Robotically-controlled surgical stapling devices that produce formed staples having different lengths

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9237891-B2
Application number	US-201113118278-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2011
Priority date	Aug 31, 2005
Publication date	Jan 19, 2016
Grant date	Jan 19, 2016

Abstract

A surgical stapling device that comprises an end effector that is configured to receive various control motions from a robotic system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical stapling device, comprising:
a robotic system operable to produce a firing motion and a closing motion;
an implement portion responsive to the firing and closing motions from the robotic system, the implement portion comprising:
an elongate channel coupled to the robotic system and configured to support a staple cartridge therein;
an anvil movably coupled to the elongate channel and having an anvil channel therein and a staple forming portion having a plurality of staple forming pockets, said anvil being movable between open and closed positions in response to said closing motion applied thereto by said robotic system;
a firing device including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally movable within the elongate channel in response to said firing motion applied thereto by said robotic system;
an upper member on said firing device engageable to the anvil channel and a lower portion longitudinally engaging the elongate channel during distal movement for firing, wherein said upper member is configured to position the anvil relative to the elongate channel during the distal movement for firing, and wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body supportable within the elongate channel, said cartridge body having a non-planar deck surface configured to confront the staple forming portion when the anvil is in said closed position;
a plurality of first staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body and being sequentially movable from an unactuated position to an actuated position upon sequential interaction with said firing device, each said first staple driver defining a first staple support cradle therein for supporting a staple thereon, each said first staple support cradle located a first staple forming distance from a corresponding said staple-forming pocket of the closed anvil; and
a plurality of second staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body and being laterally spaced from said first staple drivers, each said second staple driver being sequentially movable from another unactuated position to another actuated position upon sequential interaction with said firing device, each said second staple driver defining a second staple support cradle therein for supporting another staple thereon, each said second staple support cradle located a second staple forming distance from a said staple forming pocket of the closed anvil that corresponds to the second staple support cradle and wherein said second staple forming distance differs in magnitude from said first staple forming distance; and

a rotary motion connector configured to connect the robotic system with said implement portion, wherein said rotary motion connector is configured to translate a rotary motion between the robotic system and said implement portion.

2. The surgical stapling device of claim 1 wherein each said first staple driver supports at least two of said staples thereon.

3. The surgical stapling device of claim 2 wherein said first staple support cradle is in a primary driver portion of said first staple driver and wherein each said first staple driver further comprises a secondary driver portion attached to said primary driver portion and defining a secondary staple support cradle located a secondary staple forming distance from a corresponding said staple-forming pocket when the anvil is in a closed position, said secondary staple cradle support supporting another one of said staples thereon.

4. The surgical stapling device of claim 3 wherein said secondary staple forming distance is substantially equal to said first staple forming distance.

5. The surgical stapling device of claim 3 wherein said secondary staple forming distance differs in magnitude from said first staple forming distance and said second staple forming distance.

6. The surgical stapling device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of first staple drivers are axially aligned in a first row of first staple drivers and wherein said plurality of second staple driver are aligned in a second row of said second staple drivers.

7. A surgical stapling device, comprising:
a robotic system operable to produce a firing motion and a closing motion;
an implement portion responsive to the firing and closing motions from the robotic system, the implement portion comprising:
an elongate channel coupled to the robotic system and configured to support a staple cartridge therein;
an anvil movably coupled to the elongate channel and having an anvil channel therein and a staple forming portion having a plurality of staple forming pockets, said anvil being movable between open and closed positions in response to said closing motion applied thereto by said robotic system;
a firing device including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally movable within the elongate channel in response to said firing motion applied thereto by said robotic system;
an upper member on said firing device engageable to the anvil channel and a lower portion longitudinally engaging the elongate channel during distal movement for firing, and wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body supportable within the elongate channel, said cartridge body having a non-planar deck surface configured to confront the staple forming portion when the anvil is in said closed position;
a plurality of first staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body and being sequentially movable from an unactuated position to an actuated position upon sequential interaction with said firing device, each said first staple driver defining a first staple support cradle therein for supporting a staple thereon, each said first staple support cradle located a first staple forming distance from a corresponding said staple-forming pocket of the closed anvil;
a plurality of second staple drivers movably supported within said cartridge body and being laterally spaced from said first staple drivers, each said second staple driver being sequentially movable from another unactuated position to another actuated position upon sequential interaction with said firing device, each said second staple driver defining a second staple support cradle therein for supporting another staple thereon, each said second staple support cradle located a second staple forming distance from a said staple forming pocket of the closed anvil that corresponds to the second staple support cradle and wherein said second staple forming distance differs in magnitude from said first staple forming distance;
wherein said plurality of first staple drivers are axially aligned in a first row of said staple drivers and wherein said plurality of second staple driver are aligned in a second row of said second staple drivers; and
wherein said first staple forming distance of one of said first staple drivers in said first row of said first staple drivers differs in magnitude from said first staple forming distance of another one of said first staple drivers in said first row of first staple drivers; and

a rotary motion connector configured to connect the robotic system with said implement portion, wherein said rotary motion connector is configured to translate a rotary motion between the robotic system and said implement portion.

8. The surgical stapling device of claim 7 wherein said second staple forming distance of one of said second staple drivers in said second row of said second staple drivers differs in magnitude from said second staple forming distance of another one of said second staple drivers in said second row of said second staple drivers.

9. A surgical stapling device, comprising:
a rotary motion generator configured to produce a firing motion;
an implement portion, wherein said impleme

Assignees

• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc

Inventors

• Shelton Iv Frederick E

Classifications

• A61B2017/07242

  achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes · CPC title

• A61B17/0644

  penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position · CPC title

• A61B2017/320093

  additional movable means performing cutting operation · CPC title

• A61B2017/00115

  with audible or visual output · CPC title

• A61B2017/00685

  Archimedes screw · CPC title