A surgical instrument and end effector thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a surgical instrument and a terminal actuator thereof, and belongs to the field of medical instruments. The terminal actuator comprises: a pivotally connected anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly; a second support sheet releasably clamped on a support surface of the anvil assembly; and a second clamping structure arranged at the distal end of the anvil assembly, which comprises: a second movable clamping part and a second fixed clamping part, the second movable clamping part is slidingly connected to the second fixed clamping part and is switched between a first position and a second position by the action of a firing member; when the second movable clamping part is located at the first position, the second support sheet is clamped in a gap between the second movable clamping part and the second fixed clamping part; when the second movable clamping part is located at the second position, the gap between the second movable clamping part and the second fixed clamping part is enlarged, and the second support sheet can slide out of the gap between the second movable clamping part and the second fixed clamping part. The surgical instrument has simple clamping structure and high reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of surgical instruments, and particularly to a clamping, cutting, and anastomotic surgical instrument. Background Technology

[0002] Linear clamping, cutting, and anastomosis surgical instruments can be used in surgical procedures to remove tissue. Traditional linear clamping, cutting, and anastomosis surgical instruments include a handle assembly, an elongated body, and an end effector. The end effector includes a pair of gripping members that clamp the tissue to be anastomosed. One of the gripping members includes a staple cartridge receiving area and a mechanism for driving the staples through the tissue and abutting against an anvil portion on the other gripping member. The end effector also includes a firing member for cutting the tissue, driven by a drive mechanism located on the handle assembly side and a transmission mechanism located within the handle assembly and the elongated body. In the case of an electrically fired mechanism, the user can control the drive mechanism to activate and move the firing member to cut the tissue by triggering a firing button on the handle assembly.

[0003] When using staplers to anastomose relatively thin or fragile tissues, it is often necessary to reinforce the anastomosis suture closely against the tissue to prevent tearing or pulling the staples through the tissue. One method to prevent tearing or pulling involves placing a biocompatible fabric reinforcement material between the staple and the underlying tissue. In this method, a layer of support material is placed against the tissue and the tissue is anastomosed using conventional methods. The surface of the releasable layer (a support material sheet supporting the tissue) can be used to distribute the compressive clamping force over the tissue, remove excess fluid from the tissue, and / or improve staple gripping. Typically, the aforementioned support material sheet is releasably mounted on the gripping member of the end effector unit, allowing it to be released onto the tissue simultaneously with the staple during firing by the firing member. In existing surgical instruments, the structures used to hold or release this releasable layer often suffer from structural complexity and poor release reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, this invention proposes a surgical instrument with high reliability and simple structure for releasing support material sheets.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] An end effector for a surgical instrument includes: an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly being pivotable relative to the cartridge assembly or the cartridge assembly being pivotable relative to the anvil assembly; a second support piece releasably fixed to a support surface of the anvil assembly; a second clamping structure for releasably fixing the second support piece at the distal end of the anvil assembly; the second clamping structure includes: a second movable clamping portion and a second fixed clamping portion, the second movable clamping portion being slidably connected to the second fixed clamping portion and switching between a first position and a second position by a firing member; when the second movable clamping portion is in the first position, the second support piece is clamped in the gap between the second movable clamping portion and the second fixed clamping portion to fix the second support piece; when the second movable clamping portion is in the second position, the gap between the second movable clamping portion and the second fixed clamping portion widens, and the second support piece can slide out along the gap between the second movable clamping portion and the second fixed clamping portion to release the second support piece.

