Medical Instrument

• US 20080172086A1
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard A. Hillstead, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Hillstead, Inc.
• Inventors: Knodel, Bryan D., Hillstead, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2904 curved, but rigid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

A hydraulically actuated medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a hydraulically actuated end effector at the distal end of the shaft and a fluid flow path extending through the shaft to the end effector. The end effector may be directly manually operated by way of a handle located at the proximal end of the shaft or remotely, for example, via robotic controller. Articulation joints may be provided along the shaft, between the shaft and end effector or handle, or elsewhere. The hydraulic actuation of the present invention permits multiple axis instrument articulation, miniaturization and simplified instrument fabrication.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A hydraulically actuated end effector for an endoscopic medical instrument, the end effector comprising a first hydraulic actuator responsive to changes in hydraulic actuation pressure to effect a first selected action and a second hydraulic actuator responsive to changes in hydraulic actuation pressure to effect a second selected action, said first or second hydraulic actuator comprising an extensible balloon to effect the selected action;

and a biasing member responsive to changes in hydraulic actuation pressure to move the balloon to a retracted position.

34. The end effector of claim 33, further comprising first and second relatively moveable jaws.

35. The end effector of claim 34, wherein the first hydraulic actuator is adapted to move the first and second jaws toward and away from one another.

36. The end effector of claim 34, further comprising first and second electrodes carried by selected of said jaws, wherein said electrodes are adapted for connection to the terminals of an electrical generator.

37. The end effector of claim 35, wherein each of the first and second jaws each comprises a scissor blade for cutting tissue.

38. The end effector of claim 34, wherein the first hydraulic actuator includes a longitudinally moveable piston and a connecting linkage associated with the piston and cooperative with each of the first and second jaws to move them toward one another upon increase of hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic actuator.

39. The end effector of claim 38, wherein the first hydraulic actuator is biased to a position in which the first and second jaws are spaced apart.

40. The end effector of claim 34, further comprising a plurality of staples carried by the first jaw and a staple anvil carried by the second jaw.

41. The end effector of claim 40, wherein the plurality of staples are contained in a supply cartridge removably carried by the first jaw.

42. The end effector of claim 41, wherein the extensible balloon is adapted to force the staples from the first jaw and against the anvil of the second jaw.

43. The end effector of claim 42, wherein the first jaw includes a moveable staple ejector and the extensible balloon is a linearly extensible balloon engageable with the staple ejector to force the staples from the first jaw upon increase of hydraulic pressure in the balloon.

44-58. -58. (canceled)