CN-116437861-B - Apparatus for detecting the complete placement of buttress applicators in end effectors of surgical staplers

Abstract

An apparatus includes (a) at least one platform configured to be positioned between opposing first and second jaws of an end effector of a surgical stapler, wherein the at least one platform is configured to transition between a first state and a second state, (b) at least one accessory element positioned on the at least one platform, (c) at least one detector configured to detect a predetermined portion of the end effector, and (d) a driver configured to selectively transition the at least one platform from the first state to the second state in a direction toward at least one of the first or second jaws when the at least one detector detects the predetermined portion of the end effector for placing the at least one accessory element in contact with a corresponding surface of the at least one of the first or second jaws.

Inventors

• M.S. Ziner
• H. Stranger
• P. M. Ridley
• C. A. Denzinger
• C.Q.Xiao
• M.J. Windry
• G.J. Bucks

Assignees

• 西拉格国际有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20210915

Priority Date

20200916

Claims (20)

1. 1. An apparatus for detecting the complete placement of a buttress applicator in an end-effector of a surgical stapler, comprising: (a) At least one platform configured to be positioned between opposing first and second jaws of an end effector of a surgical stapler, wherein the at least one platform is configured to transition between a first state and a second state; (b) At least one accessory element positioned on the at least one platform; (c) At least one detector configured to detect a predetermined portion of the end effector, and (D) A driver configured to selectively transition the at least one platform from the first state to the second state in a direction toward at least one of the first jaw or the second jaw when the at least one detector detects the predetermined portion of the end effector for placing the at least one accessory element in contact with a corresponding surface of the at least one of the first jaw or the second jaw.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver is configured to selectively transition the at least one platform from the first state to the second state in response to the at least one detector detecting the predetermined portion of the end effector.
3. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the driver comprises an energy storage device configured to selectively transition the at least one platform from the first state to the second state in response to the at least one detector detecting the predetermined portion of the end effector.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the energy storage device comprises a motor configured to be activated in response to the at least one detector detecting the predetermined portion of the end effector.
5. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one detector comprises at least one electrical switch in electrical communication with the motor, wherein the at least one electrical switch is configured to transition between an open state and a closed state for activating the motor in response to contacting the predetermined portion of the end effector.
6. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the predetermined portion of the end effector comprises at least one tissue stop of the end effector, wherein the at least one electrical switch is configured to transition between the open state and the closed state in response to contacting the at least one tissue stop.
7. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one detector comprises a pair of electrical switches, wherein the at least one tissue stop comprises a pair of tissue stops, wherein the driver is configured to selectively transition the at least one platform from the first state to the second state when each of the pair of electrical switches contacts a respective tissue stop of the pair of tissue stops.
8. 8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the energy storage device comprises a resilient member configured to transition between a compressed state and an expanded state in response to the at least one detector detecting the predetermined portion of the end effector.
9. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one detector comprises a translatable slide configured to translate relative to the at least one platform between an unactuated state in which the slide prevents the resilient member from transitioning between the compressed state and the expanded state and an actuated state in which the slide allows the resilient member to transition between the compressed state and the expanded state in response to contacting the predetermined portion of the end effector.
10. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the translatable slide comprises at least one tab and the at least one platform comprises at least one slot, wherein the at least one tab is configured to abut the platform when the translatable slide is in the unactuated state, thereby preventing the resilient member from transitioning between the compressed state and the expanded state, wherein the at least one tab is configured to be received by the at least one slot when the translatable slide is in the actuated state, thereby allowing the resilient member to transition between the compressed state and the expanded state.
11. 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the predetermined portion of the end effector comprises a distal tip of one of the first jaw or the second jaw of the end effector, wherein the translatable sled comprises an activation lever configured to contact the distal tip for translating the sled between the unactuated state and the actuated state.
12. 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the resilient member comprises a compression spring.
13. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one platform is positioned between the compression spring and the translatable slide.
14. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driver comprises a locking mechanism configured to transition between a locked state in which the locking mechanism prevents transition of the platform and an unlocked state in which the locking mechanism allows transition of the platform in response to the at least one detector detecting the predetermined portion of the end effector.
15. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one detector comprises at least one electrical switch in electrical communication with the locking mechanism, wherein the at least one electrical switch is configured to transition between an open state and a closed state in response to contacting the predetermined portion of the end effector for transitioning the locking mechanism between the locked state and the unlocked state.
16. 16. An apparatus for detecting the complete placement of a buttress applicator in an end-effector of a surgical stapler, comprising: (a) An expandable platform configured to be positioned between opposing first and second jaws of an end effector of a surgical stapler, wherein the expandable platform is configured to selectively transition between a non-expanded state and an expanded state; (b) At least one accessory element positioned on the expandable platform; (c) At least one detector configured to detect a predetermined portion of the end effector, and (D) A driver configured to selectively transition the expandable platform from the unexpanded state to the expanded state in a direction toward at least one of the first jaw or the second jaw when the at least one detector detects the predetermined portion of the end effector for placing the at least one accessory element in contact with a corresponding surface of the at least one of the first jaw or the second jaw.
17. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the driver is configured to selectively transition the expandable platform from the non-expanded state to the expanded state in response to the at least one detector detecting the predetermined portion of the end effector.
18. 18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the driver comprises a locking mechanism configured to transition between a locked state in which the locking mechanism prevents transition of the expandable platform and an unlocked state in which the locking mechanism allows transition of the expandable platform in response to the at least one detector detecting the predetermined portion of the end effector.
19. 19. An apparatus for detecting the complete placement of a buttress applicator in an end-effector of a surgical stapler, comprising: (a) A housing defining an interior cavity configured to receive jaws of an end effector of a surgical stapler; (b) A platform positioned within the interior cavity of the housing; (c) An accessory element positioned on the platform, and (D) A translatable slide, wherein the platform is biased toward the translatable slide in an application direction, wherein the translatable slide is configured to translate relative to the housing between an unactuated state in which the translatable slide limits movement of the platform in the application direction and an actuated state in which the translatable slide allows movement of the platform in the application direction in response to the translatable slide contacting a predetermined portion of the end effector for placing the accessory element in contact with a corresponding surface of the jaw.
20. 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a resilient member positioned between the housing and the platform, wherein the platform is biased in the application direction by the resilient member.