[0007] In some embodiments of the present invention, the distal side of the second fixed clamping part has an opening, and the second movable clamping part is slidably connected to the opening along the firing direction of the firing member.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present invention, a first limiting structure is provided between the second fixed clamping part and the second movable clamping part, and the second movable clamping part is limited to the first position by the first limiting structure.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first limiting structure includes a first insertion tooth disposed on the second fixed clamping part and at least two second insertion teeth disposed on the second movable clamping part. When the first insertion tooth is located in the area between the two second insertion teeth, the second movable clamping part is located in a first position.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present invention, a second limiting structure is provided between the second fixed clamping part and the second movable clamping part, and the second movable clamping part is limited to the second position by the second limiting structure to prevent the second movable clamping part from sliding out of the second fixed clamping part.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second limiting structure includes a first limiting protrusion disposed on the second fixed clamping part and a second limiting protrusion disposed on the second movable clamping part. When the second movable clamping part slides from the proximal end to the distal end under the action of the firing member, the second limiting protrusion abuts against the first limiting protrusion.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second limiting protrusion is a second insertion tooth located at the distal end.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, a deformable region is provided at the proximal end of the second movable clamping part for cooperating with the firing member. After the deformable region is deformed under the action of the firing member, at least one second insertion tooth of the second movable clamping part is deformed and disengaged from the first insertion tooth.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, a first support piece is releasably fixed to the nail dispensing surface of the nail cartridge assembly, and a first clamping structure for releasably fixing the first support piece is provided at the distal end of the nail cartridge assembly.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, a first elastic clamping member is further installed on the anvil assembly and / or the staple cartridge assembly. The first elastic clamping member acts on the proximal ends of the anvil assembly and the staple cartridge assembly, clamping the proximal end of the first support piece onto the staple cartridge assembly and clamping the proximal end of the second support piece onto the anvil assembly.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, the proximal and distal portions of the first support sheet and / or the second support sheet have notches.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, the distal end of the proximal notch of the first support piece and / or the second support piece is formed as a conical notch, and the proximal end of the distal notch of the first support piece and / or the second support piece is formed as a T-shaped notch.

[0018] The present invention also provides a surgical instrument, including the aforementioned end effector.

[0019] The technical advantages of the present invention compared to the prior art are described in detail in the specific implementation section. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which will help to understand the purpose and advantages of the present invention, wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a specific embodiment of the surgical instrument of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 An exploded view of a specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A magnified view of part C in the middle;

[0025] Figure 5for Figure 3 A magnified view of part A in the middle;

[0026] Figure 6 for Figure 3 A magnified view of part B in the middle section;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the staple cartridge structure in a specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A magnified view of part D in the middle;

[0029] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the first clamping structure in a clamping state in a specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the first clamping structure in the released state in a specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the first clamping structure in a clamping state in another specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the first clamping structure in the released state in another specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the pusher slider in another specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first movable clamping part in another specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the second clamping structure in a clamping state in a specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the second clamping structure in the released state in a specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second movable clamping part in a specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 18This is a schematic diagram of the second clamping structure in a release state and a clamping state in a specific embodiment of the end effector of the surgical instrument of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 19 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first support sheet / second support sheet of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0041] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0042] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0043] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0044] In various embodiments of the present invention, "distal / side" refers to the end of the surgical instrument that is far from the operator during operation, while "proximal / side" refers to the end / side of the surgical instrument that is close to the operator during operation.

[0045] The following is a specific embodiment of the surgical instrument. Generally, the surgical instruments described herein are endoscopic surgical cutting and anastomosis instruments. However, it should be noted that the surgical instruments can also be non-endoscopic surgical cutting and anastomosis instruments, such as open surgical instruments used in open surgery.

[0046] Specifically, Figure 1The surgical instrument shown includes a handle assembly 10, an elongated body assembly 20, and an end effector 30 connected sequentially from proximal to distal. The handle assembly 10 is adapted for operator manipulation of the surgical instrument. The handle assembly 10 controls the movement of the end effector via the elongated body assembly 20 to perform surgical operations, such as tissue clamping / closing, suturing / anastomosis, and cutting. The handle assembly 10 includes a handle body that can be held by a user in a conventional manner. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument uses a trigger to close and fire the end effector; in another embodiment, the surgical instrument can also use a push button, push knob, or other means on the handle to close and fire the end effector, enabling the end effector 30 to perform cutting and suturing operations; in yet another embodiment, the surgical instrument can also use a trigger, push knob, or button on the handle assembly 10 to open the jaws of the end effector 30 to release tissue. The elongated body assembly 20 is an elongated tubular shape defining a longitudinal axis direction, and it transmits the driving force of the handle to the distal end of the surgical instrument. The end effector 30 is used to manipulate tissue to perform specific surgical procedures, such as clamping, suturing / anastomosis, cutting, and other surgical operations on the tissue.

