Surgical instrument articulation joint cover

• US 7,798,386 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Zerkle, Jason E., Jaworek, Gary S., Uth, Joshua R., Schall, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash; Brian D
• Application Number:
  US12/031,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20080296343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/19.1, 227/75.2, 227/178.1, 227/179.1, 227/176.1
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a shaft, an end effector, and a joint, wherein the end effector can be moved relative to the shaft about the joint. In various embodiments, the joint can include a cover configured to be positioned intermediate the end effector and the shaft. In at least one embodiment, the cover can be connected to at least one of the end effector and the shaft and can be configured to at least partially surround the joint in order to prevent soft tissue positioned adjacent to the joint from being pulled into and/or pinched by the joint.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft;

an end effector including an anvil movable between an open position and a closed position;

a closure mechanism configured to transmit a closing force to said anvil, said closure mechanism comprising;

a pivot;

a first portion operably engaged with said anvil; and

a second portion rotatably connected to said first portion about said pivot;

a joint, wherein said end effector is configured to be moved relative to said shaft about said joint, and wherein said first portion and said second portion of said closure mechanism are configured to slide relative to said joint; and

a flexible cover configured to at least partially surround said joint, wherein a first portion of said flexible cover is engaged with said first portion of said closure mechanism, wherein a second portion of said flexible cover is engaged with said second portion of said closure mechanism, and wherein said flexible cover is configured to move relative to said joint with said first portion and said second portion of said closure mechanism.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said flexible cover is configured to at least partially surround said pivot.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a retaining member, wherein said retaining member is configured to retain said flexible cover to at least one of said first portion and said second portion of said closure mechanism.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein said retaining member includes one of a clamp, a band, a ring, and a clip.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a first retaining member and a second retaining member, wherein said first retaining member is configured to attach said first portion of said flexible cover to said first portion of said closure mechanism, and wherein said second retaining member is configured to attach said second portion of said flexible cover to said second portion of said closure mechanism.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a retaining member, wherein one of said first portion and said second portion of said closure mechanism includes a groove, and wherein said retaining member is configured to secure at least a portion of said flexible cover within said groove.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said second portion of said closure mechanism includes a lip and a groove positioned adjacent to said lip, wherein said flexible cover includes an inner surface defining a recess, and wherein said recess is configured to be engaged with said lip when said flexible cover at least partially surrounds said joint.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, further comprising a retaining member, wherein said retaining member is configured to secure at least a portion of said flexible cover within said groove.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said second portion of said closure mechanism includes a lip and a groove positioned adjacent to said lip, wherein said groove is positioned a first distance from said end-effector, wherein said lip is positioned a second distance from said end-effector, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

10. A disposable loading unit for a surgical instrument, said disposable loading unit comprising:

an end effector including an anvil movable between an open position and a closed position;

a closure mechanism configured to transmit a closing force to said anvil, said closure mechanism comprising;

a pivot;

a first portion operably engaged with said anvil; and

a second portion rotatably connected to said first portion about said pivot;

a joint, wherein said end effector is configured to be moved about said joint, and wherein said first portion and said second portion of said closure mechanism are slidable relative to said joint; and

a flexible cover configured to at least partially surround said joint, wherein said cover is slidable relative to said joint.

11. The disposable loading unit of claim 10, wherein said flexible cover is configured to at least partially surround said pivot.

12. The disposable loading unit of claim 10, further comprising a retaining member, wherein said retaining member is configured to retain said flexible cover to at least one of said first portion and said second portion of said closure mechanism.

13. The disposable loading unit of claim 12, wherein said retaining member includes one of a clamp, a band, a ring, and a clip.

14. The disposable loading unit of claim 10, further comprising a retaining member, wherein one of said first portion and said second portion of said closure mechanism includes a groove, and wherein said retaining member is configured to secure at least a portion of said flexible cover within said groove.

15. A cover assembly for a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument includes a shaft, a joint, a closure mechanism, and an end effector, wherein the end effector is configured to be moved relative to the shaft about the joint, and wherein the closure mechanism is configured to be moved relative to the joint, said cover assembly comprising:

a sleeve configured to at least partially surround the joint, wherein said sleeve includes a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is configured to be engaged with at least one of the shaft and the closure mechanism, and wherein said second end is configured to be engaged with at least one of the end effector and the closure mechanism; and

a retaining member configured to attach said sleeve to at least one of the shaft, the closure mechanism, and the end effector, wherein said sleeve includes an inner surface defining a recess, and wherein said recess is configured to be engaged with a lip on one of the shaft, the end effector, and the closure mechanism.

16. The cover assembly of claim 15, wherein said sleeve is configured to entirely surround the joint.

17. The cover assembly of claim 15, wherein said retaining member includes one of a clamp, a band, a ring, and a clip.

18. The cover assembly of claim 15, further comprising a second retaining member configured to attach said sleeve to at least one of the shaft, the closure mechanism, and the end effector.

19. The cover assembly of claim 15, wherein one of the end effector, the closure mechanism, and the shaft includes a groove, and wherein said retaining member is configured to secure at least a portion of said sleeve within the groove.