Powered surgical instrument

• US 8,800,837 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zemlok, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOW, LINDSAY M
• Application Number:
  US11/786,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,678 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2901 Details of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a drive motor, a drive tube, a firing rod and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a first longitudinal axis. The drive motor is disposed at least partially within the housing. The drive tube is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor and is rotatable about a drive tube axis extending through the drive tube. The firing rod is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive tube and at least a portion of the firing rod is translatable with respect to the drive tube. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion and is in mechanical cooperation with the firing rod so that the firing rod drives a surgical function of the end effector.

Claims

1. The A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis;

a drive motor disposed at least partially within the housing;

a drive tube disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor, the drive tube being rotatable about a drive tube axis extending therethrough;

a firing rod disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive tube, at least a portion of the firing rod being translatable with respect to the drive tube,

wherein at least a portion of the firing rod extends through an aperture of a plate, the aperture including a non-round cross-section for preventing rotation of the firing rod with respect to the plate;

wherein the plate is not rotatable with respect to the housing; and

an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion, the end effector being in mechanical cooperation with the firing rod so that the firing rod drives a surgical function of the end effector,

wherein a portion of the firing rod is rotatable with respect to the housing, and wherein a portion of the firing rod is not rotatable with respect to the housing.

2. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;

an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion, the end effector being movable to an angled position with respect to the longitudinal axis;

a drive motor disposed at least partially within the housing, the drive motor being arranged for driving a surgical function of the end effector;

an articulation mechanism for moving the end effector to the angled position with respect to the longitudinal axis;

an articulation motor for driving the articulation mechanism; and

a firing rod disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor, wherein a portion of the firing rod is rotatable with respect to the housing, and wherein a portion of the firing rod is not rotatable with respect to the housing,

wherein at least a portion of the firing rod extends through an aperture of a plate, the aperture including a non-round cross-section for preventing rotation of the firing rod with respect to the plate, and

wherein the plate is not rotatable with respect to the housing.