[0047] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the end effector 30 includes a proximal body portion 30a and a distal actuation portion 30b, which are pivotally connected via a joint assembly 30c. The distal actuation portion 30b includes a cartridge assembly 31 and an anvil assembly 32, which are movable relative to each other to close the jaws and grip tissue. In one specific embodiment, the anvil assembly 32 can be operatively pivoted toward the cartridge assembly 31 until the jaws of the end effector 30 are closed to grip tissue; the anvil assembly 32 can also pivot away from the cartridge assembly 31 until the jaws of the end effector 30 are opened to release tissue. As an alternative implementation, the staple cartridge assembly 31 of the end effector 30 may be operatively pivoted toward the pivoting anvil assembly 32 until the jaws of the end effector 30 are closed to clamp tissue; and the staple cartridge assembly 31 may be operatively pivoted toward a direction away from the staple cartridge assembly 31 until the jaws of the end effector 30 are opened to release tissue.

[0048] Specifically, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the proximal body portion 30a of the end effector 30 is detachably connected to the distal end of the elongated body assembly 20. The proximal body portion 30a includes an elongated outer tube 33, an inner tube 34 placed inside the outer tube 33, and a firing member 35 that is slidable inside the inner tube 34. In the distal execution portion 30b of the end effector 30, the staple cartridge assembly 31 includes a staple cartridge 312, a staple cartridge base 311, and a staple pusher slider 316 placed in the cavity between the staple cartridge 312 and the staple cartridge base 311. The proximal end of the firing member 35 is connected to the firing rod inside the elongated body assembly 20, and the distal end of the firing member 35 abuts against the staple pusher slider 316 and can slide / move integrally along the longitudinal axis to perform the corresponding surgical operation. The staple cartridge assembly 31 also includes a staple pusher 313 and a staple 314 located within the staple hole 312b of the staple cartridge 312. When the firing member 35 is driven to move from the proximal end to the distal end, it pushes the staple pusher slider 316 to move. The staple pusher slider 316 acts on the staple pusher 313 to push the staple 314 out of the staple cartridge 312, thereby realizing the anastomosis operation. The anvil assembly 32 includes an anvil 321 with a support surface 321a facing the staple cartridge assembly 31, which is used to support the staple 314 and guide the end bending of the staple 314 during the anastomosis operation. The support surface 321a is provided with an anvil groove 321b extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the anvil 321. The anvil groove 321b is adapted for the cutting blade 351 to pass through, cutting the tissue held between the support surface 321a and the staple cartridge 312 from the proximal end to the distal end.

[0049] Specifically, such as Figure 2 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown, the staple cartridge 312 is shaped as an elongated base, with one side away from the staple cartridge base 311 for engaging with tissue. The side of the staple cartridge 312 for engaging with tissue (also called the staple delivery surface 312c) has a staple cartridge groove 312a extending from the proximal to the distal end of the staple cartridge 312. This groove 312a is adapted for the cutting blade 351 to pass through, cutting the tissue held between the contact surface and the anvil assembly 32 along the proximal to distal end of the staple cartridge 312. In an optional embodiment, the staple cartridge groove 312a is located at the middle of the upper surface of the staple cartridge 312; the staple cartridge 312 is divided into a first staple delivery area and a second staple delivery area by the staple cartridge groove 312a. The first and second nail ejection areas of the staple cartridge 312 are each provided with at least two rows of nail hole groups, wherein the number of rows of nail hole groups can be set to two, three or more rows depending on different surgical conditions; each row of the nail hole group is provided with several columns of nail holes 312b, which can be used to accommodate suture staples 314 and staple pushers 313. The staple pushers 313 are equipped with suture staples 314 on the side facing the nail ejection surface 312c of the staple cartridge 312; the staple pushers 313 can insert the suture staples 314 into the tissue to achieve suturing.

