US 12,408,915 B2
Applicator instruments for dispensing surgical fasteners, the applicator instruments being controlled by surgical robots
Doug Souls, Andover, NJ (US); Simon Cohn, Lebanon, NJ (US); Michael Cardinale, Morristown, NJ (US); Jianxin Guo, Livingston, NJ (US); Mark D. Kenyon, Ringoes, NJ (US); Jared Schneider, Union, NJ (US); Danial Paul Ferreira, Woodbridge, CT (US); Xuelin Guo, Livingston, NJ (US); Lindsay Epstein, Belle Mead, NJ (US); and Michael Nordmeyer, Pittstown, NJ (US)
Assigned to Ethicon, Inc., Raritan, NJ (US)
Filed by Ethicon, Inc., Raritan, NJ (US)
Filed on Oct. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/965,488.
Application 17/965,488 is a continuation of application No. 15/494,012, filed on Apr. 21, 2017, granted, now 11,490,888.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/431,355, filed on Dec. 7, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0035583 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/064 (2006.01); A61F 2/02 (2006.01); A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61B 34/37 (2016.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 90/92 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/068 (2013.01) [A61B 17/00234 (2013.01); A61B 17/064 (2013.01); A61B 17/0682 (2013.01); A61F 2/02 (2013.01); A61B 2017/003 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00314 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00327 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00407 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0053 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0688 (2013.01); A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 2017/291 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2923 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2925 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2034/306 (2016.02); A61B 34/37 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0808 (2016.02); A61B 90/92 (2016.02)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners comprising:
a housing;
an elongated shaft extending from the housing, the elongated shaft having a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end, and a conduit extending between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft; and
a firing system disposed within the housing, the firing system comprising an insertion tool having a proximal end and a distal end, the insertion tool having a top surface that extends between the proximal and distal ends thereof and a stripper ramp that projects above the top surface of the insertion tool;
wherein the firing system is configured to be coupled to be a robotic arm that is operable for activating the firing system to commence a firing cycle, wherein during the firing cycle the firing system drives the insertion tool toward the distal end of the elongated shaft, and
wherein the conduit has a top wall that extends between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft and a top notch formed in the top wall, and wherein the stripper ramp of the insertion tool slides through the top notch formed in the top wall of the conduit for guiding movement of the insertion tool as the firing system drives the insertion tool toward the distal end of the elongated shaft.