FIRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FUSE
Surgical instruments are disclosed which comprise a firing assembly configured to apply a firing load to an end effector of the surgical instrument during a firing stroke. The firing assembly comprises a fuse configured to interrupt the firing stroke and/or prevent the firing load from being applied to the end effector.
1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector; and
a firing assembly configured to transmit a firing load to said end effector during a firing stroke, wherein said firing assembly comprises:
a first portion;
a second portion; and
a fuse portion, wherein said fuse portion is configured to transmit said firing load from said first portion to said second portion when said fuse portion is intact, wherein said fuse portion is configured to fail when said firing load exceeds a threshold, and wherein said first portion cannot transmit said firing load to said second portion once said fuse portion has failed.
2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said fuse portion is resettable.
3 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein said end effector comprises a distal end, wherein said firing assembly is advanced toward said distal end during said firing stroke, and wherein said firing assembly is advanced away from said distal end to reset said fuse portion.
4 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said first portion comprises a flexible first rod, wherein said second portion comprises a second rod, and wherein said flexible first rod is configured to bend and disengage from said second rod when said firing load exceeds said threshold.
5 . The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein said flexible rod resiliently bends out of engagement with said second rod when said firing load exceeds said threshold, and wherein said flexible first rod is configured to snap back into engagement with said second rod when said flexible first rod is realigned with said second rod.
6 . The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein said firing assembly further comprises a collar, wherein said second rod is slidably positioned in said collar, wherein said flexible first rod is not positioned in said collar when said firing stroke is initiated, wherein said flexible first rod enters into said collar during said firing stroke, and wherein said collar prevents said flexible first rod from disengaging from said second rod.
7 . The surgical instrument of claim 4 , further comprising a frame, wherein said flexible first rod is configured to engage said frame and block said firing assembly from performing said firing stroke when said flexible first rod disengages from said second rod.
8 . The surgical instrument of claim 4 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias said flexible first rod into engagement with said second rod.
9 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said fuse portion comprises a first barb defined on said first portion and a second barb defined on said second portion engaged with said first barb, and wherein said first barb disengages from said second barb when said firing force exceeds said threshold.
10 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said fuse portion comprises a first foot defined on said first portion and a second foot defined on said second portion engaged with said first foot, and wherein said first foot slips relative to said second foot when said firing force exceeds said threshold.
11 . The surgical instrument of claim 10 , further comprising a frame, wherein said first portion comprises a biasing member engaged with said frame, and wherein said biasing member is configured to bias said first foot into engagement with said second foot.
12 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said second portion comprises a plurality of layers, wherein said fuse portion comprises a proximal portion of said layers which splays outwardly when said firing force exceeds said threshold.
13 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , further comprising a frame, wherein said splayed layers are configured to engage said frame and block said firing assembly from performing said firing stroke when said firing load exceeds said threshold.
14 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein said layers resiliently splay outwardly when said firing load exceeds said threshold, and wherein said layers are configured to flex inwardly to reset said fuse portion when said firing assembly is retracted.
15 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said fuse portion is not resettable.
16 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said fuse portion comprises a wall defined in said first portion, and wherein said wall is configured to break away from said first portion when said firing load exceeds said threshold.
17 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said fuse portion comprises a series of collapsible walls arranged along a longitudinal axis in said first portion, and wherein said collapsible walls are configured to fail sequentially when said firing force exceeds said threshold.
18 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said end effector comprises a staple cartridge.
19 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body;
staples removably stored in said cartridge body; and
a sled configured to eject said staples from said cartridge body; and
a firing assembly configured to apply a firing load to said sled during a staple firing stroke, wherein said firing assembly comprises:
a first portion;
a second portion; and
a fuse configured to transmit said firing load from said first portion to said second portion when said fuse is intact, wherein said fuse is configured to fail when said firing load exceeds a threshold, and wherein said firing assembly cannot transmit said firing stroke to said sled once said fuse has failed.
20 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body;
staples removably stored in said cartridge body; and
a sled configured to eject said staples from said cartridge body; and
a firing assembly configured to apply a firing load to said sled during a staple firing stroke, wherein said firing assembly comprises a fuse configured to transmit said firing load to said sled when said fuse is intact, wherein said fuse is configured to fail when said firing load exceeds a threshold, and wherein said firing assembly cannot transmit said firing load to said sled once said fuse has failed.