[0050] Reference Figure 2 As shown, the end effector 30 of the surgical instrument 100 further includes a first support plate 361 releasably clamped to the ejection surface 312c of the staple cartridge assembly 31 and a second support plate 362 releasably clamped to the support surface 321a of the anvil assembly 32. The first and second support plates 361 and 362 are released and supported on the surface of the tissue to be anastomosed when the surgical instrument 100 is used to anastomose tissue, thereby protecting and supporting relatively fragile tissue. This distributes the compressive clamping force above the tissue, removes excess fluid from the tissue, and improves the gripping effect of the staples. Alternatively, the end effector 30 may consist only of the first support plate 361 releasably clamped to the staple cartridge assembly 31. The first and second support plates 361 and 362 may be made of materials such as bioabsorbable, biodegradable, and / or soluble materials, for example, such that the support material can be absorbed, decomposed, and / or dissolved during the healing process. The first support piece 361 and the second support piece 362 are at least partially composed of a therapeutic agent, which is configured, for example, to be released over time to aid tissue healing. The first support piece 361 may also include, for example, a non-absorbable and / or insoluble material. The proximal and distal portions of the first support piece 361 and / or the second support piece 362 have notches. The proximal notch facilitates guiding the cutting direction of the cutting blade 351. When the firing member 35 is fired, the cutting blade 351 cuts the first support piece 361 and / or the second support piece 362 into two parts along the proximal notch, while the distal notch facilitates the cutting blade 351 severing the first support piece 361 and / or the second support piece 362 when it reaches its distal end. Specifically, as... Figure 19 As shown, the distal end of the proximal notch is formed as a conical notch 361b / 362b, and the proximal end of the distal notch is formed as a T-shaped notch 361a / 362a.

[0051] The first support plate 361 and the second support plate 362 are releasably connected to the staple cartridge 312 of the staple cartridge assembly 31 and the anvil 321 of the staple anvil assembly 32 via a clamping structure. The following sections describe the releasable clamping structures located at the proximal and distal ends of the first support plate 361 and the second support plate 362, respectively.

[0052] like Figure 3 , Figure 4The diagram shows a releasable clamping structure located at the proximal ends of the first support plate 361 and the second support plate 362. Specifically, the releasable clamping structure includes a first elastic clamping member 37, which is mounted on the anvil assembly 32 and / or the staple cartridge assembly 31 and acts on the proximal ends of the anvil assembly 32 and the staple cartridge assembly 31, clamping the first support plate 361 onto the staple cartridge assembly 31 and the second support plate 362 onto the anvil assembly 32. In the initial state, the anvil assembly 32 and the staple cartridge assembly 31 are in an open state under the elastic force of the first elastic clamping member 37. During tissue clamping and anastomosis, the first elastic clamping member 37 undergoes elastic deformation under the clamping force of the anvil assembly 32 and the staple cartridge assembly 31, holding the first support plate 361 and the second support plate 362 on the staple cartridge assembly 31 and the anvil assembly 32. When the firing member 35 fires, the cutting blade 351 reliably cuts the first support plate 361 and the second support plate 362 along with the tissue. After the anastomosis is completed, the anvil assembly 32 and the staple cartridge assembly 31 are opened again under the elastic force of the first elastic clamping member 37, and the first support plate 361 and the second support plate 362 are released from the clamping of the first elastic clamping member 37 onto the anastomosed tissue. The clamping and release of the first support plate 361 and the second support plate 362 are achieved simultaneously through the first elastic clamping member 37, resulting in a simple structure and high reliability.

[0053] Specifically, such as Figure 4 As shown, the first elastic clamping member 37 includes a main body 373 for connection with the staple cartridge 312 or the anvil 321, a first clamping support 371, and a second clamping support 372. The first clamping support 371 abuts against the proximal end of the first support piece 361; the second clamping support 372 abuts against the second support piece 362. The main body 373, the first clamping support 371, and the second clamping support 372 are integrally formed, facilitating manufacturing.

[0054] More specifically, the first elastic clamping member 37 is integrally formed as a spring sheet, the first end of which has an n-shaped bend to form the main body 373. The staple cartridge 312 has a connecting portion at its proximal end for connecting the first elastic clamping member 37. Specifically, the connecting portion includes a first insertion hole 312d extending along the thickness direction of the staple cartridge 312 and a hook hole formed on the wall of the first insertion hole 312d. Figure 4As shown in the diagram, the n-shaped bend extends into the first insertion hole 312d and hooks onto the hook hole. The middle region of the spring piece is flat, transitioning to the n-shaped bend via an arc segment, and the angle between the middle region of the spring piece and the n-shaped bend is obtuse. The second end of the spring piece has a first arm and a second arm extending in different directions to form a first clamping support 371 and a second clamping support 372, respectively. The angle between the extending directions of the first arm and the second arm is acute. The distal ends of the first arm and the second arm each have arc-shaped bends. The arc-shaped bend of the first arm abuts against the first support piece 361, and the arc-shaped bend of the second arm abuts against the second support piece 362.

[0055] Reference Figure 5 , Figures 7-13 The distal end of the staple cartridge 312 is further provided with a first clamping structure for releasably clamping the first support piece 361; the first clamping structure includes: a first movable clamping part 381 and a first fixed clamping part 382, ​​the first movable clamping part 381 is pivotally connected to the staple cartridge 312 and is switched between a first position and a second position by the action of the pusher slider 316; when the first movable clamping part 381 is in the first position, the first support piece 361 is clamped in the gap between the first movable clamping part 381 and the first fixed clamping part 382; when the first movable clamping part 381 is in the second position, the gap between the first movable clamping part 381 and the first fixed clamping part 382 becomes larger, and the first support piece 361 can slide out along the gap between the first movable clamping part 381 and the first fixed clamping part 382. By using a pusher slider 316 to push the first movable clamping part 381 pivoting on the nail cartridge 312, the first support piece 361 can be clamped or unlocked (i.e. released) at its distal end by switching between different positions. This method is more reliable than the elastic clamping method.

[0056] Figures 7-10 One specific embodiment of the first clamping structure is shown. In this embodiment, the first movable clamping part 381 and the fixed clamping part are integrally formed on the staple cartridge 312, so that the staple cartridge assembly 31 has a simple structure and low production cost. The interior of the first movable clamping part 381 is provided with a first protrusion 381d for cooperating with the pusher slider 316, and the pusher slider 316 is correspondingly provided with a first triggering part. When the pusher slider 316 slides from the proximal side to the distal side, the pusher slider 316 triggers the first movable clamping part 381 to pivot around its distal end from a first position to a second position.

[0057] Specifically, the distal end of the staple cartridge 312 is provided with a nose 312e that is inclined to the staple dispensing surface 312c. The first movable clamping part 381 is integrally formed on the nose 312e. The distal end of the first movable clamping part 381 is integrally connected to the nose 312e of the staple cartridge 312. The distal end of the first movable clamping part 381 has a small thickness, and it can pivot or swing around its distal end at a set angle. The first fixed clamping part 382 is disposed in the distal region of the nail dispensing surface 312c of the nail cartridge 312. When the distal end of the first support piece 361 is not installed at the distal end of the nail cartridge 312, there is a clamping gap between the proximal end of the first movable support part and the first fixed clamping part 382. The end of the first support piece 361 extends into the clamping gap, and then the first movable clamping part 381 is pressed by an external force (that is, the operating force of the assembly instrument or the assembly personnel) to reduce the gap between the first movable clamping part 381 and the first fixed clamping part 382, ​​achieving an interference fit (causing interference) state, thereby clamping the distal end of the first support piece 361, which is convenient for assembly.

[0058] When the first movable clamping part 381 is in the first position (i.e., the initial position before firing), the proximal outer end face of the first movable clamping part 381 is lower than the distal inner end face of the first fixed clamping part 382. When the first movable clamping part 381 is in the second position, the proximal outer end face of the first movable clamping part 381 is not higher than the distal outer end face of the first fixed clamping part 382. Since the outer surface of the first movable clamping part 381 is lower than the outer surface of other areas of the nose 312e in the initial state, when the firing member 35 is fired, the pusher slider 316 pushes the first movable clamping part 381 to pivot outward. Because the first movable clamping part 381 is not higher than the distal outer end face of the first fixed clamping part 382 in the second position, it will not accidentally damage the tissue, and the reliability is high.

[0059] To further improve the reliability of the first clamping structure, during the pivoting process of the first movable clamping part 381 from the first position to the second position, a portion of the proximal end of the first movable clamping part 381 interferes with a portion of the distal end of the first fixed clamping part 382, ​​and the amount of interference is less than a first set value. Because the proximal end of the first movable clamping part 381 interferes with a portion of the distal end of the first fixed clamping part 382 during the pivoting process, the first movable clamping part 381 can only overcome the interference of the first fixed clamping part 382 and continue pivoting after reaching a set pushing force. This improves the reliability of the operation of the first movable clamping part 381 and avoids the problem of accidental pivoting of the first movable clamping part 381.

