US 9,629,623 B2Granted

Drive system lockout arrangements for modular surgical instruments

AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.

InventorsThomas W. Lytle, IV, Richard L. Leimbach, Wendy A. Kerr, Brett E. Swensgard, Kevin D. Sackett, Mark D. Overmyer

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Abstract

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument may include at least one drive system that is configured to generate control motions upon actuation thereof. At least one drive system defines an actuation axis. The surgical instrument may further include at least one interchangeable shaft assembly that is configured to be removably coupled to the at least one drive system in a direction that is substantially transverse to the actuation axis and transmit the control motions from the at least one drive system to a surgical end effector operably coupled thereto. A lockout assembly may interface with the at least one drive system for preventing actuation of the drive system unless the at least one interchangeable shaft assembly has been operably coupled to the at least one drive system.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;
at least one drive system supported by said housing and comprising a selectively actuatable attachment member configured to generate control motions upon actuation thereof and defining an actuation axis;
at least one interchangeable shaft assembly comprising a proximal end that is configured to be removably coupled to the attachment member of the at least one drive system and said housing in a direction that is substantially transverse to the actuation axis, said at least one interchangeable shaft assembly further comprising at least one axially movable drive shaft configured to transmit the control motions from the at least one drive system to a surgical end effector that is operably coupled to a distal end of said interchangeable shaft assembly;
and
a lockout assembly comprising:
a proximal slot segment in said housing for receiving at least a portion of said attachment member therein prior to attachment of said interchangeable shaft assembly to said housing;
and
a distal slot segment in said interchangeable shaft assembly and communicating with said proximal slot segment to enable said attachment member to pass from said proximal slot segment to said distal slot segment when said proximal end of said interchangeable shaft assembly is coupled to said housing to permit actuation of said at least one drive system and wherein said at least one drive system is prevented from generating the control motions unless the proximal end of the at least one interchangeable shaft assembly has been operably coupled to the attachment member.

5 more elements

A surgical instrument, comprising:

a shaft assembly comprising:
an end effector, comprising:
a surgical staple cartridge;
and
an anvil, wherein one of the anvil and the surgical staple cartridge is movable relative to the other of the anvil and the surgical staple cartridge upon an application of an opening motion and a closing motion to at least one of said anvil and said surgical staple cartridge and wherein said shaft assembly further comprises:
a movable closure shaft assembly configured to apply the opening motion and the closing motion to at least one of said anvil and said surgical staple cartridge;
and
a shaft attachment frame operably supporting a portion of the movable closure shaft assembly thereon and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises:
a housing, comprising a frame member configured for removable operable engagement with the shaft attachment frame;
a closure drive system operably supported by the frame member and defining an actuation axis, the closure drive system comprising an attachment member that is configured for operable engagement with the closure shaft assembly in a direction that is substantially transverse to the actuation axis when the shaft attachment frame is in operable engagement with the frame member, said closure drive system being configured to selectively generate said opening and closing motions;
and
a lockout assembly comprising:
a proximal slot segment in said housing for receiving at least a portion of said attachment member therein prior to attachment of said shaft attachment frame to said frame member;
and
a distal slot segment in said shaft attachment frame communicating with said proximal slot segment to enable said attachment member to pass from said proximal slot segment to said distal slot segment when said shaft attachment frame is in operable engagement with said frame member to permit actuation of said closure drive system and wherein said closure drive system is prevented from generating said opening and closing motions unless the closure shaft assembly is in operable engagement with the closure drive system.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/803,066Filed 14 Mar 2013
Published: US 2014/0263565 A118 Sep 2014
Granted: 25 Apr 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification44 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 18/1445
Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps: at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
A61B 17/064
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
A61B 17/068
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps