Surgical instrument
First Claim
1. A medical instrument comprising:
- a proximal control handle;
a distal work member;
a proximal movable member controlled from said proximal control handle;
a distal movable member controlled from said proximal movable member to provide controlled movement of said distal work member from said proximal control handle;
an instrument shaft that intercouples said proximal and distal movable members;
and actuation means coupled between said movable members;
said proximal movable member comprising a ball and socket assembly supported between said handle and instrument shaft and constructed and arranged for three dimensional motion.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The surgical instrument includes a distal tool, an elongated shaft that supports the distal tool, and a proximal handle or control member, where the tool and the handle are coupled to the respective distal and proximal ends of the elongated shaft via distal and proximal bendable motion members. Actuation means extends between said distal and proximal members whereby any deflection of said control handle with respect to said elongated instrument shaft causes a corresponding bending of said distal motion member for control of said working member. The proximal bendable member comprises a ball and socket assembly supported between the handle and instrument shaft and constructed and arranged for three dimensional motion.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A medical instrument comprising:
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a proximal control handle; a distal work member; a proximal movable member controlled from said proximal control handle; a distal movable member controlled from said proximal movable member to provide controlled movement of said distal work member from said proximal control handle; an instrument shaft that intercouples said proximal and distal movable members; and actuation means coupled between said movable members; said proximal movable member comprising a ball and socket assembly supported between said handle and instrument shaft and constructed and arranged for three dimensional motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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- 17. In a medical instrument having a proximal control handle and a distal tool that are intercoupled by an elongated instrument shaft that is meant to pass internally of an anatomic body, proximal and distal movable members that respectively intercouple said proximal control handle and said distal tool with said instrument shaft, cable actuation means disposed between said movable members and a rotation ball and wherein said control handle comprises a base and a top section that defines a spherical socket that supports the rotation ball for three dimensional pivoting therein.
- 24. In a medical instrument having a proximal control handle and a distal tool that are intercoupled by an elongated instrument shaft that is meant to pass internally of an anatomic body, proximal and distal movable members that respectively intercouple said proximal control handle and said distal tool with said instrument shaft, and cable actuation means disposed between said movable members, a method of controlling the tool from the handle by means of a control element comprising pivoting the control element to control the positioning of the tool in three dimensions and to control the rotational orientation of the tool by rotating the instrument shaft.
Specification