[0060] Specifically, when the first movable clamping part 381 is in its initial position, the proximal end face of the first movable clamping part 381 is located near the proximal end of the distal end face of the first fixed clamping part 382. The distal end of the first support piece 361 has at least two bends. The first bend is located at the distal end face of the first fixed clamping part 382, ​​and the second bend is located at the clamping gap between the first fixed clamping part 382 and the first movable clamping part 381. Thus, the two bends improve the clamping reliability of the first support piece 361.

[0061] Figures 11-14 Another specific embodiment of the first clamping structure is shown. In this embodiment, the first movable clamping part 381 is pivotally connected to the inside of the staple cartridge 312; it can make the working surface of the staple cartridge 312 flat, preventing accidental tissue damage and ensuring high safety; specifically, the distal end of the staple cartridge 312 is provided with a nose 312e that is inclined to the staple dispensing surface 312c, the first movable clamping part 381 is pivotally connected to the inner region of the nose 312e, and the first fixed clamping part 382 is disposed in the distal region of the staple dispensing surface 312c of the staple cartridge 312; there is a gap between the nose 312e and the staple dispensing surface 312c to accommodate the first support piece 361. When the first movable clamping part 381 is in the first position (i.e., the initial position before firing), the first movable clamping part 381 abuts against the first fixed clamping part 382, ​​and the first support piece 361 is located in the gap between the two; when the push pin slider 316 pushes the first movable clamping part 381 to pivot to the second position, the gap between the first movable clamping part 381 and the first fixed clamping part 382 becomes larger, and the first support piece 361 can slide out along the gap between the first movable clamping part 381 and the first fixed clamping part 382.

[0062] like Figure 14 As shown, the first movable clamping part 381 includes: a pivoting body 381a connected to the side wall of the nose part 312e via a pivoting shaft, and a clamping area 381b and a triggering area 381c connected to the pivoting body 381a. The clamping area 381b is used to cooperate with the first fixed clamping part 382 to clamp the first support piece 361, and the triggering area 381c is used to cooperate with the push pin slider 316. More specifically, the pivoting body 381a is formed as a cylindrical sleeve, and the pivoting shaft passes through the cylindrical sleeve; the clamping area 381b and the triggering area 381c are respectively formed as protrusions on the cylindrical sleeve, and the clamping area 381b and the triggering area 381c are located at different circumferential positions of the pivoting body 381a. Figure 13 As shown, the distal end of the push pin slider 316 has an extended step 316a for cooperating with the trigger area 381c, and the extended step surface abuts against the trigger area 381c.

[0063] During the pivoting process of the first movable clamping part 381 from the first position to the second position, a portion of the proximal end of the first movable clamping part 381 interferes with a portion of the distal end of the first fixed clamping part 382, ​​and the amount of interference is less than a second set value. Because the proximal end of the first movable clamping part 381 interferes with a portion of the distal end of the first fixed clamping part 382 during pivoting, the first movable clamping part 381 can only overcome the interference from the first fixed clamping part 382 and continue pivoting after reaching a set pushing force. This improves the reliability of the operation of the first movable clamping part 381 and avoids the problem of pivoting the first movable clamping part 381 to the second position during transportation or assembly.

[0064] Specifically, the inner wall of the distal end of the first fixed clamping part 382 is provided with a first groove 382a and a second groove 382b. The first groove 382a and the second groove 382b are connected by a protrusion 382c. When the clamping area 381b of the first movable clamping part 381 is in the first position, it cooperates with the first groove 382a. When the pusher slider 316 moves from the proximal side to the distal side, it pushes the first movable clamping part 381 to pivot, so that the clamping area 381b pivots from the first groove 382a to the second groove 382b. Since there is a protrusion 382c between the first groove 382a and the second groove 382b, the pusher slider 316 needs to reach a set pushing force to cross it. The above structural design can improve the clamping reliability of the clamping structure.