Description

Apparatus for detecting the complete placement of buttress applicators in end effectors of surgical staplers Background In some surgical environments, endoscopic surgical instruments may be preferred over traditional open surgical devices in order to create smaller incisions in the patient, which may reduce post-operative recovery time and complications. Some endoscopic surgical instruments may be adapted to place a distal end effector at a desired surgical site through a cannula of a trocar. These distal end effectors may engage tissue in a number of ways to achieve a diagnostic or therapeutic effect (e.g., endocutter, grasper, cutter, staplers, clip applier, access device, drug/gene therapy delivery device, and energy delivery device using ultrasound, RF, laser, etc.). The endoscopic surgical instrument may include a shaft between the end effector and a handle portion manipulated by a clinician. Such a shaft may enable insertion to a desired depth and rotation about a longitudinal axis of the shaft to thereby facilitate positioning of the end effector within a patient. Positioning the end effector may be further facilitated by including one or more articulation joints or features that enable the end effector to be selectively articulated or otherwise deflected relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Examples of endoscopic surgical instruments include surgical staplers. Some such staplers are operable to clamp a layer of tissue, sever the clamped layer of tissue, and drive staples through the layer of tissue to substantially seal the severed layers of tissue together near the severed ends of the layers of tissue. Only exemplary surgical staplers are disclosed in U.S. patent No. 7,380,696 entitled "Articulating Surgical Stapling Instrument Incorporating a Two-Piece E-Beam FIRING MECHANISM" published 3 at 6, 2008, U.S. patent No. 8,408,439 entitled "Surgical Stapling Instrument with An Articulatable End Effector" published 2 at 4, 2013, and U.S. patent No. 8,453,914 entitled "monitor-Driven Surgical Cutting Instrument WITH ELECTRIC Actuator Directional Control Assembly" published 4 at 6, 2013. The disclosures of each of the above-cited U.S. patents and U.S. patent publications are incorporated herein by reference. Surgical staplers can also be used in open surgery and/or other non-endoscopic procedures. By way of example only, in thoracic surgery, which does not use a trocar as a catheter for the stapler, a surgical stapler may be inserted through the thoracotomy and thereby positioned between the patient's ribs to reach one or more organs. For example, the blood vessel leading to the organ may be severed and closed by a stapler prior to removal of the organ from the chest cavity. Of course, surgical staplers can be used in a variety of other situations and procedures. While various surgical stapling instruments and associated components have been made and used, it is believed that no one prior to the inventors has made or used the invention described in the appended claims. Drawings The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary surgical stapling instrument; FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevational view of the instrument of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the end effector of the instrument of FIG. 1 in an open state; FIG. 4A illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the end effector of FIG. 3, taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, with the firing beam in a proximal position; FIG. 4B illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the end effector of FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 with the firing beam in a distal position; FIG. 5 illustrates an end cross-sectional view of the end effector of FIG. 3 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the end effector of FIG. 3; FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the end effector of FIG. 3 positioned at tissue and having been actuated once in the tissue; FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary pair of buttress assemblies, each of which can be applied to a jaw of the end effector of FIG. 3; FIG. 9A illustrates a cross-sectional end view of a portion of the end effector of FIG. 3 with the buttress assembly of FIG. 8 applied to the upper and lower jaws of the end effector, showing the end effector jaws in an open state with tissue positioned therebetween; FIG. 9B illustrates a cross-sectional end view of the end effector and buttress assembly of FIG. 9A showing the end effector jaws in a closed condition on tissue; FIG. 9C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the buttress assembly of FIG. 9A after the formed staples and has been secured to tissue by the end-effector of FIG. 3; F