Applied Medical Resources Corporation

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Atal C Patel

Matthew Michael Becerra

Babak D Jasemian

Matthew Aaron Wixey

Timothy M Hopkins

Steven Eric Decker

Christina N Reed

Gary M Johnson

Jonathan Covach

Erik D Nelson

Donald L Gadberry

Nicholas H Ragosta

Andrew J McCarthy

Jeremy J Albrecht

Joshua M Schober

Eric J Weiss

Scott Zimmerman

Charles Godin

Robert B Hubler

Patrick Elliott

Ashley Lynne Wellman

Michael Whitlock

Austin De Maillé

Jorge Alberto Treviño Blanco

Matt Wixey

Johnathan Covach

Andrew J Mccarthy

A surgical stapler is provided that includes a spring loaded lift that automatically adjusts a staple cartridge and/or staple formation between a range of sizes. The lift is automatically released as the staple firing mechanism begins its forward translation of the firing sequence. The automatic one-way adjustment also adjusts the staple cartridge while maintaining the cartridge parallel to the anvil to provide consistent staple formations.

Surgical stapler with self-adjusting staple height

A surgical stapling system can include a reload shaft. The shaft can include an elongate tubular member with have a jaw assembly at the distal end thereof and a coupling collar at the proximal end thereof. The shaft assembly also includes an articulation joint coupling the jaw assembly to the distal end. A drive member and an articulation member extend within the tubular body of the shaft from the proximal end to the distal end. A firing member is connected to the distal end of the drive member such that advancement of the drive beam advances the firing member to close the jaw assemblies and fire staples from a reload positioned in the jaw assembly. The shaft assembly can also include a lockout mechanism to prevent a firing operation on a previously-fired reload or no reload.

Reload shaft assembly for surgical stapler

Surgical stapling instruments include mechanisms for identifying and/or deactivating stapler cartridge for use with the instruments. The stapling instrument includes a drive member for actuating a staple cartridge and a locking member movable from a disabled position permitting distal translation of the drive member through a staple firing stroke, to a locking position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the staple firing stroke. The staple cartridge may include a switch for maintaining the locking member in the disabled position. The switch may be further configured to operate as a reload detection mechanism for determining the type of reload present in the surgical stapling instrument.

Surgical instruments with switches for deactivating and/or identifying stapler cartridges

The present disclosure provides a staple cartridge for a surgical instrument, such as a tissue sealing instrument. The staple cartridge includes a housing and one or more staple assemblies within the housing. The staple assemblies each include one or more staple pushers and associated staples. The staple pushers and housing include coupling elements configured to cooperate with each other to retain the staple assemblies to the housing prior to use in surgery. The coupling elements, along with other components of the cartridge and instrument, result in a smaller staple cartridge relative to conventional devices, allowing for a more compact and maneuverable surgical instrument.

Staple cartridge for a surgical instrument

Surgical stapling instruments include mechanisms for identifying and/or deactivating stapler cartridges for use with the instruments. The stapling instrument includes a drive member for actuating a staple cartridge and a locking member movable from a disabled position permitting distal translation of the drive member through a staple firing stroke, to a locking position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the staple firing stroke. The staple cartridge may include a switch movable in a lateral direction to either maintain the locking member in the disabled position or to allow the locking member to move into the locking position. The instrument may further include a stapler cartridge including an annular pin configured to be engaged by a drive member at a an axial position to create a detectable resistance for reload detection by a control unit to identify the type of stapler cartridge present in the surgical stapling instrument.

Surgical instruments having mechanisms for identifying and/or deactivating stapler cartridges

A surgical stapler is provided. The stapler employs circumferential channels through which staples are deployed along an arc pathway against an anvil surface. The curved channels allow staples with relatively longer legs to be used in the stapler having a smaller diameter at the jaws. Also, by utilizing a curved path, a much larger staple can be placed in the same diameter device. Specialized curved staples for use with the stapler of the present invention are also provided. To further enable the benefits of the stapler with circumferential channels and method of staple deployment, novel jaw reinforcement structures are provided in the present invention. The jaw reinforcement structures are located towards the center or bladeline of the device instead of around the circumference as in conventional staplers, thereby clearing the outer area near the circumference of the device to provide room for longer staples and staple firing components.

Surgical stapler with circumferential firing

Locking assemblies for surgical clamping and cutting instruments include a locking member and a switch. A drive member may be configured to releasably engage a knife and/or a shuttle of the surgical instrument for translating the knife and/or shuttle in a distal direction through a firing stroke. The locking member is movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke, and a second position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the firing stroke. A switch, when proximally positioned, releasably engages the locking member to maintain the locking member in the first position. The switch disengages from the locking member when the switch is moved to a distal position.

Surgical instrument with lockout mechanism

A handle assembly for a surgical stapler can comprise a rotatable actuation shaft. The actuation shaft can have a first rotational orientation in which it can actuate a jaw assembly in a repeatable open and close mode, a second rotational orientation in which it can actuate a jaw assembly in a staple firing mode, and a third rotational orientation in which it can actuate a jaw assembly in a reversing mode. The handle assembly can include a rotational mechanism arranged to discretely position the rotatable actuation shaft in one of the rotational orientations. The rotational mechanism can be arranged for single handed operation such as by including a slidable switch or selector to rotate the actuation shaft.

Surgical stapler handle assembly having actuation mechanism with longitudinally rotatable shaft

The present disclosure provides a surgical instrument, such as a tissue sealing instrument, with an elongate shaft and an end effector. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw that includes a staple cartridge with a plurality of staples for engaging tissue. The instrument further includes a drive member for closing the jaws and engaging the staples, and an actuation mechanism, such as a coil, in contact with the drive member. The actuation mechanism is configured to translate the drive member distally through the first jaw (instead of through the staple cartridge as in conventional surgical stapling instruments). Eliminating the internal channel for the actuation coil from the staple cartridge provides more space in the cartridge for the staples, allowing for the use of taller staples and/or a more compact and maneuverable instrument.

Actuation mechanisms for surgical instruments

A stapler reload assembly includes a cartridge body defining a housing to receive staples. The cartridge body has a first side comprising a plurality of staple apertures configured to eject staples housed in the cartridge body. The cartridge body has a second side, opposite the first side, comprising a plurality of pusher apertures through which staple pushers of the cartridge body are accessible. A staple retainer is removably coupled to the first side of the cartridge body and at least partially covers the plurality of staple apertures. A cover is removably coupled to and at least partially covers the plurality of pusher apertures. Devices and methods relate to stapler reload assemblies.

Stapler cartridge assemblies and related devices, systems, and methods

Surgical clamping and cutting instruments are disclosed. In one aspect, a surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft with an end effector having first and second jaws, a release member movably coupled to the end effector and a drive member configured to translate relative to the end effector. The instrument further includes a locking member movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, to a second position preventing distal translation of the drive member. The locking member moves into the second position after the drive member has been driven distally. This inhibits or prevents hazardous actuation of a knife or drive beam when, for example, there is a spent or previously fired cartridge in place.

The surgical robotic access system provides access for robotic instruments and/or actuators including the introduction, operation and withdrawal of such robotic manipulators into a body cavity without permitting the escape of pressurized fluid or gas. The surgical robotic access system also provides a multi-faceted range of movement without touching or effecting pressure on the opening in the patient's body cavity.

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Mission Viejo, CA, United States of America

Atal C Patel