Articulating surgical instruments and method of deploying the same
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- a steering mechanism, comprising;
a handle at a proximal end of the surgical instrument, the handle including a plurality of controls for controlling a movement of the surgical instrument;
a hub that rotatably mates with the handle;
a housing positioned about the hub, wherein the handle, the housing, and the hub communicate with each other to provide at least a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom, the surgical instrument further comprising an articulation region at a distal end of the surgical instrument, wherein a movement of the steering mechanism handle in one and only one of the first or second degrees of freedom relative to at least one of the housing or the hub translates to a movement of the articulation region in a single plane of motion; and
a U-joint comprising elements of the handle, the hub, and the housing, the U-joint providing the first and second degrees of freedom between a combination of the handle, the hub, and the housing; and
a plurality of steering cables between the housing and the articulation region, wherein articulation of the handle relative to the housing advances and retracts the plurality of steering cables, which move the articulation region in the single plane of motion or in multiple planes of motion, wherein the plurality of steering cables comprises;
first and second steering cables that extend from the hub to the articulation region, the first and second steering cables constructed and arranged to move the articulation region relative to a first axis about the single plane of motion when the handle articulates at the first degree of freedom relative to the housing; and
third and fourth steering cables that extend from the handle to the articulation region, the third and fourth steering cables constructed and arranged to move the articulation region about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis,wherein the hub includes first and second cable pass-through holes and the handle includes first and second cable fastening locations, wherein the third and fourth steering cables extend through the first and second pass-through holes, respectively, and wherein proximal ends of the third and fourth steering cables are coupled to the handle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument comprises a steering mechanism. The steering mechanism comprises a handle at a proximal end of the surgical instrument. The handle includes a plurality of controls for controlling a movement of the surgical instrument. The steering mechanism also comprises a hub that rotatably mates with the handle and a housing positioned about the hub. The handle, the housing, and the hub communicate with each other to provide at least a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom. An articulation region is at a distal end of the surgical instrument. A movement of the steering mechanism handle in one and only one of the first or second degrees of freedom relative to at least one of the housing or the hub translates to a movement of the articulation region in a single plane of motion.
118 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a steering mechanism, comprising; a handle at a proximal end of the surgical instrument, the handle including a plurality of controls for controlling a movement of the surgical instrument; a hub that rotatably mates with the handle; a housing positioned about the hub, wherein the handle, the housing, and the hub communicate with each other to provide at least a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom, the surgical instrument further comprising an articulation region at a distal end of the surgical instrument, wherein a movement of the steering mechanism handle in one and only one of the first or second degrees of freedom relative to at least one of the housing or the hub translates to a movement of the articulation region in a single plane of motion; and a U-joint comprising elements of the handle, the hub, and the housing, the U-joint providing the first and second degrees of freedom between a combination of the handle, the hub, and the housing; and a plurality of steering cables between the housing and the articulation region, wherein articulation of the handle relative to the housing advances and retracts the plurality of steering cables, which move the articulation region in the single plane of motion or in multiple planes of motion, wherein the plurality of steering cables comprises; first and second steering cables that extend from the hub to the articulation region, the first and second steering cables constructed and arranged to move the articulation region relative to a first axis about the single plane of motion when the handle articulates at the first degree of freedom relative to the housing; and third and fourth steering cables that extend from the handle to the articulation region, the third and fourth steering cables constructed and arranged to move the articulation region about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, wherein the hub includes first and second cable pass-through holes and the handle includes first and second cable fastening locations, wherein the third and fourth steering cables extend through the first and second pass-through holes, respectively, and wherein proximal ends of the third and fourth steering cables are coupled to the handle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a steering mechanism, comprising; a handle at a proximal end of the surgical instrument, the handle including a plurality of controls for controlling a movement of the surgical instrument; a hub that rotatably mates with the handle; a housing positioned about the hub, wherein the handle, the housing, and the hub communicate with each other to provide at least a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom, the surgical instrument further comprising an articulation region at a distal end of the surgical instrument, wherein a movement of the steering mechanism handle in one and only one of the first or second degrees of freedom relative to at least one of the housing or the hub translates to a movement of the articulation region in a single plane of motion; and a U-joint comprising elements of the handle, the hub, and the housing, the U-joint providing the first and second degrees of freedom between a combination of the handle, the hub, and the housing; and a plurality of steering cables between the housing and the articulation region, wherein articulation of the handle relative to the housing advances and retracts the plurality of steering cables, which move the articulation region in the single plane of motion or in multiple planes of motion, wherein the plurality of steering cables comprises; first and second steering cables that extend from the hub to the articulation region, the first and second steering cables constructed and arranged to move the articulation region relative to a first axis about the single plane of motion when the handle articulates at the first degree of freedom relative to the housing; and third and fourth steering cables that extend from the handle to the articulation region, the third and fourth steering cables constructed and arranged to move the articulation region about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, wherein the handle includes a cable tensioner that adjusts a tension of the steering cables at proximal ends of the steering cables, and wherein the cable tensioner comprises a first set screw movably positioned in a threaded socket in the hub, the first set screw including an opening for receiving an end of at least one of the first or second steering cables, which is secured to the first set screw in the hub, and wherein the cable tensioner comprises a second set screw movably positioned in a threaded socket in the handle, the second set screw including an opening for receiving an end of at least one of the third or fourth steering cables in the handle. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification