Articulatable surgical instrument comprising a firing drive

• US 9,101,358 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2012
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kerr, Wendy A., Lytle, Thomas W. IV, Overmyer, Mark D., Swensgard, Brett E., Leimbach, Richard L., Sackett, Kevin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US13/524,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20130334278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 606/151, 606/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector rotatably coupled to the shaft by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument can further include a staple cartridge positioned within the end effector and a firing drive operably coupled with a trigger wherein the operation of the trigger can advance and/or retract a firing member of the firing drive relative to the end effector. The surgical instrument can further comprise an articulation drive which is selectively engageable with the firing drive. When the articulation drive is engaged with the firing drive, the operation of the firing drive can operate the articulation drive and articulate the end effector. When the articulation drive is not engaged with the firing drive, the firing drive can be operated independently of the articulation drive.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:

a handle comprising a trigger;

a shaft extending from said handle;

an end effector;

an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatably coupled to said shaft by said articulation joint;

a firing member operably coupled with said trigger, wherein the operation of said trigger is configured to advance said firing member toward said end effector; and

an articulation member operably coupled with said end effector, wherein said articulation member is selectively engageable with said firing member such that said articulation member is operably engaged with said firing member in an engaged configuration and such that said articulation member is operably disengaged from said firing member in a disengaged configuration, wherein said firing member is configured to move said articulation member relative to said end effector to rotate said end effector about said articulation joint when said articulation member and said firing member are in said engaged configuration, wherein the advancement of said articulation member toward said end effector is configured to rotate said end effector in a first direction, and wherein said firing member is configured to retract said articulation member away from said end effector to rotate said end effector about said articulation joint in a second direction.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a staple cartridge.

3. A surgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:

a handle comprising a trigger;

a shaft extending from said handle;

an end effector;

an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatably coupled to said shaft by said articulation joint;

a firing member operably coupled with said trigger, wherein the operation of said trigger is configured to advance said firing member toward said end effector; and

an articulation member operably coupled with said end effector, wherein said articulation member is selectively engageable with said firing member such that said articulation member is operably engaged with said firing member in an engaged configuration and such that said articulation member is operably disengaged from said firing member in a disengaged configuration, wherein said firing member is configured to move said articulation member relative to said end effector to rotate said end effector about said articulation joint when said articulation member and said firing member are in said engaged configuration, and wherein said firing member is configured to move independently of said articulation member when said firing member and said articulation member are in said disengaged configuration.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, further comprising a staple cartridge.

5. A surgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:

a handle comprising a trigger;

a shaft extending from said handle;

an end effector;

an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatably coupled to said shaft by said articulation joint;

a firing member operably coupled with said trigger, wherein the operation of said trigger is configured to advance said firing member toward said end effector; and

an articulation member operably coupled with said end effector, wherein said articulation member is selectively engageable with said firing member such that said articulation member is operably engaged with said firing member in an engaged configuration and such that said articulation member is operably disengaged from said firing member in a disengaged configuration, wherein said firing member is configured to move said articulation member relative to said end effector to rotate said end effector about said articulation joint when said articulation member and said firing member are in said engaged configuration, wherein said handle further comprises an electric motor configured to advance said firing member distally toward said end effector and to retract said firing member proximally away from said end effector, and wherein said firing member is configured to retract said articulation member away from said end effector to rotate said end effector about said articulation joint when said firing member and said articulation member are in said engaged configuration.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, further comprising a staple cartridge.

7. A surgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:

a handle comprising a trigger;

a shaft extending from said handle;

an end effector;

an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatably coupled to said shaft by said articulation joint;

a firing member operably coupled with said trigger, wherein the operation of said trigger is configured to advance said firing member toward said end effector; and

an articulation member operably coupled with said end effector, wherein said articulation member is selectively engageable with said firing member such that said articulation member is operably engaged with said firing member in an engaged configuration and such that said articulation member is operably disengaged from said firing member in a disengaged configuration, and wherein said firing member is configured to move said articulation member relative to said end effector to rotate said end effector about said articulation joint when said articulation member and said firing member are in said engaged configuration,

further comprising an end effector lock configured to selectively lock said end effector in position relative to said shaft, and

further comprising a force-limiting clutch configured to transmit movement between said firing member and said articulation member when said articulation member and said firing member are in said engaged configuration, wherein said force-limiting clutch is configured to permit relative movement between said firing member and said articulation member and enter into said disengaged configuration when a force transmitted between said articulation member and said firing member has exceeded a predetermined force.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, further comprising a staple cartridge.

