# US 12,178,429 B2 · Surgical instruments having modular end effector selectively coupleable to housing assembly

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- Number: US 12,178,429 B2
- Document ID: US12178429B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/369,274
- Filed: 2023-09-18
- Published: 2024-01-25
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2013-04-16
- Assignees: Cilag GmbH International
- Applicants: Cilag GmbH International
- Inventors: Shailendra K. Parihar; Robert L. Koch, Jr.; Chester O. Baxter, III; Frederick E. Shelton, IV
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178429B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00})
- A61B 17/0686: {having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling}
- A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
- A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially}
- A61B 17/115: Staplers for performing anastomosis, e.g. in a single operation
- A61B 17/1155: {Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples}
- A61B 17/282: {Jaws}
- A61B 34/30: Surgical robots
- A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments}
- A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output}
- A61B 2017/00199: {with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display}
- A61B 2017/0023: {disposable}
- A61B 2017/00367: {Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like}
- A61B 2017/00393: {with means for switching between functions}
- A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids}
- A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable}
- A61B 2017/00464: {for use with different instruments}
- A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated}
- A61B 2017/0688: {Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers}
- A61B 2017/07214: {Stapler heads}
- A61B 2017/07221: {curved}
- A61B 2017/07235: {containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials}
- A61B 2017/07242: {achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes}
- A61B 2017/0725: {with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots}
- A61B 2017/2902: {characterized by features of the actuating rod}
- A61B 2017/2903: {transferring rotary motion}
- A61B 2017/2912: {transmission of forces to actuating rod or piston}
- A61B 2017/2922: {toggle linkages}
- A61B 2017/2923: {Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion}
- A61B 2017/2932: {Transmission of forces to jaw members}
- A61B 2017/2933: {camming or guiding means}
- A61B 2017/2936: {Pins in guiding slots}
- A61B 2017/2943: {Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion}
- A61B 2017/2946: {Locking means}
- A61B 2090/038: {during shipment}
- A61B 2090/0811: {for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument comprising a modular end effector and a housing assembly is disclosed. The modular end effector comprises a closure beam to receive a staple cartridge therein, a rotatable closure driver, a firing bar comprising a knife, and a rotatable firing driver. The closure beam is translatable through a closure stroke based on rotation of the rotatable closure driver, and the firing bar is translatable through a firing stroke based on rotation of the rotatable firing driver. The modular end effector is selectively coupleable to the housing assembly between a coupled configuration and an uncoupled configuration, and the modular end effector comprises a closure actuator and a firing actuator. The rotatable closure driver and the rotatable firing driver are to rotate based on the modular end effector being coupled to the housing assembly and actuation of the closure actuator and the firing actuator, respectively.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
a modular end effector, comprising:
a closure beam to receive a staple cartridge therein;
a rotatable closure driver, wherein the closure beam is translatable through a closure stroke based on rotation of the rotatable closure driver;
a firing bar comprising a knife; and
a rotatable firing driver, wherein the firing bar is translatable through a firing stroke based on rotation of the rotatable firing driver, and independently of the rotation of the rotatable closure driver; and
a handle assembly, wherein the modular end effector is selectively coupleable to the handle assembly between a coupled configuration and an uncoupled configuration, and wherein the handle assembly comprises:
a closure drive shaft to drive the rotatable closure driver of the modular end effector to translate the closure beam through the closure stroke in the coupled configuration, wherein the closure drive shaft is disconnected from the rotatable closure driver of the modular end effector in the uncoupled configuration; and
a firing drive shaft to drive the rotatable firing driver of the modular end effector to translate the firing bar through the firing stroke in the coupled configuration, wherein the firing drive shaft is disconnected from the rotatable firing driver of the modular end effector in the uncoupled configuration.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the modular end effector further comprising an indicator to communicate a status thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 2, wherein the status comprises a status of the closure stroke.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 2, wherein the status comprises a status of the firing stroke.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 2, wherein the modular end effector further comprises a housing defining a window, and wherein the indicator is viewable through the window.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly further comprises:
a first motor operably coupled to the closure drive shaft; and
a second motor operably coupled to the firing drive shaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein the modular end effector further comprises an anvil, and wherein the closure beam is translatable relative to the anvil through the closure stroke based on the rotation of the rotatable closure driver.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein said firing bar further comprises a drive surface to drive staples from the staple cartridge during the firing stroke.

### Claim 9

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
a modular end effector, comprising:
an end effector housing;
an arcuate anvil;
a translatable closure driver movable relative to the arcuate anvil from an open position toward a closed position during a closure stroke, wherein the translatable closure driver is to receive a staple cartridge therein;
a rotatable closure driver to rotate to move the translatable closure driver through the closure stroke;
a translatable firing driver movable relative to the arcuate anvil during a firing stroke; and
a rotatable firing driver to rotate to move the translatable firing driver through the firing stroke; and
a housing assembly, wherein the end effector housing is selectively coupleable to the housing assembly between a coupled configuration and an uncoupled configuration, and wherein the housing assembly comprises a motorized system to drive the rotatable closure driver and the rotatable firing driver in the coupled configuration.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, wherein the modular end effector further comprising an indicator to communicate a status thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein the status comprises a status of the closure stroke.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein the status comprises a status of the firing stroke.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 10, wherein the end effector housing defines a window, and wherein the indicator is viewable through the window.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, wherein the motorized system comprises:
a first motor to drive the rotatable closure driver; and
a second motor to drive the rotatable firing driver.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, wherein said translatable firing driver further comprises a drive surface to drive staples from the staple cartridge during the firing stroke.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, wherein said translatable firing driver further comprises a knife.

### Claim 17

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
a modular end effector, comprising:
a closure beam to receive a staple cartridge therein;
a rotatable closure driver, wherein the closure beam is translatable through a closure stroke based on rotation of the rotatable closure driver;
a firing bar comprising a knife; and
a rotatable firing driver, wherein the firing bar is translatable through a firing stroke based on rotation of the rotatable firing driver; and
a housing assembly, wherein the modular end effector is selectively coupleable to the housing assembly between a coupled configuration and an uncoupled configuration, and wherein the housing assembly comprises:
a closure actuator, wherein the rotatable closure driver is to rotate based on the modular end effector being coupled to the housing assembly and actuation of the closure actuator; and
a firing actuator, wherein the rotatable firing driver is to rotate based on the modular end effector being coupled to the housing assembly and actuation of the firing actuator.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 17, wherein the modular end effector further comprising an indicator to communicate a status thereof.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 18, wherein the status comprises a status of the closure stroke and the firing stroke.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 17, wherein the housing assembly further comprises:
a first motor actuatable by the closure actuator, wherein the first motor is to rotate the rotatable closure driver based on the modular end effector being coupled to the housing assembly and actuation of the closure actuator; and
a second motor actuatable by the firing actuator, wherein the second motor is to rotate the rotatable firing driver based on the modular end effector being coupled to the housing assembly and actuation of the firing actuator.