# US 2017/0281173 A1 · Surgical stapling instrument

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- Number: US 2017/0281173 A1
- Document ID: US20170281173A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/089,339
- Filed: 2016-04-01
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01
- Assignees: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
- Applicants: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC
- Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV; Anil K. Nalagatla; Sudhir B. Patel; Jason L. Harris
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170281173A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially}
- A61B 17/0644: {penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position}
- 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 17/105: {Wound clamp magazines (for packaging sharps A61B50/3001)}
- A61B 17/1155: {Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples}
- A61B 17/07292: {Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets}
- A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments}
- A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output}
- 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 2017/0038: {Simultaneous actuation of two tools by pushing one button or the like}
- A61B 2017/00393: {with means for switching between functions}
- A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids}
- A61B 2017/00407: {Ratchet means}
- A61B 2017/00424: {ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist}
- 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 2017/07221: {curved}
- A61B 2017/07228: {Arrangement of the staples}
- 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 2017/07264: {characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material}
- A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge}
- A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder}
- A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter}
- A61B 2017/2903: {transferring rotary motion}
- A61B 2017/2908: {Multiple segments connected by articulations}
- A61B 2017/291: {the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft}
- 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 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft}
- A61B 2017/293: {with means preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the actuating rod}
- A61B 2017/2932: {Transmission of forces to jaw members}
- A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself}
- A61B 2090/0808: {for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus}
- 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 attachment configured to clamp, staple, and cut tissue is disclosed. The surgical stapling attachment comprises an attachment portion, a shaft assembly, an articulation joint, and an end effector assembly. The end effector assembly comprises a firing system configured to cut tissue only after the tissue has been stapled.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
a shaft;
an articulation joint; and
an end effector assembly articulatable relative to said shaft by way of said articulation joint, said end effector assembly comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw, wherein at least one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw;
a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples, wherein each said staple comprises an unfired configuration and a fired configuration;
an anvil configured to deform said staples into said fired configuration when said staples are deployed from said staple cartridge; and
a firing system, comprising:
a sled movable within said staple cartridge and configured to deploy said staples from said staple cartridge as said sled moves from a proximal position of said staple cartridge to a distal position of said staple cartridge, wherein deployment of said staples occurs during a staple firing stroke, wherein said staple firing stroke is complete when each said staple is in said fired configuration;
a cutting member configured to cut tissue clamped with said instrument during a cutting firing stroke, wherein said cutting firing stroke occurs only after said staple firing stroke is complete.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein both said first jaw and said second jaw are movable relative to each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein said firing system further comprises a mechanism configured to automatically actuate said cutting member between a cutting position and a noncutting position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, further comprising a closure system comprising a closure frame movable relative to said shaft, wherein said closure frame is configured to move said movable jaw between an open position and a closed position as said closure frame moves relative to said shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises said anvil and is readily replaceable.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, further comprising an attachment portion comprising an articulation transmission and an end effector transmission, wherein said articulation transmission is configured to transmit rotary control motions to articulate said end effector assembly, and wherein said end effector transmission is configured to transmit rotary control motions to clamp, cut, and staple tissue with said instrument.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 6, wherein said end effector transmission comprises a closure shaft and a firing shaft configured to be actuated independently of each other.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 1, further comprising a firing drive and a closure drive having common drive axis, and wherein said articulation joint comprises:
a proximal yoke attached to said shaft;
a first distal yoke portion attached to a first arm of said proximal yoke; and
a second distal yoke portion attached to a second arm of said proximal yoke, wherein said firing drive and said closure drive extend between said first distal yoke portion and said second distal yoke portion.

### Claim 9

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
a shaft;
an articulation joint; and
an end effector assembly articulatable relative to said shaft by way of said articulation joint, said end effector assembly comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw, wherein at least one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw;
a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples configured to be ejected from said staple cartridge, wherein each said staple comprises an unfired configuration and a fired configuration;
an anvil configured to deform said staples into said fired configuration when said staples are deployed from said staple cartridge;
a closure drive configured to move said first jaw and said second jaw relative to each other; and
a firing drive comprising a firing member movable within said staple cartridge and configured to deploy said staples from said staple cartridge as said firing member moves from a proximal position of said staple cartridge to a distal position of staple cartridge, wherein said firing member comprises a cutting member configured to cut tissue after each said staple is in said fired configuration.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, wherein said firing member further comprises a mechanism configured to automatically actuate said cutting member between a cutting position and a noncutting position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, wherein said closure drive comprises a closure frame movable relative to said shaft, and wherein said closure frame is configured to move said first jaw and said second jaw between an open position and a closed position as said closure frame moves relative to said shaft.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises said anvil and is readily replaceable.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, further comprising an attachment portion comprising an articulation transmission and an end effector transmission, wherein said articulation transmission is configured to transmit rotary control motions to articulate said end effector assembly, and wherein said end effector transmission is configured to transmit rotary control motions to clamp, cut, and staple tissue with said instrument.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 13, wherein said end effector transmission comprises a closure shaft and a firing shaft configured to be actuated independently of each other.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 9, wherein said articulation joint comprises:
a proximal yoke attached to said shaft;
a first distal yoke portion attached to a first arm of said proximal yoke; and
a second distal yoke portion attached to a second arm of said proximal yoke, wherein said firing drive and said closure drive extend between said first distal yoke portion and said second distal yoke portion.

### Claim 16

A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
a shaft;
an articulation joint; and
an end effector assembly articulatable relative to said shaft by way of said articulation joint, said end effector assembly comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw, wherein at least one of said first jaw and said second jaw is movable relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw;
a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples configured to be ejected from said staple cartridge, wherein each said staple comprises an unfired configuration and a fired configuration;
an anvil configured to deform said staples into said fired configuration when said staples are deployed from said staple cartridge;
a closure frame configured to move said movable jaw;
a sled movable within said staple cartridge and configured to deploy said staples from said staple cartridge during a first firing stage; and
a cutting member configured to cut tissue during a second firing stage, wherein said second firing stage can only occur after the first firing stage is complete.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 16, wherein both said first jaw and said second jaw are movable relative to each other.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 17, wherein said closure frame is configured to move said first jaw and said second jaw between an open position and a closed position as said closure frame moves relative to said shaft.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 16, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw comprises said anvil and is readily replaceable.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The surgical stapling instrument of claim 16, wherein said end effector assembly further comprises a firing drive and a closure drive, and wherein said articulation joint comprises:
a proximal yoke attached to said shaft;
a first distal yoke portion attached to a first arm of said proximal yoke; and
a second distal yoke portion attached to a second arm of said proximal yoke, wherein said firing drive and said closure drive extend between said first distal yoke portion and said second distal yoke portion.