Granted Patent B2

US 10,206,676 · App. 16/020,610 · Granted Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

Claims (73)

1. A surgical stapling system, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a frame;

an anvil movable relative to said frame from an open position to a clamped position, wherein said anvil comprises:

an inner row of staple deforming features;

an outer row of staple deforming features; and

a channel, comprising:

a blade receiving portion; and

a lateral portion extending lateral to said blade receiving portion, wherein said lateral portion extends behind said inner row of staple deforming features; and

a staple cartridge supported by said frame, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:

a deck;

a longitudinal slot, wherein said longitudinal slot is aligned with said blade receiving portion when said anvil is in said clamped position;

staple cavities defined in said deck;

staples removably stored within said staple cavities;

staple drivers configured to deploy said staples from said staple cavities; and

a firing member movable from a starting position to an ending position in response to a firing stroke, wherein said firing member comprises:

an inclined surface configured to drive said staple drivers during said firing stroke;

a cutting member configured to traverse said longitudinal slot of said staple cartridge and said blade receiving portion of said anvil during said firing stroke; and

a lateral member extending from said cutting member, wherein said lateral member is configured to traverse said lateral portion of said anvil during said firing stroke, and wherein said lateral member extends behind said inner row of staple deforming features in said anvil;

an elongate shaft;

a closure system configured to place said anvil in said clamped position in response to a closure motion;

a motor configured to generate rotary motion; and

a rotatable drive screw drivable by said motor, wherein said rotatable drive screw is operably coupled to said firing member such that said rotary motion of said motor is converted to said firing stroke of said firing member.

2. The surgical stapling system of claim 1 , wherein said closure motion and said firing stroke are separate and distinct.

3. The surgical stapling system of claim 2 , wherein said motor cannot generate said rotary motion until said anvil is in said clamped position.

4. The surgical stapling system of claim 1 , wherein said staple cartridge is replaceable.

5. The surgical stapling system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system including a DC voltage regulator, wherein said control system is configured to control the speed of said motor during said firing stroke.

6. A surgical stapling system, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a first jaw;

a pivot;

a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is rotatable about said pivot relative to said first jaw from an open position to a closed position, wherein said second jaw comprises:

staple deforming features; and

a channel, comprising:

a first portion; and

a second portion laterally extending from said first portion; and

a staple cartridge supported by said first jaw, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:

a deck;

a longitudinal slot;

an inner row of staple cavities, wherein said inner row of staple cavities are captured by said second portion of said channel when said second jaw is in said closed position;

an outer row of staple cavities;

staples removably stored within said inner row of staple cavities and said outer row of staple cavities; and

a firing member movable from a starting position to an ending position in response to a firing motion, wherein said firing member deploys said staples from said inner row of staple cavities and said outer row of staple cavities against said staple deforming features of said second jaw during said firing motion, and wherein said firing member comprises:

a plurality of inclined surfaces configured to drive said staples;

a knife configured to traverse said first portion of said channel and said longitudinal slot of said staple cartridge during said firing motion; and

a pin extending laterally from said knife, wherein said pin is configured to contact said second portion of said channel during said firing motion, and wherein said pin extends laterally to said inner row of staple cavities during said firing motion;

an elongate shaft;

a closure system configured to place said second jaw in said closed position; and

a rotatable drive screw drivable by a motorized system, wherein said drive screw is threadably engaged with said firing member such that rotary motion from said motorized system is converted to said firing motion of said firing member.

7. The surgical stapling system of claim 6 , wherein said closure motion and said firing motion are separate and distinct.

8. The surgical stapling system of claim 7 , wherein said motorized system cannot generate said rotary motion until said second jaw is in said closed position.

9. The surgical stapling system of claim 6 , wherein said staple cartridge is replaceable.

10. The surgical stapling system of claim 6 , further comprising a control system including a DC voltage regulator, wherein said control system is configured to control the speed of said motorized system during said firing motion.

11. A surgical stapling system, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a jaw;

an anvil, wherein said anvil is movable relative to said jaw between an open position and a clamped position, wherein said anvil comprises:

an inner row of staple forming features;

an outer row of staple forming features; and

a longitudinal slot, comprising:

a longitudinal portion; and

a lateral portion extending laterally from said longitudinal portion, wherein said lateral portion extends behind said inner row of staple forming features; and

a staple cartridge supported by said jaw, wherein said staple cartridge comprises:

a deck;

a longitudinal cartridge slot;

an inner row of staple cavities, wherein said inner row of staple cavities are aligned with said inner row of staple forming features when said anvil is in said clamped position;

an outer row of staple cavities, wherein said outer row of staple cavities are aligned with said outer row of staple forming features when said anvil is in said clamped position;

staples removably stored in said inner row of staple cavities and said outer row of staple cavities; and

a firing member movable from a proximal position toward a distal position in response to a firing actuation, wherein said firing member ejects said staples from said inner row of staple cavities into said inner row of staple forming features and said staples from said outer row of staple cavities into said outer row of staple forming features during said firing actuation, wherein said firing member comprises:

a cutting member configured to traverse said longitudinal slot of said anvil and said longitudinal cartridge slot of said staple cartridge during said firing actuation; and

a lateral member extending laterally from said cutting member, wherein said lateral member is configured to traverse said lateral portion of said longitudinal slot of said anvil during said firing actuation, and wherein said lateral member supports at least some of said inner row of staple deforming features during said firing actuation;

a clamping system configured to place said anvil in said clamped position; and

a rotatable drive screw drivable by a motorized system, wherein said drive screw is operably engaged with said firing member such that rotary motion from said motorized system is converted to said firing actuation.

Assignments (3)

Cited By (70)

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