# US 2020/0205808 A1 · Surgical stapler with fixed jaw support pin > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0205808 A1 - Document ID: US20200205808A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/747,921 - Filed: 2020-01-21 - Published: 2020-07-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-31 - Assignees: Ethicon, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon LLC - Inventors: Thomas Adams; Anil K. Nalagatla; Barry T. Jamison - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200205808A1 ## CPC - 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 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/07221: {curved} - A61B 2017/07228: {Arrangement of the staples} - A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter} - A61B 2017/320052: {Guides for cutting instruments} - A61B 2090/036: {abutting on tissue or skin} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical instrument and method of manipulating tissue of a patient includes a body having a firing mechanism configured to be selectively manipulated by an operator, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, and an end effector extending distally from the shaft assembly and configured to receive a cartridge for manipulating tissue of a patient. The end effector includes a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, a gap between the distal and proximal end portions, and a guide pin. The guide pin extends from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion and is connected thereto. Thereby, the guide pin is configured to secure the distal end portion relative to the proximal end portion and inhibit deflection of the distal end portion relative to the proximal end portion. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A surgical instrument comprising: (a) a body; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body; and (c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a supporting structure, wherein the supporting structure includes: (A) a proximal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion is configured to support a cartridge housing, (B) a distal end portion spaced distally apart from the proximal end portion, wherein the distal end portion is configured to support an anvil, and (C) a gap defined between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, wherein the end effector is operable to actuate the cartridge housing and the anvil relative to one another to clamp and staple tissue positioned within the gap, and (ii) a guide pin fixed relative to the supporting structure, wherein the guide pin extends longitudinally through the distal end portion, across the gap, and into the proximal end portion, wherein the guide pin is configured to guide relative movement between the cartridge housing and the anvil. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the proximal end portion includes a first bore configured to receive a proximal portion of the guide pin, wherein the distal portion includes a second bore configured to receive a distal portion of the guide pin. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein the second bore opens through a distal most surface of the distal end portion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the guide pin includes a distal head, wherein the distal head is seated within the distal end portion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the guide pin includes a first threaded feature configured to threadedly engage a second threaded feature of the end effector to thereby fix the guide pin longitudinally relative to the supporting structure. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The surgical instrument of claim 25, wherein the first threaded feature comprises a threaded pin end, wherein the second threaded feature comprises a threaded nut. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the guide pin extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the guide pin is configured to inhibit deflection of the distal end portion relative to the proximal end portion. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The surgical instrument of claim 28, wherein the guide pin is maintained in tension between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the end effector further comprises a cartridge housing and an anvil, wherein the cartridge housing houses a plurality of staples, wherein the anvil is configured to deform the staples ejected by the cartridge housing. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The surgical instrument of claim 30, wherein the guide pin extends through the cartridge housing, wherein the cartridge housing is slidable longitudinally along the guide pin relative to the anvil. ### Claim 32 (depends on 21) The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the proximal end portion and the distal end portion are integrally connected and define a unitary body. ### Claim 33 (depends on 21) The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the supporting structure further includes an intermediate portion that interconnects the proximal end portion with the distal end portion, wherein the intermediate portion defines a closed end of the gap. ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein each of the proximal end portion and the distal end portion of the supporting structure extends along a curved path disposed transversely to a longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. ### Claim 35 (depends on 21) The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the end effector further comprises a translating member slidably disposed within the proximal end portion of the supporting structure, wherein the translating member is configured to actuate the cartridge housing longitudinally relative to the anvil. ### Claim 36 A surgical instrument comprising: (a) a body; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body; and (c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a supporting structure, wherein the supporting structure includes: (A) a proximal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion is configured to support a cartridge housing, (B) a distal end portion spaced distally apart from the proximal end portion, wherein the distal end portion is configured to support an anvil, and (C) a gap defined between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, wherein the end effector is operable to actuate the cartridge housing and the anvil relative to one another to clamp and staple tissue positioned within the gap, and (ii) a guide pin having a proximal pin end and a distal pin end, wherein the proximal pin end is fixed within the proximal end portion and the distal pin end is fixed within the distal end portion, wherein the guide pin is configured to guide relative movement between the cartridge housing and the anvil. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The surgical instrument of claim 36, wherein one of the proximal pin end or the distal pin end comprises a threaded pin end, wherein the other of the proximal pin end or the distal pin end comprises a pin head having an enlarged diameter. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The surgical instrument of claim 36, wherein the guide pin extends longitudinally along a closed end of the gap. ### Claim 39 A surgical instrument comprising: (a) a body; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body; and (c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) a supporting structure, wherein the supporting structure includes: (A) a proximal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion is configured to support a cartridge housing, (B) a distal end portion spaced distally apart from the proximal end portion, wherein the distal end portion is configured to support an anvil, and (C) a gap defined between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, wherein the end effector is operable to actuate the cartridge housing and the anvil relative to one another to clamp and staple tissue positioned within the gap, (ii) a cartridge removably disposed within the supporting structure, wherein the cartridge includes: (A) a cartridge housing having a plurality of staples, and (B) an anvil configured to deform the staples, and (iii) a guide pin fixed relative to the supporting structure, wherein the guide pin extends proximally through the distal end portion, the anvil, the gap, the cartridge housing, and the proximal end portion, wherein the guide pin is configured to guide relative movement between the cartridge housing and the anvil. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The surgical instrument of claim 39, wherein the guide pin is secured to the supporting structure independently of the cartridge.