Closure systems for a surgical cutting and stapling instrument

US7959051B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Bret W. Smith · South Lebanon, US
• Kevin R. Doll · Mason, US
• William D. Kelly · Mason, US
• Ronald J. Kolata · Raleigh, US
• Joshua R. Uth · Mason, US
• Charles J. Scheib · Loveland, US
• Frederick E. Shelton, IV · Hillsboro, US
• William B. Weisenburgh, II · Maineville, US
• Jerome R. Morgan · Cincinnati, US
• Kyle P. Moore · Alpharetta, US
• Mark H. Ransick · Sharonville, US
• Steven G. Hall · Cincinnati, US
• Randall J. Tanguay · Lebanon, US
• Jeffrey D. Messerly · Cincinnati, US
• Galen C. Robertson · Apex, US
• Andrew M. Zwolinski · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 15, 2008
• Grant date: Jun 14, 2011
• Expiry date: Aug 23, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2017/2927
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument including an actuator configured to be retracted relative to the distal end of the disposable loading unit and rotate an anvil between an open position and a closed position. The actuator can include a cam, where the cam can include an arcuate profile having an apex configured to be in contact with the anvil when the anvil is in a closed position. In at least one such embodiment, the anvil can apply a clamping force to the soft tissue prior to the staples being deployed to prevent, or at least inhibit, soft tissue from flowing, or ‘milking’, out of the distal end of the disposable loading unit. In various embodiments, a surgical stapling instrument can include a disposable loading unit having an anvil which can be moved between open, closed, and/or collapsed positions to facilitate the insertion of the disposable loading unit through a trocar.