Back to results
US 7,128,254 B2Granted
Surgical stapling instrument incorporating a multistroke firing mechanism having a rotary slip-clutch transmission
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael Earl Setser, Douglas B. Hoffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic procedures incorporates a handle that produces separate closing and firing motions to actuate an end effector. In particular, the handle produces multiple firing strokes in order to reduce the required amount of force required to fire (i.e., staple and sever) the end effector.
Claims15
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector operably configured to respond to a firing motion;
- a shaft attached to the end effector and including an elongate firing member coupled to the end effector for movement to longitudinally transmit the firing motion;
- and
- a handle proximally attached to the shaft, comprising:
- a firing actuator repeatably moveable in a firing direction and a return direction;
- and
- a rotary transmission, comprising:
- an input rotary member coupled to the firing actuator for rotation in correspondence to at least the firing motion thereof,
- an output rotary member engaged to the elongate firing member for rotation in correspondence to longitudinal motion thereof, and
- a one-way clutch operatively configured to uncouple the output rotary member from the firing actuator when the firing actuator moves in the return direction between firing strokes.
7 more elements
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector operably configured to respond to a firing motion;
- a shaft attached to the end effector and including an elongate firing member coupled to the end effector for movement to longitudinally transmit the firing motion;
- and
- a handle proximally attached to the shaft, comprising:
- a firing actuator repeatably moveable in a firing direction and a return direction;
- a rotary transmission, comprising:
- an input rotary member coupled to the firing actuator for rotation in correspondence to the firing and return direction motions thereof,
- an output rotary member engaged to the elongate firing member for rotation in correspondence to longitudinal motion thereof,
- a one-way clutch selectively communicating firing rotation of the input rotary member to the output rotary member, and
- an anti-backup mechanism operably configured to prevent retraction of the elongate firing member between firing strokes of the firing actuator, wherein the anti-backup mechanism comprises a pendulum spring biased proximally into frictional engagement with the elongate firing member.
7 more elements
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector operably configured to respond to a firing motion;
- a shaft attached to the end effector and including an elongate firing member coupled to the end effector for movement to longitudinally transmit the firing motion;
- and
- a handle proximally attached to the shaft, comprising:
- a firing actuator repeatably moveable in a firing direction and a return direction;
- a rotary transmission, comprising:
- an input rotary member coupled to the firing actuator for rotation in correspondence to the firing and return direction motions thereof,
- an output rotary member engaged to the elongate firing member for rotation in correspondence to longitudinal motion thereof, and
- a one-way clutch selectively communicating firing rotation of the input rotary member to the output rotary member;
- wherein the firing actuator comprises a pivotally coupled lever providing a reciprocating arcing movement, the firing actuator including an arcuate surface engaged to the input rotary member.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.