9. A surgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:

a handle comprising a trigger;

a shaft extending from said handle;

an end effector;

an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatably coupled to said shaft by said articulation joint;

a firing member operably coupled with said trigger, wherein the operation of said trigger is configured to advance said firing member toward said end effector; and

an articulation member operably coupled with said end effector, wherein said articulation member is selectively engageable with said firing member such that said articulation member is operably engaged with said firing member in an engaged configuration and such that said articulation member is operably disengaged from said firing member in a disengaged configuration, and wherein said firing member is configured to move said articulation member relative to said end effector to rotate said end effector about said articulation joint when said articulation member and said firing member are in said engaged configuration,

further comprising an end effector lock configurable in a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein said end effector lock is configured to place said articulation member and said firing member in said engaged configuration when said end effector lock is in said unlocked configuration.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, further comprising a staple cartridge.

11. A surgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:

a handle comprising a trigger;

a shaft extending from said handle;

an end effector;

an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatably coupled to said shaft by said articulation joint;

a firing member operably coupled with said trigger, wherein the operation of said trigger is configured to advance said firing member toward said end effector; and

an articulation member operably coupled with said end effector, wherein said articulation member is selectively engageable with said firing member such that said articulation member is operably engaged with said firing member in an engaged configuration and such that said articulation member is operably disengaged from said firing member in a disengaged configuration, and wherein said firing member is configured to move said articulation member relative to said end effector to rotate said end effector about said articulation joint when said articulation member and said firing member are in said engaged configuration,

further comprising an end effector lock configurable in a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein said end effector lock is configured to place said articulation member and said firing member in said engaged configuration when said end effector lock is in said unlocked configuration, and

further comprising a biasing member configured to bias said articulation member and said firing member into said disengaged configuration when said lock is in said locked configuration.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, further comprising a staple cartridge.

13. A surgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:

an electric motor;

a shaft;

an end effector;

an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatably coupled to said shaft by said articulation joint;

a firing drive operably engageable with said electric motor, wherein said firing drive is configured to be advanced toward said end effector and retracted away from said end effector by said electric motor; and

an articulation drive operably coupled with said end effector, wherein said articulation drive is configured to rotate said end effector in a first direction when said articulation drive is pushed distally toward said end effector, wherein said articulation drive is configured to rotate said end effector in a second direction when said articulation drive is pulled proximally away from said end effector, wherein said firing drive is selectively engageable with said articulation drive and is configured to at least one of push said articulation drive distally toward said end effector and pull said articulation drive away from said end effector when said firing drive is operably engaged with said articulation drive, and wherein said firing drive can operate independently of said articulation drive when said firing drive is operably disengaged from said articulation drive.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein said second direction is opposite said first direction.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 13, further comprising an end effector lock configured to selectively lock said end effector in position relative to said shaft.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, further comprising a force-limiting clutch configured to transmit movement between said firing drive and said articulation drive and operably engage said articulation drive with said firing drive, wherein said force-limiting clutch is configured to permit relative movement between and operably disengage said firing drive and said articulation drive when a force transmitted between said articulation drive and said firing drive has exceeded a predetermined force.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 13, further comprising an end effector lock configurable in a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein said end effector lock is configured to operably engage said articulation drive with said firing drive when said end effector lock is in said unlocked configuration.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, further comprising a biasing member configured to operably disengage said articulation drive from said firing drive when said lock is in said locked configuration.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 13, further comprising a staple cartridge.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein said staple cartridge comprises staples and a staple driving system configured to eject said staples from said staple cartridge, and wherein said firing drive is operably engageable with said staple driving system.

21. A surgical instrument for treating tissue, comprising:

a shaft;

an end effector rotatably coupled to said shaft;

a firing member configured to be moved relative to said end effector;

an articulation member operably coupled with said end effector, wherein said articulation member is selectively engageable with said firing member such that said articulation member is operably engaged with said firing member in an engaged configuration and such that said articulation member is operably disengaged from said firing member in a disengaged configuration, and wherein said firing member is configured to move said articulation member relative to said end effector to rotate said end effector when said articulation member and said firing member are in said engaged configuration; and

an end effector lock configurable in a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein said end effector lock is configured to operably engage said articulation member with said firing member when said end effector lock is in said unlocked configuration.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 21, further comprising a biasing member configured to operably disengage said articulation member from said firing member when said lock is in said locked configuration.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 21, further comprising a staple cartridge.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 23, wherein said staple cartridge comprises staples and a staple driving system configured to eject said staples from said staple cartridge, and wherein said firing member is operably engageable with said staple driving system.

25. The surgical instrument of claim 23, wherein said end effector is configurable in an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a closure drive configured to move said end effector between said open configuration and said closed configuration, and wherein said end effector lock is operably engaged with said closure drive such that said closure drive can move said end effector lock into said locked configuration when said closure drive moves said end effector into said closed configuration.

26. The surgical instrument of claim 25, wherein said end effector lock is operably engaged with said closure drive such that said closure drive can move said end effector lock into said unlocked configuration when said closure drive moves said end effector into said open configuration.