Dampening device for endoscopic surgical stapler

A surgical instrument having a handle portion that is operably coupled to an end effector that has an end effector portion that is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position, said surgical instrument comprising:

• a closure system operably interfacing with said end effector portion to selectively transmit opening and closing motions thereto;
• a closure trigger movably coupled to said handle portion and being selectively movable between unactuated and actuated positions, said closure trigger interacting with said closure system such that movement of said closure trigger from said unactuated position to said actuated position causes said closure system to apply said closing motions to said movable end effector portion and wherein movement of said closure trigger from said actuated position to said unactuated position causes said closure system to apply said opening motion to said movable end effector portion;
• a dampening system supported by said handle portion and interacting with said closure trigger to retard movement of said closure trigger from said actuated position to said unactuated position;
• a first biasing member in said housing for applying a first biasing force to said closure trigger to bias said closure trigger from said actuated position to said unactuated position upon discontinuing an application of an actuation force thereto and wherein said dampening system further comprises:
• a passage formed in said handle portion and having a first end with a first opening therein and a closed second end;
• a protrusion on said closure trigger extending into said passage through said first opening in said first end;
• and
• a second biasing member in said passage between said protrusion and said closed second end, said second biasing member applying a second biasing force to said protrusion opposing the first biasing force wherein said second biasing force is less than said first biasing force.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle portion;
• an elongate shaft coupled to said handle portion;
• an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft, said end effector comprising:
• a first jaw;
• and
• a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw between an open position and a closed position upon application of opening and closing motions thereto by a closure tube portion of said elongate shaft, said surgical instrument further comprising:
• a closure system supported by said handle portion and operably interfacing with said closure tube portion to selectively transmit opening and closing motions thereto;
• a closure trigger movably coupled to said handle portion and being selectively movable between first and second positions, said closure trigger interacting with said closure system such that movement of said closure trigger from said first position to said second position causes said closure trigger to apply said closing motions to said closure tube portion and wherein movement of said closure trigger from said second position to said first position causes said closure system to apply said opening motion to said closure tube portion;
• and
• a dampening system supported by said handle portion and interacting with said closure trigger to retard movement of said closure trigger from said second position to said first position, wherein said dampening system comprises:
• a passage formed in said handle portion and having a first end with a first opening therein and a second end with a second opening therein;
• a protrusion on said closure trigger extending into said passage through said opening in said first end, said protrusion sized relative to said passage to establish a substantially fluid tight sliding seal therewith as said closure trigger is moved from said first position to said second position;
• and
• a movable valve member mounted within said passage and movable between a first valve position wherein said movable valve member blocks said second opening when said closure trigger moves from said second position to said first position and a second valve position exposing said second opening when said closure trigger is moved from said first position to said second position;
• and a third opening in said valve member that is smaller than said second opening.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle portion;
• an elongate shaft coupled to said handle portion;
• an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft, said end effector comprising:
• a first jaw;
• and
• a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw between an open position and a closed position upon application of opening and closing motions thereto by a closure tube portion of said elongate shaft, said surgical instrument further comprising:
• a closure system supported by said handle portion and operably interfacing with said closure tube portion to selectively transmit opening and closing motions thereto;
• a closure trigger movably coupled to said handle portion and being selectively movable between unactuated and actuated positions, said closure trigger interacting with said closure system such that movement of said closure trigger from said unactuated position to said actuated position causes said closure trigger to apply said closing motions to said closure tube portion and wherein movement of said closure trigger from said actuated position to said unactuated position causes said closure system to apply said opening motion to said closure tube portion;
• and
• a dampening system supported by said handle portion and interacting with said closure trigger to retard movement of said closure trigger from said actuated position to said unactuated position;
• a first biasing member in said housing for applying a first biasing force to said closure trigger to bias said closure trigger from said actuated position to said unactuated position upon discontinuing an application of an actuation force thereto and wherein said dampening system further comprises:
• a passage formed in said handle portion and having a first end with a first opening therein and a closed second end;
• a protrusion on said closure trigger extending into said passage through said first opening in said first end;
• and
• a second biasing member in said passage between said protrusion and said closed second end, said second biasing member applying a second biasing force to said protrusion opposing the first biasing force wherein said second biasing force is less than said first biasing force.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle portion;
• an elongate shaft coupled to said handle portion;
• an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft, said end effector comprising:
• a first jaw;
• and
• a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw between an open position and a closed position upon application of opening and closing motions thereto by a closure tube portion of said elongate shaft, said surgical instrument further comprising:
• a closure system supported by said handle portion and operably interfacing with said closure tube portion to selectively transmit opening and closing motions thereto;
• a closure trigger movably coupled to said handle portion and being selectively movable between first and second positions, said closure trigger interacting with said closure system such that movement of said closure trigger from said first position to said second position causes said closure trigger to apply said closing motions to said closure tube portion and wherein movement of said closure trigger from said second position to said first position causes said closure system to apply said opening motion to said closure tube portion;
• and
• a dampening system supported by said handle portion and interacting with said closure trigger to retard movement of said closure trigger from said second position to said first position upon application of an actuation force thereto, said dampening system comprising a passage formed in said handle portion having a first end with a first opening therein and a second end, said dampening system comprising a projection on said closure trigger extending into said passage through said opening in said first end, wherein said dampening system comprises:
