Method of using a powered stapling device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11896218-B2
Application number	US-202117211145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2021
Priority date	Mar 24, 2021
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of stapling, comprising:
articulating a surgical stapling assembly, wherein the surgical stapling assembly comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint comprising a fixed pivot axis, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive, wherein the surgical stapling assembly further comprises a 3D-printed component, and wherein the articulating step comprises articulating the surgical stapling assembly about the fixed pivot axis by way of the articulation joint;
activating, by a closure trigger, the closure drive, wherein the closure drive further comprises a closure screw and a closure wedge threadably coupled to the closure screw, wherein the closure wedge is configured to engage the first jaw to move the first jaw from an open position to a closed position upon a rotation of the first flexible rotary drive; and
activating, by a firing trigger, the firing drive, wherein the firing drive further comprises a firing screw and a firing member threadably coupled to the firing screw, wherein the firing member comprises an upper flange and a lower flange configured to cammingly engage the first jaw and the second jaw and to advance a cutting member and a staple-firing sled during an application of a distal firing motion force to the firing member upon a rotation of the second flexible rotary drive.

2. The method of stapling of claim 1 , further comprising actuating, by an actuation wheel on a housing of the surgical stapling assembly, an articulation motion.

3. The method of stapling of claim 2 , wherein the first flexible rotary drive comprises an assembly of serial 3D-printed universal joints, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises flexing of the assembly of serial 3D-printed universal joints at the articulation joint during the articulation motion.

4. The method of stapling of claim 2 , wherein the second flexible rotary drive comprises an assembly of serial 3D-printed universal joints, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises flexing of the assembly of serial 3D-printed universal joints at the articulation joint during the articulation motion.

5. The method of stapling of claim 1 , wherein the closure screw comprises a 3D-printed screw comprising a proximal bearing flange and a distal bearing flange, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises rotating the closure screw to advance the closure wedge and move the first jaw from an open position to a closed position.

6. The method of stapling of claim 5 , wherein the closure wedge comprises a 3D-printed wedge trapped between the proximal bearing flange and the distal bearing flange, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises moving the 3D-printed wedge along the 3D-printed screw between the proximal bearing flange and the distal bearing flange.

7. The method of stapling of claim 1 , wherein the firing member comprises a 3D-printed firing member comprise a flexible region and a non-flexible region adjacent to the flexible region, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises expansion of the flexible region as the firing member camming engages the first jaw and the second jaw.

8. The method of stapling of claim 1 , wherein the firing screw extends through the second jaw to a distal mount, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises rotating the firing screw in the distal mount during the firing motion.

9. The method of stapling of claim 8 , wherein the method of stapling further comprises floating of the firing screw in the distal mount within a predefined range of motion during the firing motion.

10. The method of stapling of claim 1 , wherein the firing member comprises a threaded nut and an overmolded body portion, wherein the threaded nut comprises a driven surface threadably engaged with the firing screw and further comprises a driving surface abutting engaged with the overmolded body portion, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises the threaded nut applying a driving force to the overmolded body portion eccentrically with respect to the firing screw during the firing motion.

11. The method of stapling of claim 1 , further comprises installing a metal-plastic composite staple cartridge comprising staples in the second jaw.

12. The method of stapling of claim 11 , wherein the metal-plastic composite staple cartridge comprises a 3D-printed cartridge body comprising a first side, a second side, a slot defined between the first side and the second side, and a bridge extending over the slot from the first side to the second side, wherein the bridge comprises 3D-printed frangible features, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises breaking the 3D-printed frangible features to cut the bridge during the firing motion.

13. The method of stapling of claim 11 , wherein the metal-plastic composite staple cartridge comprises a 3D-printed cartridge body comprising staple cavities and build layers oriented in a first direction, wherein the metal-plastic composite staple cartridge further comprises staple drivers movably positioned in the staple cavities, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises moving the staple drivers in the staple cavities along the build layers in the first direction during the firing motion.

14. The method of stapling of claim 11 , wherein the metal-plastic composite staple cartridge comprises a metal knife, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises cutting tissue clamped between the first jaw and the second jaw.

15. The method of stapling of claim 14 , wherein the metal knife comprises a pair of opposing spring arms, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises releasably mounting the pair of opposing spring arms to the firing member upon installation of the metal-plastic composite staple cartridge in the second jaw.

16. The method of stapling of claim 11 , wherein the metal-plastic composite staple cartridge comprises a metal sled, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises advancing the staple-firing sled through the metal-plastic composite staple cartridge to fire staples.

17. The method of stapling of claim 16 , wherein the metal sled comprises a multi-part sled, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises leaving a distal part of the multi-part sled in a distal location in the metal-plastic composite staple cartridge upon retraction of the firing member after the firing motion.

18. The method of stapling of claim 11 , wherein the metal-plastic composite staple cartridge comprises a disposable knife comprising a cutting edge, and wherein the method of stapling further comprises pivoting the cutting edge into a shielded position during a retraction motion of the firing member.

19. A method of stapling, comprising:
activating, by a closure trigger, a closure drive of a surgical stapling assembly, wherein the surgical stapling assembly comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, and an articulation joint, wherein the closure drive comprises a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, wherein the surgical stapling assembly further comprises a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive, wherein the surgical stapling assembly further comprises a 3D-printed component, wherein the closure

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Bakos Gregory J
• Raghavan Devanathan
• Hueil Geoffrey C
• Nalagatla Anil K
• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Harris Jason L
• Hensel Adam D
• Holdmeyer Seth D
• Fiebig Kevin M
• Muhlenkamp Tylor C
• Baxter Iii Chester O

Classifications

• A61B17/0686 Primary

  having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling · CPC title

• A61B17/072

  for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously · CPC title

• A61B17/07207 Primary

  the staples being applied sequentially · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• A61B2017/00389

  Button or wheel for performing multiple functions, e.g. rotation of shaft and end effector · CPC title