Endoscopic surgical instrument having a rotational actuator with an energy storage element

• US 20050277955A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kortenbach, Juergen A., Palmer, Matthew A., Smith, Kevin W., Bales, Thomas O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,211,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53478 with magazine supply

Abstract

A flexible endoscopic clip applier includes a flexible coil with a manual actuator coupled to one end and a jaw assembly coupled to the other end. A store of clips is arranged adjacent to the jaw assembly and a clip pusher is arranged adjacent to the store of clips. The actuator includes a lever for opening and closing the jaws, a knob for rotating the jaw assembly, and a crank for dispensing clips. The knob and the lever are coupled to a single control member which extends through the coil to a joiner where it is joined to a pair of pull wires coupled to the jaws. The crank is coupled to a second control member which is threaded along a distal portion. The threaded portion engages a threaded member near the pusher and is coupled to the pusher such that rotation of the threaded control member by the crank causes the pusher to be moved distally.

Claims

1. An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising:

a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;

an end effector coupled to said distal end;

an actuator coupled to said proximal end;

a control member extending through said flexible tube, said control member coupled to said end effector and to said actuator, wherein

said actuator has a rotation element which rotates said control member, said rotation element including an energy storage element.

2. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

said energy storage element is a flywheel.

3. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

said control member is coupled to said rotation element via a spline connection.

4. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

said rotation element includes a plurality of gears coupled to said energy storage element.

5. The instrument according to claim 4, wherein:

said rotation element includes a crank coupled to said plurality of gears.

6. An endoscopic clip applier, comprising:

a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;

a clip dispenser coupled to said distal end and containing a plurality of clips;

an actuator coupled to said proximal end;

a control member extending through said flexible tube, said control member coupled to said clip dispenser and to said actuator, wherein

said actuator has a rotatable member for rotating said control member, said rotatable member being arranged such that one revolution of said rotatable member causes exactly one clip to be dispensed.

7. The clip applier according to claim 6, wherein:

said clips are axially arranged.

8. The clip applier according to claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of gears, said rotatable member and said control member being coupled to said plurality of gears.

9. The clip applier according to claim 6, wherein:

said rotatable member includes a crank.

10. An endoscopic clip applier, comprising:

a flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;

clip dispenser coupled to said distal end and containing a plurality of clips;

an actuator coupled to said proximal end;

a control member extending through said flexible tube, said control member coupled to said clip dispenser and to said actuator, wherein

said actuator has a rotatable member for rotating said control member, said rotatable member being arranged such that one revolution of said rotatable member causes all of said plurality of clips to be dispensed.

11. The clip applier according to claim 10, wherein:

said clips are axially arranged.

12. The clip applier according to claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of gears, said rotatable member and said control member being coupled to said plurality of gears.

13. The clip applier according to claim 12, wherein:

said rotatable member includes a crank.

14. A method for operating an endoscopic instrument, comprising:

manipulating a manual actuator coupled to an end effector;

storing energy applied to the manual actuator during a portion of an actuation cycle; and

releasing the stored energy during another portion of the actuation cycle.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein:

the step of storing includes applying energy to a flywheel.

16. A method for applying an endoscopic clip, comprising:

delivering an endoscopic clip applier through the lumen of an endoscope to a site for applying the clip; and

dispensing a clip by rotating a rotatable member exactly one rotation.