Latching mechanism for forceps

• US 20060190035A1
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Garrison, David M., Hushka, Dylan
• Application Number:
  US11/406,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2922 toggle linkages
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a surgical instrument that includes a slidable shaft having a proximal and a distal end and a housing coupled to the shaft. The instrument includes an actuation assembly having a first lever and a second lever, each of the first and second levers being pivotably connected to the shaft. The instrument further includes an end effector assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly having a pair of opposing jaw members. The instrument may have a drive rod disposed within the shaft and connected to a housing connection, the drive rod being operable by the actuation assembly to actuate the opposing jaw members between open and closed positions. A latching mechanism is operatively associated with the actuation assembly and drive rod for maintaining the jaw members in the closed position, the latching mechanism including a biasing member housed between a spring collar and a spring mandrel.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a slidable shaft having a proximal and a distal end;

a housing coupled to the shaft;

an actuation assembly having a first lever and a second lever, each of the first and second levers being pivotably connected to the shaft;

an end effector assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly having a pair of opposing jaw members;

a drive rod disposed within the shaft and coupled to a housing connection, the drive rod being operable by the actuation assembly to actuate the opposing jaw members between open and closed positions; and

a latching mechanism associated with the actuation assembly and drive rod for maintaining the jaw members in the closed position, the latching mechanism including a biasing member housed between a spring collar and a spring mandrel.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a first link and a second link, the first link having a proximal end pivotally connected to the first lever and a distal end pivotally connected to the spring collar, the second link having a proximal end pivotally connected to the second lever and a distal end pivotally connected to the spring collar.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the spring collar is slidably movable about the drive rod.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument may be either fully disposable, partially disposable or reusable.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the drive rod is monolithically formed with the housing connection.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a compression spring.

7. A surgical instrument comprising:

a shaft having a proximal and a distal end and a drive rod slidably disposed therein;

a housing coupled to the shaft;

an actuation assembly having a first lever and a second lever, each of the first and second levers being pivotably connected to the drive rod;

an end effector assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly having a pair of opposing jaw members; and

a latching mechanism associated with the actuation assembly for maintaining the jaw members in the closed position, the latching mechanism including a first link and a second link, the second link having a lock/release lever configured to lock the actuation assembly.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 7, further comprising a first linkage and a second linkage, the first linkage connecting the first lever with the drive rod and the second linkage connecting the second lever with the drive rod.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the first link is pivotably connected to the first lever and the second link is pivotably connected to a stem extending from the second lever.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the lock/release lever is substantially parallel to the second lever when the actuation assembly is in the closed position.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 8, further comprising a stop connected to the lock/release lever, the stop configured to lock the actuation assembly.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the stop is configured to rest within a recess defined within the second lever.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the stop is rounded.

14. A surgical instrument comprising:

a drive rod having a proximal end and a distal end;

a spring mandrel connected to the proximal end of the drive rod, the mandrel having a collar slidably disposed thereon;

an actuation assembly having a first lever and a second lever, each lever being pivotably connected to a fixed surface;

a first link and a second link each having a distal end pivotally connected to the first and second levers respectively and a proximal end connected to the collar; and

an end effector assembly coupled to the distal end of the drive rod, the end effector assembly having a pair of opposing jaw members.

15. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, further comprising a biasing member located between the collar and a proximal end of the spring mandrel, the biasing member configured to force the drive rod in a distal or proximal direction.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein first and second levers are substantially parallel to the first and second links when the instrument is in the closed position.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the biasing member is compressed when the instrument is in the closed position.

18. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the spring mandrel includes a proximal and a distal haltering mechanism, the distal haltering mechanism configured to prevent longitudinal movement of the collar in a distal direction and the proximal haltering mechanism configured to provide a structural backing for the biasing member.

19. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, further comprising a shaft configured to surround the drive rod.

20. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, further comprising a housing operatively connected to the first and second levers.