Linear cutting and stapling device with selectively disengageable cutting member

• US 8,789,740 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Baxter, Chester O. III, Tsonton, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Thanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US12/846,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20120024936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/179.1, 227/181.1, 227/180.1, 123/898
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/081 Gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/082 X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/087 Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument including a selectively actuatable cutting member. The stapling instrument may be used as a surgical stapler without cutting tissue or, if desired, the surgeon may selectively actuate the cutting member to cut tissue as the staples are being deployed and formed. A stapling instrument can include an actuator knob that has at least one pusher bar attached thereto. Advancement of the actuator knob in a distal direction causes the pusher bars to apply a firing motion to the staples contained within a staple cartridge supported within the stapling instrument. A knife bar may be selectively coupleable to the actuator knob by a selector switch that is movable from an actuated position wherein movement of the actuator knob in the distal direction advances the knife bar which has a cutting blade portion to advance between rows of staples in the staple cartridge to an unactuated position wherein movement of the actuator knob advances the pusher bars without advancing the knife bar.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a first jaw member configured to operably support a staple cartridge that has a plurality of staples therein;

a second jaw member removably couplable to said first jaw member to enable tissue to be clamped therebetween;

at least one pusher bar assembly operably supported relative to said first jaw member and being configured to selectively apply a firing motion to the staples supported in the staple cartridge as said at least one pusher bar assembly is distally advanced through the staple cartridge;

a knife bar operably supported relative to said first jaw member and said at least one pusher bar assembly, said knife bar being configured to cut tissue clamped between said first and second jaw members; and

a selector switch operably interfacing with said knife bar and being movable between an activated position wherein an application of an activation motion to said at least one pusher bar assembly causes said knife bar and said at least one pusher bar assembly to simultaneously move in a distal direction within said first jaw member and a deactivated position whereupon application of said activation motion to said at least one pusher bar assembly causes said at least one pusher bar assembly to move in said distal direction without moving said knife bar in said distal direction.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said knife bar and said at least one pusher bar assembly are operably supported by a pusher block that is movably supported within a portion of said first jaw member, said pusher block operably interfacing with said selector switch.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said selector switch comprises a selector bar movably supported within said pusher block and being selectively movable between said activated position wherein said pusher block is coupled to said knife bar and a said deactivated position wherein said pusher block is selectively movable relative to said knife bar.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein said at least one pusher bar is attached to said pusher block and wherein said knife bar is slidably received within a longitudinal slot in said pusher block and wherein said selector bar is selectively movable along an axis that is substantially transverse to said longitudinal slot between said activated and deactivated positions.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said knife bar has a blade on a distal end thereof.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein said blade is detachable from said distal end of said knife bar.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, comprising a blade operably supported in said staple cartridge and configured to receive a cutting motion from said knife bar.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said distal end of said knife bar is configured to abut said blade in said staple cartridge and advance said blade distally within said staple cartridge upon said application of said activation motion to said knife bar.

9. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a first jaw member configured to operably support a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples stored therein, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and the staple cartridge is configured to slidably support a staple driver configured to deploy the staples from the staple cartridge;

a second jaw member removably couplable to said first jaw member for selectively clamping tissue therebetween, said second jaw member having an anvil portion configured to deform the staples when the staples are deployed from the staple cartridge;

at least one pusher bar configured to move the staple driver relative to said first jaw member and said second jaw member;

an actuator knob extending from said at least one pusher bar and being movable toward distal ends of said first and second jaw members;

a knife bar operably supported relative to said actuator knob; and

selector means interacting with said actuator knob and said knife bar for selectively engaging said knife bar with said actuator knob such that when said actuator knob is moved toward said distal ends of said first and second jaw members, said knife bar and said at least one pusher bar are advanced toward said distal ends of said first and second jaw members, said selector means further configured to selectively disengage the knife bar from said actuator knob such that when said actuator knob is moved toward said distal ends of said first and second jaw members, said at least one pusher bar is advanced toward said distal ends of said first and second jaw members without said knife bar being advanced therewith.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a first jaw member configured to operably support a staple cartridge that has a plurality of staples therein;

a second jaw member coupled to said first jaw member for selectively clamping tissue therebetween;

at least one pusher member assembly configured to selectively apply a firing motion to the staples supported in the staple cartridge as said at least one pusher member assembly is distally advanced through the staple cartridge;

a knife member configured to cut tissue clamped between said first and second jaw members; and

a selector operably interfacing with said knife member, and being movable between a deactivated position wherein said at least one pusher member assembly is configured to move without moving said knife member therewith, and an activated position which enables said knife member and said at least one pusher member assembly to move simultaneously.

11. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:

a first jaw member configured to operably support a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples stored therein, wherein at least one of said first jaw member and the staple cartridge is configured to slidably support a staple driver configured to deploy the staples from the staple cartridge;

a second jaw member coupled to said first jaw member for selectively clamping tissue therebetween, said second jaw member having an anvil portion configured to deform the staples when the staples are deployed from the staple cartridge;

at least one pusher member configured to move the staple driver relative to said first jaw member and said second jaw member;

a knife member configured to cut tissue clamped between said first and second jaw members;

an actuator operably engaged to said at least one pusher member; and

an activator for selectively engaging said knife member with said actuator such that when said activator is activated, said actuator actuates said knife member and said at least one pusher member simultaneously, and when the activator is deactivated, said actuator engages said at least one pusher member without engaging said knife member therewith.