[0065] Reference Figures 15-17 The distal end of the anvil 321 is further provided with a second clamping structure for releasably clamping the second support piece 362; the second clamping structure includes a second movable clamping part 391 and a second fixed clamping part 392, the second movable clamping part 391 is slidably connected to the second fixed clamping part 392 and is switched between a first position and a second position by the action of the firing member 35; when the second movable clamping part 391 is in the first position, the second support piece 362 is clamped in the gap between the second movable clamping part 391 and the second fixed clamping part 392; when the second movable clamping part 391 is in the second position, the gap between the second movable clamping part 391 and the second fixed clamping part 392 becomes larger, and the second support piece 362 can slide out along the gap between the second movable clamping part 391 and the second fixed clamping part 392. By using the firing member 35 to push the second movable clamping part 391, which is slidably connected to the second fixed clamping part 392, the second support piece 362 can be clamped or unlocked by switching between different positions, which is more reliable than the elastic clamping method.

[0066] Specifically, the second fixed clamping part 392 has an opening on its distal side, and the second movable clamping part 391 is slidably connected to the opening along the firing direction (i.e., the longitudinal axis direction) of the firing member 35; specifically, the second movable clamping part 391 has a sliding main body part 391d extending along the longitudinal axis direction, and the opening of the second fixed clamping part 392 has a corresponding sliding track (not shown in the figure) that cooperates with it, and the sliding main body part 391d cooperates with the sliding track. Figure 18 As shown, the second movable clamping part 391 is provided at the far end of the sliding main body part 391d with a clamping surface 391e for cooperating with the far end surface of the second fixed clamping part 392, and the second support piece 362 is clamped in the gap between the clamping surface 391e and the far end surface of the second fixed clamping part 392.

[0067] A first limiting structure is provided between the second fixed clamping part 392 and the second movable clamping part 391. The second movable clamping part 391 is limited to the first position by the first limiting structure, which is the initial position for clamping the second support piece 362. Specifically, the first limiting structure includes a first insertion tooth 392a disposed on the second fixed clamping part 392 and at least two second insertion teeth 391a disposed on the second movable clamping part 391. The two second insertion teeth 391a form an insertion groove for accommodating the first insertion tooth 392a. When the first insertion tooth 392a is located in the area between the two second insertion teeth 391a, the position of the second movable clamping part 391 relative to the second fixed clamping part 392 is locked. At this time, the gap between the second movable clamping part 391 and the second fixed clamping part 392 is minimized, so that the second support piece 362 is clamped between the two gaps. The second insertion tooth 391a is formed as a right-angled triangular tooth or a right-angled trapezoidal tooth with a beveled proximal end and a straight distal end. Correspondingly, the first insertion tooth 392a is formed as a right-angled triangular tooth or a right-angled trapezoidal tooth with a straight proximal end and a beveled distal end. This allows the second insertion tooth 391a at the proximal end of the second movable clamping part 391 to easily cross over the first insertion tooth 392a during installation, thus initially installing the second movable clamping part 391 into position. When the second movable clamping part 391 is in the first position, the second insertion tooth 391a can be prevented from moving to the distal end because the distal end of the second insertion tooth 391a and the proximal end of the first insertion tooth 392a are straight surfaces.

[0068] A second limiting structure is provided between the second fixed clamping part 392 and the second movable clamping part 391, and the second movable clamping part 391 is limited to the second position by the second limiting structure. Specifically, the second limiting structure includes a first limiting protrusion 392b provided on the second fixed clamping part 392 and a second limiting protrusion provided on the second movable clamping part 391. When the second movable clamping part 391 slides from the proximal end to the distal end under the action of the firing member 35, the second limiting protrusion abuts against the first limiting protrusion 392b to lock the position of the second movable clamping part 391. At this time, the gap between the second movable clamping part 391 and the fixed clamping part becomes larger, and the second support piece 362 can slide out from the gap between the two. In one embodiment, the second limiting protrusion is the second insertion tooth 391a located at the distal end; in other alternative embodiments, the second limiting protrusion is a protrusion structure independent of the second insertion tooth 391a, which is located on the distal side of the second insertion tooth 391a and has a set gap with it.

