Stapling assembly comprising a supported firing bar

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12369908-B2
Application number	US-202318485903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2023
Priority date	Jun 18, 2015
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that includes a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument may include a first distal articulation driver operably coupled to the surgical end effector and a second distal articulation driver that is coupled to the surgical end effector. At least one driver member may operably engage the first and second distal articulation drivers such that when the first distal articulation driver is moved in a distal direction, the least one driver moves the second distal articulation driver in a proximal direction and when the first distal articulation driver is moved in the proximal direction, the at least one driver member moves the second distal articulation driver in the distal direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) an elongate shaft defining a shaft axis;
(b) a surgical end effector pivotally coupled to said elongate shaft for selective articulation relative to said elongate shaft about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis; and
(c) an articulation system, comprising:
(i) a first distal articulation driver supported for selective longitudinal travel in a distal direction and a proximal direction in response to corresponding articulation motions applied thereto, said first distal articulation driver operably coupled to said surgical end effector; and
(ii) a second distal articulation driver comprising a power transmission loop operably interfacing with said first distal articulation driver and said surgical end effector, said power transmission loop supported on said elongate shaft for selective rotational travel in response to longitudinal travel of said first distal articulation driver such that when said first distal articulation driver is moved in said distal direction, said power transmission loop causes said surgical end effector to articulate about said articulation axis in a first articulation direction and when said first distal articulation driver is moved in said proximal direction, said power transmission loop causes said surgical end effector to articulate about said articulation axis in a second articulation direction that is opposite to said first articulation direction, said power transmission loop comprising a first lug and a second lug coupled together,
(iii) a cradle configured to receive and constrain at least one of said first and second lugs.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said power transmission loop is rotatably supported on a proximal pulley mounted to said elongate shaft and a distal pulley on said surgical end effector.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein said power transmission loop is operably attached to said distal pulley by an attachment lug attached to said power transmission loop and configured to be received in an attachment pocket in said distal pulley.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein said distal pulley is formed on an elongate channel of said surgical end effector, said elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , further comprising an anvil supported relative to said elongate channel such that one of said anvil and said elongate channel is selectively movable relative to the other one of said anvil and said elongate channel between open and closed positions.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein said distal pulley is formed on an end effector mounting assembly attached to an elongate channel portion of said surgical end effector, said elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , further comprising an anvil supported relative to said elongate channel such that one of said anvil and said elongate channel is selectively movable relative to the other one of said anvil and said elongate channel between open and closed positions.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said first lug is attached to a first cable end and said second lug is attached to a second cable end, said second lug also attached to said first lug to form said power transmission loop.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein said first distal articulation driver comprises the cradle which comprises first and second cradles for receiving said first and second lugs therein.

10. A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) an elongate shaft defining a shaft axis;
(b) a surgical end effector pivotally coupled to said elongate shaft for selective articulation relative to said elongate shaft about an articulation axis, said surgical end effector including a distal pulley defining said articulation axis; and
(c) an articulation system, comprising:
(i) a first distal articulation driver including a coupler having a cradle, and
(ii) a second distal articulation driver comprising a power transmission loop operably interfacing with said first distal articulation driver and said surgical end effector, said power transmission loop including:
(A) a distal lug coupled with said distal pulley such that said surgical end effector is selectively articulatable about said articulation axis during a movement of said distal lug relative to said elongate shaft, and
(B) a proximal lug coupled with said coupler such that said power transmission loop is selectively movable during a movement of said first distal articulation driver relative to said elongate shaft, wherein said cradle is configured to receive said proximal lug therein.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , said elongate shaft including a proximal pulley engaged with said power transmission loop, said proximal pulley defining a pulley axis that is parallel to said articulation axis, said first distal articulation driver extending distally beyond said proximal pulley to thereby couple with said power transmission loop via said proximal lug.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein said distal lug is configured to be received in an attachment pocket in said distal pulley.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein said first distal articulation driver is selectively translatable along said elongate shaft in a direction parallel to said shaft axis.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13 , wherein said first distal articulation driver is configured to translate said proximal lug in a direction parallel to said shaft axis during said selective translation of said first distal articulation driver.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , said distal pulley being fixedly secured to said end effector and is rotatable about said elongate shaft.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , further including a support member movably coupled to said surgical end effector and to said elongate shaft.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16 , said support member including a slot, wherein either of said surgical end effector or said elongate shaft includes a support pin slidable within said slot of said support member.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , said elongate shaft defining a notch, said proximal lug being positioned within said notch, said notch being sized to allow said proximal lug to distally translate within.

19. A surgical instrument comprising:
(i) an elongate shaft defining a shaft axis and including a proximal pulley;
(ii) a surgical end effector pivotally coupled to said elongate shaft for selective articulation relative to said elongate shaft about an articulation axis, said surgical end effector including a distal pulley defining said articulation axis; and
(iii) an articulation system, comprising:
(a) a distal articulation driver including a coupler;
(b) a cable operably coupled with said distal articulation driver, said elongate shaft, and said surgical end effector, said cable including a distal lug coupled with said distal pulley such that said surgical end effector is selectively articulated about said articulation axis during a movement of said distal lug relative to said elongate shaft, said cable including a proximal lug coupled with said coupler such that said cable is selectively movable during a movement of said distal articulation driver relative to said elongate shaft, said cable being wrapped around at least a portion of said proximal pulley; and
(c) a cra

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Baxter Iii Chester O
• Swayze Jeffrey S
• Dunki-Jacobs Adam R
• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Hunter Morgan R
• Schultz Darwin L

Classifications

• A61B2017/2946

  Locking means · CPC title

• A61B2017/2943

  Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion · CPC title

• A61B2017/2939

  Details of linkages or pivot points · CPC title

• A61B2017/2933

  camming or guiding means · CPC title

• A61B2017/2927

  the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft · CPC title