IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,729,509
Granted Patent B2
US 10,729,509 · App. 15/847,293 · Granted Aug 4, 2020

Surgical instrument comprising closure and firing locking mechanism

Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH); Michael W. Goldenbogen (Xenia, OH)
Assignee: Ethicon LLC
A61B90/03A61B17/07207A61B34/30A61B34/35A61B34/37A61B34/71A61B2017/00017A61B2017/0046A61B2017/00367A61B2017/00398A61B2017/00407A61B2017/00424A61B2017/00473A61B2017/00477A61B2017/00734A61B2017/0725A61B2017/07257A61B2017/07271A61B2017/07278A61B2017/07285A61B2017/292A61B2017/2912A61B2017/2915A61B2017/2916A61B2017/2923A61B2017/2927A61B2017/2937A61B2017/2941A61B2017/2947A61B2090/034A61B2090/067A61B2090/0811A61B2090/0813
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,729,509
App. No.
15/847,293
Granted
Aug 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A surgical instrument assembly comprising an end effector, a shaft assembly, a closure drive system, and a firing drive system is disclosed. The surgical instrument assembly further comprises a dual lock configured to engage a closure member and a firing member to prevent the firing member from being advanced distally from a proximal firing stroke position before the closure member is in a distal closure stroke position. The dual lock is further configured to prevent the closure member from being retracted from the distal closure stroke position before the firing member is returned to the proximal firing stroke position after the firing stroke.

Claims (101)

1. A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein;

a first jaw; and

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;

a shaft assembly, comprising:

a distal end, wherein said end effector extends from said distal end;

a closure member configured to move said second jaw relative to said first jaw; and

a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cartridge;

a closure drive system configured to actuate said closure member through a closure stroke, wherein said closure stroke comprises a proximal closure stroke position where said second jaw is in an unclamped configuration and a distal closure stroke position where said second jaw is in a clamped configuration;

a firing drive system configured to actuate said firing member through a firing stroke, wherein said firing stroke comprises a proximal firing stroke position where none of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge and a distal firing stroke position where all of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge, and wherein said firing member is actuatable independently of said closure member; and

a dual lock engaged with said closure member and said firing member, wherein said dual lock is configured to prevent said firing member from being advanced distally from said proximal firing stroke position before said closure member is in said distal closure stroke position, and wherein said dual lock is configured to prevent said closure member from being retracted from said distal closure stroke position before said firing member is returned to said proximal firing stroke position after said firing stroke.

2. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spine portion, wherein said dual lock is rotatably coupled to said spine portion.

3. A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein:

a first jaw; and

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;

a shaft assembly, comprising:

a distal end, wherein said end effector extends from said distal end;

a closure member configured to move said second jaw relative to said first jaw; and

a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cartridge;

a closure drive system configured to actuate said closure member through a closure stroke, wherein said closure stroke comprises a proximal closure stroke position where said second jaw is in an unclamped configuration and a distal closure stroke position where said second jaw is in a clamped configuration;

a firing drive system configured to actuate said firing member through a firing stroke, wherein said firing stroke comprises a proximal firing stroke position where none of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge and a distal firing stroke position where all of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge; and

a dual lock engaged with said closure member and said firing member, wherein said dual lock is configured to prevent said firing member from being advanced distally from said proximal firing stroke position before said closure member is in said distal closure stroke position, and wherein said dual lock is configured to prevent said closure member from being retracted from said distal closure stroke position before said firing member is returned to said proximal firing stroke position after said firing stroke,

wherein said closure member comprises a first aperture configured to receive a first portion of said dual lock and a second aperture configured to receive a second portion of said dual lock, and wherein said firing member is unlocked when said second portion of said dual lock is received within said second aperture.

4. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 3 , wherein said first aperture comprises a proximal aperture edge and a distal aperture edge, and wherein said firing member is unlocked when said first portion of said dual lock is in contact with said proximal aperture edge.

5. A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein:

a first jaw; and

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;

a shaft assembly, comprising:

a distal end, wherein said end effector extends from said distal end;

a closure member configured to move said second jaw relative to said first jaw; and

a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cartridge;

a closure drive system configured to actuate said closure member through a closure stroke, wherein said closure stroke comprises a proximal closure stroke position where said second jaw is in an unclamped configuration and a distal closure stroke position where said second jaw is in a clamped configuration;

a firing drive system configured to actuate said firing member through a firing stroke, wherein said firing stroke comprises a proximal firing stroke position where none of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge and a distal firing stroke position where all of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge; and

a dual lock engaged with said closure member and said firing member, wherein said dual lock is configured to prevent said firing member from being advanced distally from said proximal firing stroke position before said closure member is in said distal closure stroke position, and wherein said dual lock is configured to prevent said closure member from being retracted from said distal closure stroke position before said firing member is returned to said proximal firing stroke position after said firing stroke,

wherein said closure member comprises a first aperture configured to receive a first portion of said dual lock and a second aperture configured to receive a second portion of said dual lock, wherein said first aperture comprises a proximal aperture edge and a distal aperture edge, and wherein said firing member comprises a ledge configured to engage said dual lock to prevent said firing member from being advanced from said proximal firing stroke position when said first portion of said dual lock is in contact with said distal aperture edge.

6. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 1 , wherein said closure member is configured to concurrently unlock said firing member and lock said closure member when said closure member is moved into said distal closure stroke position.

7. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 1 , wherein said firing drive system comprises a rotary firing input, and wherein said surgical instrument assembly further comprises a firing drive system lock configured to lock said rotary firing input when said closure drive system moves said closure member into said proximal closure stroke position.

8. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 1 , wherein said shaft assembly defines a longitudinal instrument axis, and wherein said dual lock comprises a lock pawl rotatable about a lock axis which is transverse to said longitudinal instrument axis.

9. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 1 , wherein said closure member and said firing member are movable relative to said dual lock.

10. A surgical instrument attachment configured to be attached to and detached from a surgical robot, wherein said surgical instrument attachment comprises:

an end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein;

a first jaw; and

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;

a shaft assembly, comprising:

a frame;

a distal end, wherein said end effector extends from said distal end;

a closure member configured to move said second jaw relative to said first jaw; and

a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cartridge;

a closure drive system configured to actuate said closure member through a closure stroke, wherein said closure stroke comprises a first closure stroke position where said second jaw is in an open configuration and a second closure stroke position where said second jaw is in a closed configuration;

a firing drive system configured to actuate said firing member through a firing stroke, wherein said firing stroke comprises a first firing stroke position where none of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge and a second firing stroke position where all of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge, and wherein said firing member is actuatable independently of said closure member; and

a locking mechanism coupled to said frame, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to prevent said firing member from being advanced distally from said first firing stroke position toward said second firing stroke position before said closure member is in said second closure stroke position, and wherein said locking mechanism is configured to prevent said closure member from being retracted from said second closure stroke position toward said first closure stroke position before said firing member is returned to said first firing stroke position after said firing stroke.

11. The surgical instrument attachment of claim 10 , wherein said locking mechanism is rotatably coupled to said frame.

12. A surgical instrument attachment configured to be attached to and detached from a surgical robot, wherein said surgical instrument attachment comprises:

an end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein:

a first jaw; and

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;

a shaft assembly, comprising:

a frame;

a distal end, wherein said end effector extends from said distal end;

a closure member configured to move said second jaw relative to said first jaw; and

a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cartridge;

a closure drive system configured to actuate said closure member through a closure stroke, wherein said closure stroke comprises a first closure stroke position where said second jaw is in an open configuration and a second closure stroke position where said second jaw is in a closed configuration;

a firing drive system configured to actuate said firing member through a firing stroke, wherein said firing stroke comprises a first firing stroke position where none of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge and a second firing stroke position where all of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge; and

a locking mechanism coupled to said frame, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to prevent said firing member from being advanced distally from said first firing stroke position toward said second firing stroke position before said closure member is in said second closure stroke position, and wherein said locking mechanism is configured to prevent said closure member from being retracted from said second closure stroke position toward said first closure stroke position before said firing member is returned to said first firing stroke position after said firing stroke,

wherein said closure member comprises a first aperture configured to receive a first portion of said locking mechanism and a second aperture configured to receive a second portion of said locking mechanism, and wherein said firing member is unlocked when said second portion of said locking mechanism is received within said second aperture.

13. The surgical instrument attachment of claim 12 , wherein said first aperture comprises a proximal aperture edge and a distal aperture edge, and wherein said firing member is unlocked when said first portion of said locking mechanism is in contact with said proximal aperture edge.

14. A surgical instrument attachment configured to be attached to and detached from a surgical robot, wherein said surgical instrument attachment comprises:

an end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein:

a first jaw; and

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;

a shaft assembly, comprising:

a frame;

a distal end, wherein said end effector extends from said distal end;

a closure member configured to move said second jaw relative to said first jaw; and

a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cartridge;

a closure drive system configured to actuate said closure member through a closure stroke, wherein said closure stroke comprises a first closure stroke position where said second jaw is in an open configuration and a second closure stroke position where said second jaw is in a closed configuration;

a firing drive system configured to actuate said firing member through a firing stroke, wherein said firing stroke comprises a first firing stroke position where none of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge and a second firing stroke position where all of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge; and

a locking mechanism coupled to said frame, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to prevent said firing member from being advanced distally from said first firing stroke position toward said second firing stroke position before said closure member is in said second closure stroke position, and wherein said locking mechanism is configured to prevent said closure member from being retracted from said second closure stroke position toward said first closure stroke position before said firing member is returned to said first firing stroke position after said firing stroke,

wherein said closure member comprises a first aperture configured to receive a first portion of said locking mechanism and a second aperture configured to receive a second portion of said locking mechanism, wherein said first aperture comprises a proximal aperture edge and a distal aperture edge, and wherein said firing member comprises a ledge configured to engage said locking mechanism to prevent said firing member from being advanced from said first firing stroke position when said first portion of said locking mechanism is in contact with said distal aperture edge.

15. The surgical instrument attachment of claim 10 , wherein said closure member is configured to concurrently unlock said firing member and lock said closure member when said closure member is moved into said second closure stroke position.

16. The surgical instrument attachment of claim 10 , wherein said firing drive system comprises a rotary firing input, and wherein said surgical instrument attachment further comprises a firing drive system lock configured to lock said rotary firing input when said closure drive system moves said closure member into said first closure stroke position.

17. The surgical instrument attachment of claim 10 , wherein said shaft assembly defines a longitudinal instrument axis, and wherein said locking mechanism comprises a lock pawl rotatable about a lock axis which is transverse to said longitudinal instrument axis.

18. The surgical instrument attachment of claim 10 , wherein said closure member and said firing member are movable relative to said locking mechanism.

19. A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:

an end effector, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples removably stored therein;

a first jaw; and

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;

a shaft assembly comprising a closure member configured to move said second jaw relative to said first jaw and a firing member configured to eject said staples from said staple cartridge;

a closure drive system configured to actuate said closure member through a closure stroke, wherein said closure stroke comprises a proximal closure stroke position where said second jaw is in an unclamped configuration and a distal closure stroke position where said second jaw is in a clamped configuration;

a firing drive system configured to actuate said firing member through a firing stroke, wherein said firing stroke comprises a proximal firing stroke position where none of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge and a distal firing stroke position where all of said staples have been ejected from said staple cartridge, and wherein said firing member is actuatable independently of said closure member; and

means for automatically locking said firing member in said proximal firing stroke position until said closure member is moved into said distal closure stroke position and for automatically locking said closure member in said distal closure stroke position until said firing member is returned to said proximal firing stroke position after said firing stroke.

20. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 19 , further comprising a spine portion, wherein said means comprises a lock pawl rotatably coupled to said spine portion.

Assignments (2)
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 Mar 16, 2018
From: SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV; GOLDENBOGEN, MICHAEL W.
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 045252/0767 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190183597A1 · Jun 20, 2019
Cited By (88)
US 12,185,946 US 12,193,636 US 12,193,766 US 12,207,817 US 12,207,820 US 12,207,835 US 12,213,666 US 12,213,671 US 12,220,126 US 12,226,099 US 12,226,100 US 12,226,151 US 12,226,166 US 12,232,723 US 12,232,724 US 12,232,729 US 12,239,316 US 12,239,317 US 12,239,320 US 12,245,764 US 12,245,901 US 12,256,930 US 12,256,931 US 12,256,995 US 12,261,471 US 12,262,888 US 12,274,442 US 12,274,445 US 12,285,166 US 12,285,171 US 12,290,259 US 12,290,261 US 12,295,674 US 12,303,159 US 12,310,586 US 12,318,152 US 12,324,579 US 12,324,580 US 12,324,581 US 12,324,585 US 12,329,467 US 12,336,705 US 12,336,709 US 12,343,013 US 12,357,309 US 12,369,909 US 12,369,911 US 12,369,912 US 12,376,855 US 12,383,115 US 12,383,259 US 12,383,267 US 12,396,806 US 12,414,768 US 12,432,790 US 12,433,508 US 12,433,584 US 12,433,627 US 12,440,208 US 12,440,209 US 12,440,213 US 12,446,877 US 12,453,557 US 12,458,351 US 12,458,455 US 12,465,363 US 12,471,982 US 12,500,948 US 12,502,171 US 12,508,025 US 12,514,584 US 12,521,116 US 12,521,191 US 12,527,571 US 12,527,575 US 12,533,126 US 12,533,127 US 12,533,178 US 12,549,622 US 12,574,434 US 12,575,855 US 12,582,457 US 12,636,006 US 12,648,789 US 12,653,628 US 12,672,922 US 12,708,427 US 12,714,425