Endoscopic surgical instrument having a rotational actuator with an energy storage element
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
240 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An endoscopic clip applier, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An endoscopic clip applier, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for operating an endoscopic instrument, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method for applying an endoscopic clip, comprising:
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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.
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Specification