IP Library Granted Patent US 9,974,529
Granted Patent B2
US 9,974,529 · App. 14/703,109 · Granted May 22, 2018

Surgical instrument

Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH); Chester O. Baxter, III (Loveland, OH); Steven G. Hall (Cincinnati, OH); Andrew Yoo (Princeton Junction, NJ); Edward G. Chekan (Cincinnati, OH)
Assignee: Ethicon LLC
A61B17/00234A61B2017/00353A61B2560/0443
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,974,529
App. No.
14/703,109
Granted
May 22, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes an actuation system, a drive system, and a tool head. The drive system is coupled to the actuation system and includes a rotatable shaft which defines a longitudinal axis. The tool head is coupled to the drive system and includes an annular cartridge and a pliable bunchable ring. The annular cartridge includes a plurality of staples. The pliable bunchable ring surrounds the annular cartridge. The surgical instrument is configured to drive the staples through the pliable bunchable ring substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Claims (34)

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an actuation system;

a drive system coupled to the actuation system, wherein the drive system comprises:

a rotatable shaft which defines a longitudinal axis; and

an outer casing surrounding the rotatable shaft; and

a tool head coupled to the drive system, wherein the tool head comprises:

an annular cartridge comprising a plurality of staples; and

a pliable bunchable ring surrounding the annular cartridge, wherein the surgical instrument is configured to drive the staples through the pliable bunchable ring in a direction which is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the outer casing is configured to deform the staples driven through the pliable bunchable ring.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the actuation system comprises a movable gear plate which defines a rack.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the drive system further comprises a pinion gear coupled to the rotatable shaft, wherein the pinion gear is configured to meshingly engage with the rack.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the actuation system further comprises an actuator coupled to the movable gear plate.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the actuator is a trigger.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pliable bunchable ring comprises an elastomeric material.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the tool head further comprises a rotatable drive assembly coupled to the rotatable shaft, wherein the rotatable drive assembly is configured to drive the staples through the pliable bunchable ring substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis as the rotatable shaft is rotated.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the rotatable drive assembly is non-rotatably coupled to the rotatable shaft.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the rotatable drive assembly comprises a staple drive member configured to drive the staples from the annular cartridge as the rotatable shaft is rotated.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a pliable bunchable ring; and

a stapler head surrounded by the pliable bunchable ring, wherein the stapler head comprises:

a plurality of radial openings;

a plurality of staples; and

an actuatable drive assembly configured to drive the staples through the openings and through the pliable bunchable ring as the actuatable drive assembly is actuated, wherein the actuatable drive assembly comprises a rotatable driver configured to rotate within the stapler head.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the pliable bunchable ring is comprised of an elastomeric material.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the pliable bunchable ring is removably stored around the stapler head in a stretched condition.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the pliable bunchable ring is aligned with the radial openings.

14. An end effector of a surgical instrument for fastening a lumen, the end effector comprising:

an annular cartridge body;

an annular row of fasteners removably stored in the annular cartridge body;

an actuatable drive assembly comprising a rotatable driver configured to rotate within the end effector; and

a cinching member extending around the annular cartridge body, wherein the fasteners implant the cinching member to the lumen when the fasteners are ejected from the annular cartridge body.

15. The end effector of claim 14 , further comprising an anvil configured to deform the fasteners.

16. The end effector of claim 14 , wherein the cinching member is aligned with the annular row of fasteners.

17. The end effector of claim 14 , wherein the cinching member is removably stored around the annular cartridge body in a stretched state.

18. The end effector of claim 17 , wherein the cinching member is comprised of an elastomeric material.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2021
From: ETHICON LLC
To: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 056601/0339 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2017
From: CHEKAN, EDWARD G.
To: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 044440/0525 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 14, 2017
From: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 045644/0357 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 22, 2017
From: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 042941/0565 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2015
From: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY INC.
To: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
Reel/Frame 037219/0749 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2015
From: SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV; BAXTER, CHESTER O., III; HALL, STEVEN G.; YOO, ANDREW; CHEKAN, EDWARD G.
To: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 036139/0167 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 13181798 · Jul 13, 2011
Provisional Application 61452432 · Mar 14, 2011
Related Publication 20150230783A1 · Aug 20, 2015