Surgical instrument

• US 10,111,702 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2016
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kostrzewski, Stanislaw
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US15/377,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20170086917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271751, 2271752, 2271761, 2271801, 606139, 606153, 606219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/305 Details of wrist mechanisms at distal ends of robotic arms

Abstract

A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes a housing. The surgical instrument includes an elongated portion extending distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. An end effector operably couples to the elongated portion. A first pivoting member pivotably couples to a distal end of the elongated portion. The first pivoting member defines a first pivot axis intersecting the longitudinal axis when the first pivoting member is rotated. A distal mounting assembly pivotably couples to the first pivoting member and operably couples to the end effector. The distal mounting assembly defines a second pivot axis intersecting the first pivot axis and the longitudinal axis when the proximal mounting assembly is rotated.

Claims

1. An articulation assembly, comprising:

a proximal pivoting member defining a first pivot axis;

an articulation member coupled to the proximal pivoting member, wherein movement of the articulation member rotates the proximal pivoting member about the first pivot axis;

a distal pivoting member defining a second pivot axis; and

at least one link operably coupling the proximal pivoting member and the distal pivoting member, a distal end of the proximal pivoting member and a proximal end of the distal pivoting member defining complementary surfaces.

2. The articulation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the proximal pivoting member and the distal picoting member have a generally circumferential configuration.

3. The articulation assembly according to claim 2, wherein one of the distal pivoting member and the proximal pivoting member has a convex configuration and the other of the distal pivoting member and the proximal pivoting member has a concave configuration.

4. The articulation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the proximal pivoting member is mounted to a pivot plate such that the proximal pivoting member is rotatable relative to the at least one pivot plate.

5. The articulation assembly according to claim 4, wherein the distal pivoting member has a pivot plate, each of the pivot plate of the proximal pivoting member and the pivot plate of the distal pivoting member has a curved end with a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth of the pivot plate of the proximal pivoting member being enmeshed with the plurality of teeth of the pivot plate of the distal pivoting member.

6. The articulation assembly according to claim 5, wherein the pivot plate of the proximal pivoting member defines an arcuate slot.

7. The articulation assembly according to claim 6, wherein the at least one link has a proximal end with a finger portion disposed in the arcuate slot.