Powered circular stapler with reciprocating drive member to provide independent stapling and cutting of tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11071548-B2
Application number	US-201715634556-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2017
Priority date	Jun 27, 2017
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes an outer sheath and a staple driving mechanism. The end effector includes a staple deck, an anvil, a first staple driver, and a second staple driver. The staple deck defines a plurality of staple openings in at least one annular array. Each staple opening in the plurality of staple openings houses a staple. The anvil is configured to actuate relative to the staple deck to compress tissue between the staple deck and the anvil. The staple driving mechanism is configured to actuate the first staple driver to fire a first staple of the plurality of staples against the anvil. The staple driving mechanism is further configured to actuate the second staple driver independently of the first staple driver to fire a second staple of the plurality of staples against the anvil.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
(i) an outer sheath, and
(ii) a staple driving mechanism slidably housed within the outer sheath;

(b) an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) a staple deck defining a plurality of staple openings in at least one annular array, wherein each staple opening in the plurality of staple openings houses a staple,
(ii) an anvil configured to actuate relative to the staple deck to compress tissue between the staple deck and the anvil,
(iii) a first staple driver, wherein the staple driving mechanism is configured to actuate the first staple driver to fire a first staple of the plurality of staples against the anvil, and
(iv) a second staple driver, wherein the staple driving mechanism is configured to actuate the second staple driver independently and relative to the first staple driver to fire a second staple of the plurality of staples against the anvil; and

(c) an electrically powered drive assembly operable to actuate at least the first and second staple drivers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the end effector further comprises a blade assembly configured to sever tissue after the first staple driver is fired by the staple driving mechanism.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the staple driving mechanism comprises:
(i) a distally presented driver configured to actuate the first staple driver and the second staple driver, and
(ii) an actuation member configured to actuate the distally presented driver, wherein the distally presented driver is rotatably coupled to the actuation member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the outer sheath defines a guide channel, wherein a first portion of the distally presented driver is disposed within the guide channel, wherein the distally presented driver is configured to rotate relative to the actuation member based on the longitudinal position of the actuation member within the guide channel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the guide channel comprises a first staple driving channel, a second staple driving channel, and a connecting channel in communication with both the first staple driving channel and the second staple driving channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the connecting channel includes a camming surface configured to cam against the first portion of the distally present driver to rotate the distally presented driver relative to the actuation member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first staple driver comprises a first firing leg configured to align with the distally presented driver while the first portion of the distally presented driver is disposed within the first staple driving channel of the guide channel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second staple driver comprises a second firing leg configured to align with the distally presented driver while the first portion of the distally presented driver is disposed within the second staple driving channel of the guide channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the end effector further comprises a blade assembly configure to sever tissue, wherein the blade assembly comprises a third firing leg, wherein the guide channel defines a blade driving channel in communication with the camming surface, wherein the third firing leg is configured to align with the distally presented driver while the first portion of the distally presented driver is disposed within the blade driving channel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anvil comprises a first annular array of staple forming pockets and a second annular array of staple forming pockets, wherein the first staple driver is configured to fire the first staple against a first staple forming pocket of the first annular array of staple forming pockets, wherein the second staple driver is configured to fire the second staple against a second staple forming pocket of the second annular array of staple forming pockets.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shaft assembly further comprises a longitudinally reciprocating member, wherein the longitudinally reciprocating member is configured to:
(i) advance through a first distal stroke and thereby drive the first staple driver without driving the second staple driver,
(ii) retract proximally after advancing through the first distal stroke, and
(iii) advance through a second distal stroke and thereby drive the second staple driver without driving the first staple driver.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the shaft assembly further comprises a trocar assembly slidably housed within the shaft assembly, wherein the trocar assembly comprises a trocar configured to selectively couple with the anvil.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the trocar assembly further comprises a longitudinal locking assembly configured to lock the trocar assembly relative to the shaft assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a handle assembly configured to selectively couple with the shaft assembly.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the electrically powered drive assembly is configured to actuate the trocar assembly and the staple driving mechanism.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the shaft assembly comprises an intermediate firing shaft configured to couple the trocar assembly and the staple driving mechanism with the electrically powered drive assembly.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising a clutch assembly, wherein the clutch assembly is configured to selectively disengage the trocar assembly with the intermediate firing shaft.

18. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly; and
(b) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) a staple deck defining a plurality of staple openings arranged in an annular array, wherein the staple openings are configured to house a plurality of staples,
(ii) an anvil movable relative to the staple deck to compress tissue against the staple deck,
(iii) a first staple driver, wherein the first staple driver is actuatable to fire a first staple of the plurality of staples toward the anvil, and
(iv) a second staple driver, wherein the second staple driver is actuatable independently of the first staple driver to fire a second staple of the plurality of staples toward the anvil such that the second staple driver is configured to fire the second staple after the first staple has been fired.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a motor operable to drive the first staple driver and the second staple driver.

20. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly comprising a reciprocating driver; and
(b) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) a staple deck defining a plurality of staple openings, wherein the staple openings are configured to house a plurality of staples,
(ii) an anvil movable relative to the staple deck to compress tissue against the staple deck,
(iii) a first staple driver, wherein the first staple driver is actuatable to fire a first staple of the plurality of staples toward the anvil in response to a first firing stroke of the reciprocating driver,
(iv) a second staple driver, wherein the second staple driver is actuatable independently of the first staple driver to fire a second staple of the plurality of staples toward the anvil in response to a second firing stroke to the reciprocating driver, and
(v) a blade member, wherein the blade member is ac

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc
• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Auld Michael D
• Swensgard Brett E
• Posada Sol
• Vendely Michael J
• Shelton Iv Frederick E

Classifications

• A61B2017/00464

  for use with different instruments · CPC title

• A61B2017/00398

  using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids · CPC title

• A61B2017/07285

  characterised by its cutter · CPC title

• A61B2090/0808

  for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus · CPC title

• A61B2017/00734

  battery operated · CPC title