[0069] The proximal end of the second movable clamping part 391 is provided with a deformable area for cooperating with the firing member 35. This deformable area deforms under the action of the firing member 35, causing at least one second insertion tooth 391a of the second movable clamping part 391 to deform and disengage from the first insertion tooth 392a. Specifically, the proximal body of the second movable clamping part 391 has a U-shaped perforated hole 391b. The deformable area is a portion of the area outside the U-shaped perforated hole 391b, forming a U-shaped ring 391c. The second insertion teeth 391a are located on opposite sides of the U-shaped ring 391c. When the firing member 35 abuts against the proximal end of the U-shaped ring 391c, the proximal end of the U-shaped ring 391c bends and deforms to the distal side, causing the second insertion teeth 391a located on opposite sides of the U-shaped ring 391c to deform, making the slot between adjacent second insertion teeth 391a larger, and the second movable clamping part 391 can move to the distal side across the first insertion tooth 392a.

[0070] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. An end effector for a surgical instrument, comprising: An anvil assembly and a staple cartridge assembly, wherein the anvil assembly is pivotable relative to the staple cartridge assembly or the staple cartridge assembly is pivotable relative to the anvil assembly; The second support piece is releasably fixed to the support surface of the anvil assembly; characterized in that: The distal end of the anvil assembly is further provided with a second clamping structure for releasably securing the second support piece; the second clamping structure includes: The second movable clamping part and the second fixed clamping part are slidably connected to the second fixed clamping part and are switched between the first position and the second position by the action of the firing member; When the second movable clamping part is in the first position, the second support piece is clamped in the gap between the second movable clamping part and the second fixed clamping part to fix the second support piece; When the second movable clamping part is in the second position, the gap between the second movable clamping part and the second fixed clamping part becomes larger, and the second support piece can slide out along the gap between the second movable clamping part and the second fixed clamping part to release the second support piece.

2. The end effector of a surgical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second fixed clamping part has an opening on its distal side, and the second movable clamping part is slidably connected to the opening along the firing direction of the firing member.

3. The end effector of a surgical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, A first limiting structure is provided between the second fixed clamping part and the second movable clamping part, and the second movable clamping part is limited to the first position by the first limiting structure.

4. The end effector of a surgical instrument according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first limiting structure includes a first insertion tooth disposed on the second fixed clamping part and at least two second insertion teeth disposed on the second movable clamping part. When the first insertion tooth is located in the area between the two second insertion teeth, the second movable clamping part is located in the first position.

5. The end effector of a surgical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, A second limiting structure is provided between the second fixed clamping part and the second movable clamping part. The second movable clamping part is limited to the second position by the second limiting structure to prevent the second movable clamping part from sliding out of the second fixed clamping part.

6. The end effector of a surgical instrument according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second limiting structure includes a first limiting protrusion disposed on the second fixed clamping part and a second limiting protrusion disposed on the second movable clamping part. When the second movable clamping part slides from the proximal end to the distal end under the action of the firing member, the second limiting protrusion abuts against the first limiting protrusion.

7. The end effector of a surgical instrument according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second limiting protrusion is a second insertion tooth located at the distal end.

8. The end effector of a surgical instrument according to claim 4, characterized in that, The proximal end of the second movable clamping part is provided with a deformable area for cooperating with the firing member. After the deformable area is deformed under the action of the firing member, at least one second insertion tooth of the second movable clamping part is deformed and disengaged from the first insertion tooth.

9. The end effector of a surgical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a first support piece releasably fixed to the nail dispensing surface of the nail cartridge assembly, and a first clamping structure for releasably fixing the first support piece is provided at the distal end of the nail cartridge assembly.

10. The end effector of a surgical instrument according to claim 9, characterized in that, It also includes a first resilient clamping member mounted on the anvil assembly and / or the staple cartridge assembly, the first resilient clamping member acting on the proximal ends of the anvil assembly and the staple cartridge assembly to clamp the proximal end of the first support plate onto the staple cartridge assembly and to clamp the proximal end of the second support plate onto the anvil assembly.

11. The end effector of a surgical instrument according to claim 9, characterized in that, The proximal and distal portions of the first support piece and / or the second support piece have notches.

12. The end effector of a surgical instrument according to claim 11, characterized in that, The distal end of the proximal notch of the first support piece and / or the second support piece is formed as a conical notch, and the proximal end of the distal notch of the first support piece and / or the second support piece is formed as a T-shaped notch.

13. A surgical instrument, characterized in that, Includes the end effector as described in claims 1-10.

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