Rotary hydraulic pump actuated multi-stroke surgical instrument

#The present invention relates in general to surgical instruments that have an end effector or surgical implement that is capable of being endoscopically or laparoscopically inserted, perhaps through a cannula of a trocar, and proximally controlled via fluid transfer through an elongate and perhaps articulating shaft.

#Endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical instruments are often preferred over traditional open surgical devices since a smaller incision tends to reduce the post-operative recovery time and complications. The use of laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical procedures has been relatively popular and has provided additional incentive to develop the procedures further. In laparoscopic procedures, surgery is performed in the interior of the abdomen through a small incision. Similarly, in endoscopic procedures, surgery is performed in any hollow viscus of the body through narrow endoscopic tubes inserted through small entrance wounds in the skin.

#Laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures generally require that the surgical region be insufflated. Accordingly, any instrumentation inserted into the body must be sealed to ensure that gases do not enter or exit the body through the incision. Moreover, laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures often require the surgeon to act on organs, tissues and/or vessels far removed from the incision. Thus, instruments used in such procedures are typically long and narrow while being functionally controllable from a proximal end of the instrument.

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

#FIG. 1 is a front left isometric view of a surgical stapling and severing instrument with a rotary pump driven fluid control system depicted in phantom.

#FIG. 2 is a front left isometric view of the surgical stapling and severing instrument of FIG. 1 with omission of a left half of a handle housing, a rotation knob, and portions of the fluid control system other than the rotary pump to expose a mechanical closure mechanism.

#Turning to the Figures, wherein like numerals denote like components throughout the several views, in FIG. 1, a surgical instrument is depicted as a surgical stapling and severing instrument 10 that has a surgical implement (end effector), depicted as a staple applying assembly 12, that may be endoscopically or laparoscopically inserted, perhaps through a cannula of a trocar (not shown), and proximally controlled via fluid transfer through an elongate, and perhaps articulating, shaft 14 by a fluid control system 16 contained in a handle 18. Advantageously, a rotary pump 20 consistent with aspects of the invention is driven by multiple strokes of a firing trigger 22 optimized for a desired mechanical advantage to maximize the amount of energy the user may impart per stroke to perform one or more actuation motions at the staple applying assembly 12.

#It will be appreciated that the terms “proximal” and “distal” are used herein with reference to a clinician gripping a handle of an instrument. Thus, the staple applying assembly 12 is distal with respect to the more proximal handle 18. It will be further appreciated that, for convenience and clarity, spatial terms such as “vertical” and “horizontal” are used herein with respect to the drawings. However, surgical instruments are used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and absolute.

#The handle 18 has a closure trigger 24 proximal to the firing trigger 22 that is first drawn toward a pistol grip 26 to grasp tissue, pivoting an upper jaw (anvil) 28 toward a lower jaw 30 of the staple applying assembly 12 into a closed position. The lower jaw 30 includes an elongate staple channel 32 that holds a replaceable staple cartridge 34. This closure is effected by converting the pivoting movement of the closure trigger 24 to a distal translation of an outer closure sleeve 36 of the elongate, articulating shaft 14 to pivot shut the anvil 28. In particular, a proximal closure sleeve tube 38 is attached via top and bottom double pivoting links 40 to a distal closure tube 42 for articulating movement across an articulation joint 44. A horseshoe shaped recess 46 on the distal closure tube 42 engages an anvil feature 48 of the anvil 28 that extends proximally to the lateral pivoting engagement between the anvil 28 and the elongate staple channel 32.