Surgical stapling instrument with a variable staple forming system

• US 9,113,862 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jerome R., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/894,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20120080484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 227175-1821
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00064 Constructional details of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/008 Articulations
• 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 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• 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 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 : Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 : Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 : with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 : Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0053 : Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00884 : enhancing wound closure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00946 : malleable
• 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 2017/07235 : containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• 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 2017/2902 : characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 : flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2908 : Multiple segments connected by articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 : the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 : details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 : connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 : with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 : coded with colour
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 : with prestressing of part

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument for use with an end effector that has an anvil that is movable relative to a staple cartridge supported in the end effector. The end effector is supported by an elongated shaft that extends from a handle assembly. The staple cartridge has a plurality of unformed staples therein that are formed when the anvil is moved into forming contact therewith. Movement of the anvil is controlled by a firing trigger on a handle assembly. The amount of staple formation achieved is dependent upon the degree to which the firing trigger has been actuated.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly; and

an elongated shaft assembly operably coupled to said handle assembly, said elongated shaft assembly having a distal end couplable to an end effector that supports a staple cartridge that has a plurality of unformed staples therein and an anvil that is movable from an open position wherein a staple forming surface of the anvil is spaced from the staple cartridge into compressive engagement with the staple cartridge and into forming engagement with the staples therein, wherein a distance that the staple forming surface of the anvil travels into forming contact with the staples in the staple cartridge is dependent upon a magnitude of firing force applied thereto by a firing system that is at least partially supported in said elongated shaft assembly and said handle assembly and operated by a firing trigger movably supported on the handle assembly such that said magnitude of firing force applied to said movable anvil is dependent upon a degree in which the firing trigger has been actuated on the handle assembly;

wherein said elongated shaft assembly further comprises an elongated spine member operably attached to said handle assembly and protruding therefrom, said elongated spine member having a distal end that is removably couplable to the end effector and wherein said firing system comprises a firing tube movably supported on said spine member and interfacing with said firing trigger such that said actuation of said firing trigger causes said firing tube to move distally on said spine member;

wherein a distal end of said firing tube is configured to engage the anvil such that said magnitude of said firing force is increased as said distal end of said firing tube moves distally into engagement with said anvil;

wherein the anvil has an anvil ramp portion and wherein said magnitude of firing force increases as the distal end of the firing tube advances distally in compressing engagement with said anvil ramp portion; and

wherein said anvil ramp portion has a proximal ramp surface and a clamping ramp surface that is oriented at a clamping angle relative to said proximal ramp surface such that as said distal end of said firing tube engages said clamping ramp surface, said anvil is driven into a clamping orientation wherein tissue may be clamped between the anvil and the staple cartridge without forming any of the staples in the staple cartridge.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said firing trigger is pivotally supported by said handle assembly and is selectively pivotable relative to a pistol grip portion thereof.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the anvil is biased to the open position prior to activation of said firing trigger.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said elongated shaft assembly operably supports a cutting member therein that is independently actuatable from said firing system.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein a degree of staple formation attained by each staple in the staple cartridge is dependent upon the magnitude of firing force applied to the anvil by said firing system.

2. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly; and

an elongated shaft assembly operably coupled to said handle assembly, said elongated shaft assembly having a distal end couplable to an end effector that supports a staple cartridge that has a plurality of unformed staples therein and an anvil that is movable from an open position wherein a staple forming surface of the anvil is spaced from the staple cartridge into compressive engagement with the staple cartridge and into forming engagement with the staples therein, wherein a distance that the staple forming surface of the anvil travels into forming contact with the staples in the staple cartridge is dependent upon a magnitude of firing force applied thereto by a firing system that is at least partially supported in said elongated shaft assembly and said handle assembly and operated by a firing trigger movably supported on the handle assembly such that said magnitude of firing force applied to said movable anvil is dependent upon a degree in which the firing trigger has been actuated on the handle assembly;

wherein said elongated shaft assembly further comprises an elongated spine member operably attached to said handle assembly and protruding therefrom, said elongated spine member having a distal end that is removably couplable to the end effector and wherein said firing system comprises a firing tube movably supported on said spine member and interfacing with said firing trigger such that said actuation of said firing trigger causes said firing tube to move distally on said spine member;

wherein a distal end of said firing tube is configured to engage the anvil such that said magnitude of said firing force is increased as said distal end of said firing tube moves distally into engagement with said anvil;

wherein the anvil has an anvil ramp portion and wherein said magnitude of firing force increases as the distal end of the firing tube advances distally in compressing engagement with said anvil ramp portion; and

wherein said anvil ramp portion further has a staple forming ramp surface thereon that is at a forming angle that differs from said clamping angle and wherein when said distal end of said firing tube engages said staple forming ramp surface, said staple forming portion of said anvil is driven into forming contact with the staples in the staple cartridge.