Integrated tissue positioning and jaw alignment features for surgical stapler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11684363-B2
Application number	US-202016843953-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2020
Priority date	Feb 28, 2013
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

An apparatus includes a body, a shaft in communication with the body, and an end effector in communication with the shaft. The end effector is operable to drive staples through tissue. The end effector comprises an anvil and a cartridge. The anvil is operable to move pivotally relative to the cartridge. The cartridge is positioned to drive staples upwardly toward the anvil. The cartridge comprises a plurality of protrusions operable to prevent lateral rocking of the anvil. The plurality of protrusions is pointed toward the anvil. In some versions, an alignment member and/or a lateral stabilization member may be used between the anvil and the cartridge.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a body; and
(b) an end effector in communication with the body, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) a stapling jaw defining a longitudinal axis, the stapling jaw comprising a first distal end and a deck,
(ii) an anvil comprising a second distal, wherein the anvil is configured to pivot relative to the stapling jaw from an open configuration to a closed configuration, wherein the anvil and the deck are configured to capture tissue when the anvil is in the closed configuration, and
(iii) a stabilization assembly associated with the first distal end of the stapling jaw and the second distal end of the anvil, wherein the stabilization assembly is configured to laterally align the anvil relative to the stapling jaw, in the closed configuration, by inhibiting lateral pivotal deflection of the anvil relative to the longitudinal axis, the stabilization assembly comprising:
(A) an elongated semi-spherical groove comprising a first length and a first width, and
(B) a protrusion comprising a second length and a second width, wherein the second length is smaller than the first length, wherein the second width complements the first width such that the second width is smaller than or equal to the first width of the elongated semi-spherical groove,
wherein the protrusion is configured to slide into the elongated semi-spherical groove as the anvil pivots into the closed configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the deck defines a plurality of apertures of wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures houses a respective staple.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the anvil defines a plurality of staple forming pockets, wherein the stabilization assembly is configured to laterally align the plurality of staple forming pockets with a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures when the anvil is in the closed configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a firing assembly configured to drive the staples housed within the plurality of apertures toward the plurality of staple forming pockets.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the firing assembly is further configured to sever tissue captured between the anvil and the deck.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising an articulation control configured to drive deflection of the articulation joint.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongated semi-spherical groove comprises a straight curved portion, a first spherical curved portion, and a second spherical curved portion, wherein the straight curved portion is interposed between the first spherical curved portion and the second spherical curved portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the protrusion is configured to engage either the first spherical curved portion of the second spherical curved position and then slide toward into the straight curved portion as the anvil pivots toward the closed configuration.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongated semi-spherical groove is associated with the anvil.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the elongated semi-spherical groove is laterally centered along the anvil.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the protrusion is associated with the stapling jaw.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the anvil is shaped to laterally taper toward engagement groove.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion comprises a semi-spherical shape.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft assembly extending from the body toward the end effector.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the shaft assembly comprise an articulation joint configured to deflect the end effector relative to the body.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first length and the second length extend along the longitudinal axis while the anvil is in the closed configuration.

17. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly; and
(b) an end effector extending distally from the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) a cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, the cartridge comprising a first distal end and a deck,
(ii) an anvil comprising a second distal, wherein the anvil is configured to pivot relative to the cartridge from an open configuration to a closed configuration, wherein the anvil and the deck are configured to capture tissue when the anvil is in the closed configuration, and
(iii) a stabilization assembly associated with the first distal end of the cartridge and the second distal end of the anvil, wherein the stabilization assembly comprises:
(A) an elongated semi-spherical groove comprising a first length extending in a longitudinal direction while the anvil is in the closed configuration, and
(B) a protrusion comprising a second length extending in the longitudinal direction while the anvil is in the closed configuration, wherein the second length is smaller than the first length, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage the elongated semi-spherical groove to laterally align the anvil relative to the cartridge, in the closed configuration, by inhibiting lateral pivotal deflection of the anvil relative to the longitudinal axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the protrusion is configured to slide along the elongated semi-spherical groove while engaging the elongated semi-spherical groove.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the protrusion comprises a diameter that complements a width of the elongated semispherical groove.

20. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly; and
(b) an end effector extending distally from the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) a cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, the cartridge comprising a first distal end and a deck,
(ii) an anvil comprising a second distal, wherein the anvil is configured to pivot relative to the cartridge from an open configuration to a closed configuration, wherein the anvil and the deck are configured to capture tissue when the anvil is in the closed configuration, and
(iii) a stabilization assembly associated with the first distal end of the cartridge and the second distal end of the anvil, wherein the stabilization assembly comprises:
(A) an elongated groove comprising a first length extending in a longitudinal direction and terminating into a spherical curved portion, and
(B) a protrusion comprising a second length extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the second length is smaller than the first length, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage the spherical curved portion and slide away from the spherical curved portion into an adjacent portion into the straight curved portion of the elongated groove, as the anvil pivots toward the closed configuration, to laterally align the anvil relative to the cartridge, thereby inhibiting lateral pivotal deflection of the anvil relative to the longitudinal axis.

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Simms Robert J
• Hoffman Douglas B
• Zerkle Jason E
• Scheib Charles J
• Volz Janna B

Classifications

• A61B2017/07257

  characterised by its anvil · CPC title

• A61B17/0682

  for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil · CPC title

• A61B17/07207 Primary

  the staples being applied sequentially · CPC title

• A61B2017/07271

  characterised by its cartridge · CPC title

• A61B2090/0807

  Indication means · CPC title