Surgical instrument with articulating shaft with rigid firing bar supports
First Claim
1. An articulating surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle;
a shaft extending distally from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector moveably attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector moveable through an articulation angle from a first position in alignment with the longitudinal axis to a second position at an angle with the longitudinal axis;
a bendable firing member extending from the handle to the end effector for actuation of the end effector, the bendable firing member moveable proximally and distally within the surgical instrument; and
a link member moveably connected to the end effector and the shaft, the link member moving to a link angle relative to the longitudinal axis in response to articulating movement of the end effector and including a link slot to support at least a portion of the bendable firing bar between the shaft and the end effector at any articulation angle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic use includes a proximal portion that is manipulated external to a patient to position an attached elongate shaft and end effector to a desired surgical site inside of the patient. An articulation joint pivotally attaches the end effector to the elongate shaft to give further clinical flexibility in reaching tissue at a desired angle. A firing bar translates within the elongate shaft and articulates through the articulation joint with a reduced force to fire, supported within a knife slot formed in a link that pivots at both ends, thereby reducing the radius of curvature of the firing bar by half at a particular location. One version includes a link that connects across portions of a closure sleeve assembly and another version includes a link that connects proximal and frame ground portions.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. An articulating surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle;
a shaft extending distally from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector moveably attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector moveable through an articulation angle from a first position in alignment with the longitudinal axis to a second position at an angle with the longitudinal axis;
a bendable firing member extending from the handle to the end effector for actuation of the end effector, the bendable firing member moveable proximally and distally within the surgical instrument; and
a link member moveably connected to the end effector and the shaft, the link member moving to a link angle relative to the longitudinal axis in response to articulating movement of the end effector and including a link slot to support at least a portion of the bendable firing bar between the shaft and the end effector at any articulation angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An articulating surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle;
a shaft extending distally from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector moveably attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector moveable through an articulation angle from a first position in alignment with the longitudinal axis to a second position at an angle with the longitudinal axis;
a bendable firing member extending from the handle to the end effector for actuation of the end effector, the bendable firing member moveable proximally and distally within the surgical instrument;
a link member moveably connected to the end effector and the shaft, the link member moving to a link angle relative to the longitudinal axis in response to movement of the end effector and including a link slot to support at least a portion of the bendable firing bar between the shaft and the end effector at any articulation angle; and
a proximal frame ground located within the shaft and rotatably attached to the handle and moveably attached to the end effector via the link member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An articulating surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle;
a shaft extending distally from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector moveably attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector moveable through an articulation angle from a first position in alignment with the longitudinal axis to a second position at an angle with the longitudinal axis;
a bendable firing member for actuation of the end effector, the bendable firing member extending from the handle to the end effector and moveable proximally and distally;
a link member moveably connected to the end effector and the shaft, the link member moving to a link angle relative to the longitudinal axis in response to movement of the end effector and including a link slot to support at least a portion of the bendable firing bar between the shaft and the end effector at any articulation angle; and
a single pivot proximal frame ground member located within the shaft and rotatably attached to the handle and pivotally attached to the end effector at a single pivot, the single pivot proximal frame ground member including a guide slot for the bendable firing member. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle;
a shaft extending distally from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector moveably attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector moveable through an articulation angle from a first position in alignment with the longitudinal axis to a second position at an angle with the longitudinal axis;
a bendable firing member extending from the handle to the end effector for actuation of the end effector, the bendable firing member moveable proximally and distally;
a link member moveably connected to the end effector and the shaft, the link member including a link slot; and
an articulation mechanism operably coupled to the end effector and the link member wherein actuation of the articulation mechanism moves the end effector through an articulation angle and moves the link member and a portion of the bendable firing member located within the link member to a link angle away from the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle;
a shaft extending distally from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector moveably attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector moveable through an articulation angle from a first position in alignment with the longitudinal axis to a second position at an angle with the longitudinal axis;
a bendable firing member extending from the handle to the end effector for actuation of the end effector, the bendable firing member d moveable proximally and distally;
a link member moveably connected to the end effector and the shaft, the link member containing a link slot for guiding the firing member passing therethrough;
an articulation mechanism operably coupled to the end effector and the link member wherein actuation of the articulation mechanism moves the end effector through an articulation angle and moves the link member and a portion of the firing member located within the link member to a link angle away from the longitudinal axis; and
a proximal frame ground located within the shaft and rotatably attached to the handle and pivotally attached to the end effector via the link member. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle;
a shaft extending distally from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector moveably attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector moveable through an articulation angle from a first position in alignment with the longitudinal axis to a second position at an angle with the longitudinal axis;
a bendable firing member extending from the handle to the end effector and moveable proximally and distally from the handle;
a link member moveably connected to the end effector and the shaft, the link member moving to a link angle relative to the longitudinal axis in response to movement of the end effector and configured to support at least a portion of the bendable firing bar between the shaft and the end effector at any articulation angle; and
a single pivot proximal frame ground member rotatably attached to the handle and pivotally attached to the end effector, the frame ground forming a single pivot frame ground member to rotatably and moveably attach the end effector to the handle. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification