Surgical stapling apparatus with load-sensitive firing mechanism

US8584919B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Geoffrey C. Hueil · Cincinnati, US
• Mark S. Ortiz · Milford, US
• Douglas B. Hoffman · Cadiz, US
• Patrick A. Weizman · Monroe, US
• Dean B. Bruewer · Lancaster, US
• Frederick E. Shelton, IV · Hillsboro, US
• Gregory B. Blair · Cincinnati, US
• Chad P. Boudreaux · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 14, 2008
• Grant date: Nov 19, 2013
• Expiry date: Aug 15, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/0813
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical stapling apparatus having an end effector capable of performing a surgical procedure. The surgical stapling apparatus may include a driving pawl that interfaces with a manually actuatable handle. The driving pawl may have a pawl body with a driving tooth thereon that is configured to interact with an actuation shaft such that, as the manually actuatable handle is actuated, the driving tooth interacts with the actuation shaft to cause the actuation shaft to apply the actuation motions to an elongated body operably coupled to the end effector. When the end effector experiences a firing load that exceeds a predetermined magnitude of firing load, the driving tooth moves relative to the pawl body to disengage from the actuation shaft to prevent further transfer of the actuation motions to the elongated body even though the manually actuatable handle continues to be actuated.