US 8,608,045 B2Granted

Powered surgical cutting and stapling apparatus with manually retractable firing system

AssigneeEthicon Endo-Sugery, Inc.

InventorsBret W. Smith, Daniel J. Abbott, Richard F. Schwemberger, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Chad P. Boudreaux, Brelt E. Swensgard, Ryan J. Laurent

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Abstract

In one general aspect, various embodiments of the present invention can include a motorized surgical cutting and fastening instrument having a drive shaft, a motor selectively engageable with the drive shaft, and a manual return mechanism configured to operably disengage the motor from the drive shaft and retract the drive shaft. In at least one embodiment, a surgeon, or other operator of the surgical instrument, can utilize the manual return mechanism to retract the drive shaft after it has been advanced, especially when the motor, or a power source supplying the motor, has failed or is otherwise unable to provide a force sufficient to retract the drive shaft.

Claims38

Dependent claims

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising a movable cutting member for cutting an object positioned in said end effector;
a drive shaft operably coupled with said cutting member, wherein said drive shaft is movable between a proximal position and a distal position, and wherein said drive shaft includes a plurality of first drive teeth and a plurality of second drive teeth;
a pinion gear selectively engageable with said plurality of first drive teeth;
a motor configured to rotate said pinion gear;
a firing trigger configured such that the operation of said firing trigger actuates said motor;
and
a manual return mechanism comprising:
a pivot;
a lever rotatable about said pivot in a first direction and a second direction, wherein said second direction is opposite of said first direction;
a cam, wherein said lever is configured to move said cam between a first position and a second position;
a pinion spring configured to bias said pinion gear into operative engagement with said drive shaft when said cam is in said first position, wherein said cam is configured to engage said pinion gear when said cam is moved from said first position to said second position and move said pinion gear away from said drive shaft such that said pinion gear is operably disengaged from said plurality of first drive teeth;
a pawl rotatably mounted to said lever;
and
a pawl spring operably engaged with said pawl, wherein said pawl spring is configured to move said pawl between a disengaged position in which said pawl is operably disengaged from said plurality of second drive teeth and an engaged position in which said pawl is operably engaged with said plurality of second drive teeth, wherein said pawl is configured to move said drive shaft from said distal position toward said proximal position when said lever is rotated in said first direction, and wherein said pawl is configured to slide over said plurality of second drive teeth when said lever is rotated in said second direction.

11 more elements

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising a movable cutting member for cutting an object positioned in said end effector;
a drive shaft operably coupled with said cutting member, wherein said drive shaft is movable between a proximal position and a distal position, and wherein said drive shaft includes a plurality of first drive teeth and a plurality of second drive teeth;
a pinion gear selectively engageable with said plurality of first drive teeth;
a motor configured to rotate said pinion gear;
a firing trigger configured such that the operation of said firing trigger actuates said motor;
and
a return mechanism comprising:
a lever movable in a first direction and a second direction;
a cam, wherein said lever is configured to move said cam between a first position and a second position, and wherein said cam is configured to move said pinion gear away from said drive shaft and operably disengage said pinion gear from said plurality of first drive teeth when said cam is moved from said first position to said second position;
and
a pawl rotatably mounted to said lever, wherein said pawl is configured to move said drive shaft from said distal position toward said proximal position when said lever is moved in said first direction, and wherein said pawl is configured to slide over said plurality of second teeth when said lever is moved in said second direction.

8 more elements

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising a movable cutting member for cutting an object positioned in said end effector;
a drive shaft operably coupled with said cutting member;
a motor selectively engageable with said drive shaft;
and
a return mechanism comprising a return actuator movable in a first direction, wherein said return actuator is configured to operably disengage said motor from said drive shaft and move said drive shaft when said return actuator is moved in said first direction, wherein said drive shaft is rotatable in said first direction and a second direction, wherein said instrument further comprises a pinion gear slidable along said drive shaft between a first position and a second position, wherein said pinion gear is operably engaged with said motor and said drive shaft when said pinion gear is in said first position in order to rotate said drive shaft in said first direction, wherein said pinion gear is operably engaged with said return actuator and said drive shaft when said pinion gear is in said second position in order to rotate said drive shaft in said second direction, and wherein said pinion gear is operably disengaged from said motor when said pinion gear is in said second position;
wherein said return actuator is movable in said second direction, wherein said return actuator includes a first ratchet portion, wherein said pinion gear includes a second ratchet portion, and wherein said first ratchet portion is configured to drive said second ratchet portion when said return actuator is moved in said first direction, and wherein said first ratchet portion is configured to slide relative to said second ratchet portion when said return actuator is moved in said second direction.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/249,117Filed 10 Oct 2008
Published: US 2010/0089970 A115 Apr 2010
Granted: 17 Dec 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

A61B 17/105
For applying or removing wound clamps , e.g. containing only one clamp or staple ; Wound clamp magazines: wound clamp magazines
A61B 17/068
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps
A61B 17/0686
For applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil: having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
A61B 17/07207
For applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously: the staples being applied sequentially