a slot is defined in said firing member, and wherein said floating flange is configured to slide along said slot when a threshold force is applied to said floating flange.

11. The surgical end effector of claim 10, wherein said slot comprises:

a proximal end;

a distal end, wherein said distal end is closer to said fixed flange than said proximal end; and

an upper edge extending from said proximal end to said distal end.

12. The surgical end effector of claim 11, wherein the first position is adjacent to said distal end.

13. The surgical end effector of claim 12, wherein said spring comprises a coil spring extending between said floating flange and said proximal end of said slot.

14. The surgical end effector of claim 10, wherein said floating flange comprises a groove aligned with said slot.

15. The surgical end effector of claim 9, wherein said firing member further comprises a guide.

16. A surgical end effector, comprising:

a first jaw;

a second jaw; and

a firing member configured to translate relative to said first jaw and said second jaw during a firing stroke, wherein said firing member comprises;

a fixed flange configured to engage said first jaw during the firing stroke; and

a compliant portion comprising a floating flange, wherein said floating flange is configured to engage said second jaw during the firing stroke.

17. The surgical end effector of claim 16, wherein said compliant portion is comprised of nitinol.

18. The surgical end effector of claim 16, wherein a cutout is defined in said firing member, and wherein said compliant portion is embedded in said cutout.

19. The surgical end effector of claim 18, wherein said cutout comprises a lower portion, and wherein said compliant portion comprises a foot positioned in said lower portion.

20. The surgical end effector of claim 19, wherein said floating flange is configured to move away from said fixed flange when a threshold force is applied to said floating flange.