End effector for use with a surgical fastening instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9179911-B2
Application number	US-201414286599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2014
Priority date	Sep 29, 2006
Publication date	Nov 10, 2015
Grant date	Nov 10, 2015

Abstract

An end effector comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing member is disclose. The firing member, in various embodiments, further comprises a first portion configured to contact one of the first jaw and the second jaw, and a second portion configured to contact one of the first jaw and the second jaw. The first portion can be comprised of a first material. The firing member can further comprise an annex engaged with the first portion comprised of an annex material which is different than the first material. In various instances, the first portion and the second portion are configured to co-operatively set a tissue gap distance between the first jaw and the second jaw.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A disposable end effector for use with a surgical fastening instrument, said disposable end effector comprising:
a proximal end configured to be attached to a shaft of the surgical fastening instrument;
a distal end;
a first jaw;
a second jaw rotatably coupled relative to said first jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw;
a plurality of fastener cavities;
a plurality of fasteners, wherein said fasteners are removably positioned in said fastener cavities; and
a tissue cutting member movable toward said distal end, wherein said tissue cutting member comprises:
a knife edge;
a first camming member configured to engage said first jaw;
a second camming member configured to engage said second jaw, wherein said first camming member and said second camming member are configured to co-operatively set a tissue gap between said first jaw and said second jaw; and
an affix extending from one of said first camming member and said second camming member, wherein said affix is configured to facilitate in setting the tissue gap between said first jaw and said second jaw.

2. The disposable end effector of claim 1 , wherein said second jaw is rotatable relative to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil, and wherein said first jaw comprises said fastener cavities.

3. The disposable end effector of claim 1 , wherein said first camming member and said second camming member are comprised of a first material, and wherein said affix is comprised of a second material which is different than said first material.

4. An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said end effector comprising:
a proximal end configured to be attached to a shaft of the surgical stapling instrument;
a distal end;
a pair of jaws movable between an open condition and a closed condition;
a plurality of staple cavities;
a plurality of staples, wherein said staples are removably positioned in said staple cavities; and
a knife member movable toward said distal end, wherein said knife member comprises:
a cutting portion;
a first foot configured to engage said first jaw;
a second foot configured to engage said second jaw;
a first surface comprising a first pad, wherein said first pad is comprised of a material which is different than said first surface; and
a second surface comprising a second pad, wherein said second pad is comprised of a material which is different than said second surface, and wherein said first pad and said second pad are configured to facilitate the closing of said pair of jaws.

5. An effector comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable between an open position and closed positions relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw;
a plurality of fastener cavities;
a plurality of fasteners, wherein said fasteners are removably positioned in said fastener cavities; and
a translatable firing member, wherein said firing member comprises:
a first portion configured to contact said first jaw, wherein said first portion is comprised of a first material;
a second portion configured to contact said second jaw; and
an attachment extending from said first portion configured to contact one of said first jaw and said second jaw, wherein said attachment is comprised of an attachment material which is different than said first material.

6. The end effector of claim 5 , wherein said attachment material comprises a resilient material.

7. The end effector of claim 5 , wherein said first portion and said second portion are configured to co-operatively set a tissue gap distance between said first jaw and said second jaw.

8. The end effector of claim 7 , wherein said attachment is configured to contact a drive surface on one of said first jaw and said second jaw when said first portion and said second portion are setting the tissue gap distance between said first jaw and said second jaw.

9. An end effector, comprising:
a first jaw comprising a first tissue engaging surface;
a second jaw comprising a second tissue engaging surface, wherein said first tissue engaging surface and said second tissue engaging surface comprise a tissue engaging interface, and wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable between an open position and closed positions relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw;
a contact surface facing away from said tissue engaging interface;
a plurality of fasteners, wherein said fasteners are removably positioned within said end effector; and
a longitudinally movable member, wherein said movable member comprises:
a cutting surface;
a first contact member configured to contact said first jaw;
a second contact member configured to contact said second jaw; and
a projection extending from one of said first contact member and said second contact member, wherein said first contact member, said second contact member, and said projection are configured to co-operatively set a tissue gap between said first jaw and said second jaw, and wherein said projection is configured to contact said contact surface.

10. The end effector of claim 9 , wherein said projection is comprised of a resilient material.

11. The end effector of claim 9 , wherein said first contact member and said second contact member are comprised of a first material, and wherein said projection is comprised of a second material which is different than said first material.

12. An end effector, comprising:
a first jaw comprising a first outer surface;
a second jaw comprising a second outer surface, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable between an open position and closed positions relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw;
a plurality of staple cavities;
a plurality of staples, wherein said staples are removably positioned in said staple cavities; and
a longitudinally translatable firing member, wherein said firing member comprises:
a first member configured to contact said first jaw;
a second member configured to contact said second jaw; and
a compliant protrusion attached to one of said first member and said second member, wherein said compliant protrusion is configured to contact one of said first jaw and said second jaw, and wherein said compliant protrusion is comprised of a material which is different than said first member and said second member.

13. The end effector of claim 12 , wherein said first member, said second member, and said compliant protrusion are configured to co-operatively set a tissue gap between said first jaw and said second jaw.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc

Inventors

• Morgan Jerome R
• Shelton Iv Frederick E

Classifications

• A61B2017/2932

  Transmission of forces to jaw members · CPC title

• A61B2018/00666

  using a threshold value · CPC title

• A61B2017/320052

  Guides for cutting instruments · CPC title

• A61B90/03

  Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety · CPC title

• A61B2017/2943

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