Electrosurgical devices

• US 10,092,310 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Boudreaux, Chad P., Corbett, Catherine A., Trees, Gregory A., Bingham, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shi, Katherine M
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDOZA, MICHAEL G
• Application Number:
  US14/227,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20150272602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2841 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00738 part of the tool being offset with respect to a main axis, e.g. for better view for the surgeon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2845 with a spring pushing the handle back
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2922 toggle linkages
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

In various embodiments, a surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly having a closure trigger, a closure actuator coupled to the closure trigger at a first pivot, and a closure spring. The closure actuator moves proximally on a longitudinal axis in response to actuation of the closure trigger. The closure spring applies a force vector to the closure spring tangential to the longitudinal axis. A shaft assembly is coupled to the handle assembly. An end effector is coupled to a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises a jaw assembly comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member is pivotally moveable with respect to the second jaw member. At least one of the first and second jaw members are operatively coupled to the closure actuator.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly comprising;

a closure trigger;

a closure actuator coupled to the closure trigger at a first pivot, wherein the closure actuator moves proximally along a longitudinal axis in response to actuation of the closure trigger; and

a closure spring configured to apply a force to the closure actuator at the first pivot, wherein the closure spring is compressed in response to movement of the closure trigger, and wherein a force vector of the force applied by the closure spring is tangential to the longitudinal axis;

a shaft assembly coupled to the handle assembly; and

an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft assembly, the end effector comprising;

a jaw assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the jaw assembly comprising;

a first jaw member; and

a second jaw member, wherein the first jaw member is pivotally moveable with respect to the second jaw member, wherein the first jaw member is operatively coupled to the closure actuator, wherein the closure actuator is coupled to the closure trigger by a toggle pin at the first pivot, and wherein the closure spring applies the force to the toggle pin when the closure trigger is actuated, wherein the toggle pin is slideably moveable within a toggle pin channel, wherein actuation of the closure trigger to a first position causes proximal movement of the closure actuator and actuation of the closure trigger to a second position causes movement of the toggle pin within the toggle pin channel, wherein movement of the toggle pin changes an angle of the force vector applied by the closure spring to the closure actuator, and wherein the first position corresponds to the first and second jaws being fully closed.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the toggle pin channel comprises a toggle pin stop configured to prevent the toggle pin from traveling beyond a predetermined limit.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the toggle pin is configured to move within the toggle pin channel to provide a first load at a beginning of a stroke of the closure trigger and a second load at an end of the stroke of the closure trigger.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the closure trigger defines a closure spring slot, and wherein the closure spring is located within the closure spring slot.