IP Library Granted Patent US 10,278,722
Granted Patent B2
US 10,278,722 · App. 15/094,174 · Granted May 7, 2019

Motor-driven surgical cutting and fastening instrument

Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH); Eugene L. Timperman (Cincinnati, OH); Jeffrey S. Swayze (West Chester, OH)
Assignee: Ethicon LLC
A61B17/32A61B17/068A61B17/07207A61B17/105A61B17/320016A61B34/76A61B2017/00398A61B2017/00734
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,278,722
App. No.
15/094,174
Granted
May 7, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A stapling assembly comprising an end effector, a lockout circuit, a firing member, and a drive system is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between an unclamped position and a clamped position. The lockout circuit is configured to detect if a staple cartridge is in the end effector. The firing member is movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke. The drive system is configured to clamp the second jaw and advance the firing member through the firing stroke. The drive system comprises an electric motor, a selectively operable first planetary gear train, a selectively operable second planetary gear train, and a switching mechanism configured to switch between the operation of the first planetary gear train and the second planetary gear train.

Claims (41)

1. A stapling assembly, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a first jaw; and

a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw between an unclamped position and a clamped position;

a lockout circuit configured to detect if a staple cartridge is in said end effector;

a firing member movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke; and

a drive system configured to clamp said second jaw and advance said firing member through said firing stroke, wherein said drive system comprises:

an electric motor;

a selectively operable first planetary gear train;

a selectively operable second planetary gear train; and

a switching mechanism configured to switch between the operation of said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train.

2. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said end effector further comprises said staple cartridge.

3. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train are not operable at the same time.

4. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said firing member comprises a first cam configured to engage said first jaw and a second cam configured to engage said second jaw.

5. A stapling assembly, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a first jaw; and

a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw between an unclamped position and a clamped position;

a lockout circuit configured to detect if a staple cartridge is in said end effector;

a firing member movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke; and

a motor-driven drive system configured to clamp said second jaw and advance said firing member through said firing stroke, wherein said motor-driven drive system comprises:

a selectively operable first planetary gear train comprising a first rotatable output;

a selectively operable second planetary gear train comprising a second rotatable output; and

a switching system configured to switch between the operation of said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train.

6. The stapling assembly of claim 5 , wherein said end effector further comprises said staple cartridge.

7. The stapling assembly of claim 5 , wherein said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train are not operable at the same time.

8. The stapling assembly of claim 5 , wherein said firing member comprises a first cam configured to engage said first jaw and a second cam configured to engage said second jaw.

9. A stapling assembly, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a first jaw; and

a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw between an open position and a closed position;

a lockout circuit configured to detect if a staple cartridge is in said end effector;

a firing member movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke; and

a motor-driven drive system configured to close said second jaw and advance said firing member through said firing stroke, wherein said motor-driven drive system comprises:

a rotatable input;

a selectively operable first planetary gear train comprising a first rotatable output;

a selectively operable second planetary gear train comprising a second rotatable output; and

means for switching between the operation of said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train.

10. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , wherein said end effector further comprises said staple cartridge.

11. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , wherein said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train are not operable at the same time.

12. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , wherein said firing member comprises a first cam configured to engage said first jaw and a second cam configured to engage said second jaw.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2021
From: ETHICON LLC
To: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 056601/0339 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 14, 2017
From: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 045604/0713 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2017
From: SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV; SWAYZE, JEFFREY S.; TIMPERMAN, EUGENE L.
To: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
Reel/Frame 041116/0487 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 13656257 · Oct 19, 2012
Continuation 13151501 · Jun 2, 2011
Continuation 11344024 · Jan 31, 2006
Related Publication 20160220268A1 · Aug 4, 2016
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