• said second end of said passage having a second opening therein;
• said projection sized relative to said passage to establish a substantially fluid tight sliding seal therewith as said closure trigger is moved from said first position to said second position;
• and
• a movable valve member mounted within said passage and moveable between a first valve position wherein said moveable valve member blocks said second opening when said closure trigger moves from said second position to said first position and a second valve position exposing said second opening when said closure trigger is moved from said first position to said second position;
• and
• a third opening in said valve member that is smaller than said second opening.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle portion;
• an elongate shaft coupled to said handle portion;
• an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft, said end effector comprising:
• a first jaw;
• and
• a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw between an open position and a closed position upon application of opening and closing motions thereto by a closure tube portion of said elongate shaft, said surgical instrument further comprising:
• a closure system supported by said handle portion and operably interfacing with said closure tube portion to selectively transmit opening and closing motions thereto;
• a closure trigger movably coupled to said handle portion and being selectively movable between unactuated and actuated positions, said closure trigger interacting with said closure system such that movement of said closure trigger from said unactuated position to said actuated position causes said closure trigger to apply said closing motions to said closure tube portion and wherein movement of said closure trigger from said actuated position to said unactuated position causes said closure system to apply said opening motion to said closure tube portion;
• and
• a dampening system supported by said handle portion and interacting with said closure trigger to retard movement of said closure trigger from said actuated position to said unactuated position, said dampening system comprising a passage formed in said handle portion having a first end with a first opening therein and a second end, said dampening system comprising a projection on said closure trigger extending into said passage through said first opening in said first end;
• a first biasing member in said housing for applying a first biasing force to said closure trigger to bias said closure trigger from said actuated position to said unactuated position upon discontinuing said application of said actuation force thereto and wherein said dampening system further comprises:
• a second biasing member in said passage between said projection and said second end, said second biasing member applying a second biasing force to said projection opposing the first biasing force wherein said second biasing force is less than said first biasing force.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle portion;
• an end effector, the end effector comprising a movable portion that is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position;
• a closure trigger movably coupled to said handle portion and being selectively movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, said closure trigger operably engageable with said end effector such that movement of said closure trigger from said unactuated position to said actuated position causes a closing motion of the movable portion of the end effector;
• and
• a dampening system supported by said handle portion and interacting with said closure trigger to retard motion of said closure trigger in a direction from said actuated position toward said unactuated position, wherein said dampening system comprises:
• a passage formed in said handle portion, wherein said passage comprises a first end with a first opening therein and a second end with a second opening therein;
• a protrusion extending from said closure trigger and extending into said passage through said first opening;
• a sliding seal between the passage and the protrusion restricting fluid from passing therethrough when said closure trigger moves in a direction from said actuated position toward said unactuated position;
• and
• a movable valve mounted relative to said passage, wherein said valve is movable between:
• a first valve position in which said movable valve at least partially blocks said second opening when said closure trigger is moved from said actuated position to said unactuated position;
• and
• a second valve position in which said movable valve at least partially exposes said second opening when said closure trigger is moved from said unactuated position to said actuated position.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle portion;
• an end effector, the end effector comprising a movable portion that is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position;
• a closure trigger movably coupled to said handle portion and being selectively movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, said closure trigger operably engageable with said end effector such that movement of said closure trigger from said unactuated position to said actuated position causes a closing motion of the movable portion of the end effector;
• and
• dampening means for applying a first retarding force to said closure trigger when said closure trigger moves in a direction from said unactuated position to said actuated position and for applying a second retarding force to said closure trigger when said closure trigger moves in a direction from said actuated position to said unactuated position, wherein said second retarding force is greater than said first retarding force.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle portion;
• an end effector, the end effector comprising a movable portion that is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position;
• a closure system configured to selectively transmit a closing motion to the movable portion;
• a closure trigger movably coupled to said handle portion and being selectively movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, said closure trigger operably engageable with said end effector such that movement of said closure trigger from said unactuated position to said actuated position causes a closing motion of the movable portion of the end effector;
• a dampening system supported by said handle portion and retarding motion of said closure trigger by selectively drawing a fluid into the dampening system when said closure trigger moves in a direction from said unactuated position to said actuated position and by selectively pushing the fluid out of the dampening system when said closure trigger moves in a direction from said actuated position to said unactuated position;
• and
• flow control means for controlling a first flow rate at which the fluid is drawn into the dampening system and for controlling a second flow rate at which the fluid is pushed out of the dampening system, wherein the second flow rate is larger than the first flow rate.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle portion;
• an end effector, the end effector comprising a movable portion that is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position;
• a closure trigger movable coupled to said handle portion and being selectively movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, said closure trigger operably engageable with said end effector such that movement of said closure trigger from said unactuated position to said actuated position causes a closing motion of the movable portion of the end effector;
• a first biasing member in said housing applying a first biasing force to said closure trigger to bias said closure trigger from said actuated position to said unactuated position;
• and
• a second biasing member in said housing applying a second biasing force opposing said first biasing force to said closure trigger, wherein the second biasing force is less than the first biasing force wherein said second biasing member comprises a spring.