Surgical instrument

• US 10,456,135 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cappola, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US15/591,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20170238930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271751, 2271752, 2271761, 2271801, 606139, 606153, 606213, 606219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• 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 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprising a handle assembly, a body, a tool assembly and an articulation assembly is disclosed. The articulation mechanism includes a receptacle, and a main shaft. A lower clutch is fixedly positioned within the receptacle and has a serrated portion including a plurality of serrations. An upper clutch includes at least one projection positioned to engage the serrations of the lower clutch to releasably retain the main shaft at a rotatably fixed position. An angle between a first pair of adjacent serrations is defined as a first angle, an angle between a second pair of adjacent serrations is defined as a second angle, and an angle between a third pair of adjacent serrations is defined as a third angle. The first angle, the second angle, and the third angle are each different from one another.

Claims

1. A method of operating a surgical instrument, comprising:

providing a surgical instrument including a tool assembly and an articulation mechanism,

the articulation mechanism including;

a lower clutch having a plurality of recesses; and

an upper clutch having a plurality of protrusions for engaging at least one of the recesses of the plurality of recesses of the lower clutch; and

engaging a first protrusion of the plurality of protrusions of the upper clutch with a first recess of the plurality of recesses of the lower clutch, wherein engagement between the first protrusion of the plurality of protrusions and the first recess of the plurality of recesses retains the tool assembly in a first position, the first recess of the plurality of recesses being larger than other recesses of the plurality of recesses.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including biasing the upper clutch towards the lower clutch.

3. The method according to claim 1, further including moving an articulation lever of the articulation mechanism in a rotary fashion to cause corresponding movement of the upper clutch.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein engagement between the first protrusion of the plurality of protrusions and the first recess of the plurality of recesses retains the tool assembly in a non-articulated position.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lower clutch is at least partially positionable within a receptacle of the surgical instrument.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising maintaining the position of the lower clutch along a rotation axis with respect the receptacle of the surgical instrument while rotating the upper clutch about the rotation axis with respect to the lower clutch and with respect to the receptacle.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the lower clutch is fixedly positioned with respect to the receptacle.

8. A method of operating a surgical instrument, comprising:

providing a surgical instrument including a tool assembly and an articulation mechanism,

the articulation mechanism including;

a first portion including serrations, a first pair of adjacent serrations being separated by a first angle, a second pair of adjacent serrations being separated by a second angle, the first angle being different from the second angle; and

a second portion including a projection, the projection of the second portion being positioned to engage one of the serrations of the first portion,

engaging the projection of the second portion with one of the serrations of the first portion to retain the tool assembly in a fixed position.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising biasing the second portion toward the first portion.