Surgical instrument comprising an offset articulation joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019000466-A1
Application number	US-201715635693-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 28, 2017
Priority date	Jun 28, 2017
Publication date	Jan 3, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, a shaft, and an articulation joint is disclosed. The shaft comprises a frame defining a longitudinal shaft axis and, in addition, a closure actuator translatable relative to the frame. The closure actuator comprises a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a link rotatably connected to the proximal and distal portions about proximal and distal link axes, wherein the proximal and distal link axes define a longitudinal link axis therebetween. The end effector is rotatably connected to the shaft about an articulation axis defined by the articulation joint, wherein the end effector is articulatable between an unarticulated position and an articulated position, wherein the articulation axis is offset from the longitudinal shaft axis, and wherein the longitudinal link axis is not collinear with the longitudinal shaft axis when the end effector is in either the unarticulated position or the articulated position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector, comprising:
a cartridge jaw; and
an anvil jaw, wherein one of said cartridge jaw and said anvil jaw is rotatable relative to the other about a closure axis;
a shaft, comprising:
a frame defining a longitudinal shaft axis; and
a closure actuator translatable relative to said frame, wherein said closure actuator comprises a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a link, wherein said link is rotatably connected to said proximal portion about a proximal link axis and to said distal portion about a distal link axis, and wherein said proximal link axis and said distal link axis define a longitudinal link axis therebetween; and
an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatably connected to said shaft about an articulation axis defined by said articulation joint, wherein said end effector is articulatable within an articulation plane between an unarticulated position and an articulated position, wherein said articulation axis is offset from said longitudinal shaft axis, and wherein said longitudinal link axis is not collinear with said longitudinal shaft axis when said end effector is in either said unarticulated position or said articulated position.

2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said proximal link axis is positioned along said longitudinal shaft axis.

3 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said cartridge jaw comprises a staple cartridge including staples removably stored therein.

4 . The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein said staple cartridge is replaceable.

5 . The surgical instrument of claim 3 , further comprising a firing actuator which is separate and distinct from said closure actuator, wherein said firing actuator is actuatable to eject said staples from said staple cartridge.

6 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal link axis is not parallel to said longitudinal shaft axis when said end effector is in either said unarticulated position or said articulated position.

7 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said end effector comprises a longitudinal end effector axis, wherein said longitudinal end effector axis is collinear with said longitudinal shaft axis when said end effector is in said unarticulated position, wherein said end effector comprises a distal end positioned along said longitudinal end effector axis, and wherein said distal link axis is offset with respect to an axis extending between said distal end and said proximal link axis when said end effector is in either of said unarticulated position and said articulated position.

8 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector, comprising:
a longitudinal end effector axis;
a distal end positioned along said end effector axis;
a cartridge jaw; and
an anvil jaw, wherein one of said cartridge jaw and said anvil jaw is rotatable relative to the other about a closure axis;
a shaft, comprising:
a frame defining a longitudinal shaft axis; and
a closure actuator translatable relative to said frame, wherein said closure actuator comprises a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a link, and wherein said link is rotatably connected to said proximal portion about a proximal link axis and to said distal portion about a distal link axis; and
an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatably connected to said shaft about an articulation axis defined by said articulation joint, wherein said end effector is articulatable within an articulation plane between an unarticulated position and an articulated position, wherein said articulation axis is offset from said longitudinal shaft axis, wherein said longitudinal end effector axis is aligned with said longitudinal shaft axis when said end effector is in said unarticulated position, and wherein said distal link axis is offset with respect to an axis extending between said distal end of said end effector and said proximal link axis when said end effector is in either of said unarticulated position and said articulated position.

9 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein said proximal link axis and said distal link axis define a longitudinal link axis, and wherein said longitudinal link axis is not collinear with said longitudinal shaft axis when said end effector is in either of said unarticulated position and said articulated position.

10 . The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein said longitudinal link axis is not parallel to said longitudinal shaft axis when said end effector is in either of said unarticulated position and said articulated position.

11 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein said proximal link axis is positioned along said longitudinal shaft axis.

12 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein said cartridge jaw comprises a staple cartridge including staples removably stored therein.

13 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein said staple cartridge is replaceable.

14 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , further comprising a firing actuator which is separate and distinct from said closure actuator, wherein said firing actuator is actuatable to eject said staples from said staple cartridge.

15 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector, comprising:
a longitudinal end effector axis;
a distal end positioned along said end effector axis;
a first jaw; and
a second jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is rotatable relative to the other between an open position and a closed position;
a shaft, comprising:
a frame defining a longitudinal shaft axis; and
a closure actuator translatable relative to said frame, wherein said closure actuator comprises a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a link, and wherein said link is rotatably connected to said proximal portion about a proximal link axis and to said distal portion about a distal link axis; and
an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatably connected to said shaft about an articulation axis defined by said articulation joint, wherein said end effector is articulatable between an unarticulated position and an articulated position, wherein said articulation axis is positioned laterally with respect to said longitudinal shaft axis, wherein said longitudinal end effector axis is aligned with said longitudinal shaft axis when said end effector is in said unarticulated position, and wherein said distal link axis is positioned laterally with respect to an axis extending between said distal end of said end effector and said proximal link axis when said first jaw is in said open position, said closed position, and any position between said open position and said closed position.

16 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said proximal link axis and said distal link axis define a longitudinal link axis, and wherein said longitudinal link axis is not aligned with said longitudinal shaft axis when said first jaw is in said closed position regardless of whether said end effector is in said unarticulated position or said articulated position.

17 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said longitudinal link axis is not parallel to said longitudinal shaft axis when said first jaw is in said closed position regardless of whether said end effector is in said unarticulated position or said articulated position.

18 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said proximal link axis is positioned along said longitudinal shaft axis.

19 . The surgical instrument of claim 15

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Goldenbogen Michael W
• Aronhalt Taylor W
• Harris Jason L
• Bakos Gregory J

Classifications

• A61B2017/07221

  curved · CPC title

• A61B2017/00862

  elastic or resilient · CPC title

• A61B2017/00389

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

• A61B2017/2902

  characterized by features of the actuating rod · CPC title

• A61B2017/07285

  characterised by its cutter · CPC title