ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER-BASED ACTUATION MECHANISM FOR MULTI-FIRE SURGICAL FASTENING INSTRUMENT
First Claim
1. A surgical fastener delivery device, comprising:
- a housing having an elongate shaft extending therefrom;
a fastener advancing assembly extending through the housing and elongate shaft and movable to sequentially advance a plurality of fasteners through the elongate shaft; and
an electroactive polymer actuator coupled to the fastener advancing assembly such that energy delivery to the electroactive polymer actuator will effect movement of the fastener advancing assembly to advance a plurality of fasteners through the elongate shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for effecting movement of one or more components of a multifire device, such as a clip applier, hernia tacker, or skin stapler. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical fastening instrument is provided having an elongate shaft with an end effector coupled thereto and adapted to apply one or more surgical fasteners to tissue. An electrically expandable and contractible actuator, such as an electroactive polymer actuator, can be used to drive a fastener advancing or forming assembly through the elongate shaft, thereby driving a surgical fastener into tissue. In another embodiment, an electrically expandable and contractible actuator, such as an electroactive polymer actuator, can be used to effect movement of an articulation joint formed between the elongate shaft and the end effector.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical fastener delivery device, comprising:
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a housing having an elongate shaft extending therefrom;
a fastener advancing assembly extending through the housing and elongate shaft and movable to sequentially advance a plurality of fasteners through the elongate shaft; and
an electroactive polymer actuator coupled to the fastener advancing assembly such that energy delivery to the electroactive polymer actuator will effect movement of the fastener advancing assembly to advance a plurality of fasteners through the elongate shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of delivering a fastener to tissue, comprising:
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positioning a distal end of an elongate shaft of a fastener delivery device adjacent to tissue to be fastened;
delivering energy to an electroactive polymer actuator disposed within the fastener delivery device to advance a fastener through the elongate shaft and to thereby fasten the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification