Deployment and safety mechanisms for surgical instruments

• US 10,213,250 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cho, Hoon, Chang, Seokjoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hupczey, Jr., Ronald
• Application Number:
  US14/933,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20170128120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes first and second members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions, a deployable component, and a trigger assembly including a trigger portion and a linkage portion. The trigger portion is engaged with the first member and includes a trigger configured to move relative to the first member between an un-actuated position and an actuated position. The linkage portion is engaged with the second member and the deployable component and is movable between a first position and a second position for moving the deployable component between a retracted position and an extended position. In the spaced-apart position of the members, the trigger portion and the linkage portion are disengaged and wherein, upon movement of the members to the approximated position, the trigger portion and the linkage portion are moved into engagement to enable actuation of the trigger to effect deployment of the deployable component.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

first and second members, at least one of the members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position;

a deployable component movable between a retracted position and an extended position; and

a trigger assembly, including;

a trigger portion engaged with the first member, the trigger portion including a trigger configured to move relative to the first member between an un-actuated position and an actuated position;

a linkage portion engaged with the second member and having the deployable component engaged thereto, the linkage portion movable between a first position and a second position for moving the deployable component between the retracted position and the extended position;

a pinion configured to rotate to convert movement of the trigger into movement of the linkage portion when the trigger portion and the linkage portion are engaged to one another, wherein the trigger portion further includes a first gear rack engaged to the trigger and disposed in meshed engagement with the pinion such that movement of the trigger effects rotation of the pinion,

wherein, in the spaced-apart position of the members, the trigger portion and the linkage portion are disengaged from one another such that movement of the trigger between the un-actuated position and the actuated position does not effect movement of the deployable component, and

wherein, upon movement of the first and second members to the approximated position, the trigger portion and the linkage portion are moved into engagement with one another such that movement of the trigger between the un-actuated position and the actuated position effects movement of the linkage portion between the first and second positions to thereby effect movement of the deployable component between the retracted and extended positions.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the trigger is configured to translate relative to the first member from the un-actuated position to the actuated position in a first direction.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the linkage portion is configured to translate relative to the second member from the first position to the second position in a second, opposite direction.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the trigger defines a finger ring configured to facilitate translation of the trigger.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the pinion is configured to convert movement of the trigger into movement of the linkage portion at a movement ratio of 1:

1.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the pinion defines a compound configuration such that the pinion is configured to convert movement of the trigger into movement of the linkage portion at a movement ratio of less than 1:

1.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the pinion is rotatably disposed within the first member in continuous operable engagement with the trigger, and wherein the pinion is configured to releasably operably engage the linkage portion upon movement of the members to the approximated position.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the linkage portion further includes a second gear rack and a connector engaged to the second gear rack, the second gear rack configured for meshed engagement with the pinion upon movement of the members to the approximated position such that rotation of the pinion effects movement of the second gear rack, the connector engaged to the deployable member such that movement of the second gear rack effects movement of the deployable member.

9. A surgical forceps, comprising:

first and second shaft members each having a jaw disposed at a distal end thereof, at least one of the shaft members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for moving the jaws relative to one another between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween;

a knife disposed within the second shaft member and movable between a retracted position, wherein the knife is positioned proximally of the jaws, and an extended position, wherein the knife extends distally at least partially between the jaws to cut tissue grasped therebetween; and

a trigger assembly, including;

a trigger portion engaged with the first shaft member, the trigger portion including a trigger configured to move relative to the first shaft member between an un-actuated position and an actuated position; and

a linkage portion engaged with the second shaft member and having the knife engaged thereto, the linkage portion movable between a first position and a second position for moving the knife between the retracted position and the extended position,

wherein, in the spaced-apart position of the first and second shaft members, the trigger portion and the linkage portion are disengaged from one another such that movement of the trigger between the un-actuated position and the actuated position does not effect movement of the knife, and

wherein, upon movement of the first and second shaft members to the approximated position, the trigger portion and the linkage portion are moved into engagement with one another such that movement of the trigger between the un-actuated position and the actuated position effects movement of the linkage portion between the first and second positions to thereby effect movement of the knife between the retracted and extended positions.

10. The surgical forceps according to claim 9, wherein the trigger is configured to translate relative to the first shaft member from the un-actuated position to the actuated position in a first direction.

11. The surgical forceps according to claim 10, wherein the linkage portion is configured to translate relative to the second shaft member from the first position to the second position in a second, opposite direction.

12. The surgical forceps according to claim 9, wherein the trigger portion further includes a first gear rack engaged to the trigger and a pinion rotatably disposed within the first shaft member in continuous operable engagement with the first gear rack such that movement of the trigger effects rotation of the pinion.

13. The surgical forceps according to claim 12, wherein the linkage portion includes a second gear rack and a connector engaged between the second gear rack and the knife, and wherein the pinion is configured to releasably operably engage the second gear rack upon movement of the first and second shaft members to the approximated position such that rotation of the pinion effects movement of the knife.

14. The surgical forceps according to claim 13, wherein the pinion is configured to convert movement of the first gear rack into movement of the second gear rack at a movement ratio of 1:

1.

15. The surgical forceps according to claim 13, wherein the pinion defines a compound configuration such that the pinion is configured to convert movement of the first gear rack into movement of the second gear rack at a movement ratio of less than 1:

1.

16. The surgical forceps according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the jaws is adapted to connect to a source of energy for treating tissue grasped between the jaws.

17. The surgical forceps according to claim 16, further including an activation button disposed on one of the first and second shaft members and configured to initiate the supply of energy to the at least one jaw.