Handle Suitable for Transmitting a Torque Between a Rotation Knob and a Respective Out Put Shaft Connectable to Cables, Tubes, or the Like

• US 20090124398A1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Thompson, Brian James
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 464/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means

Abstract

A handle (10) is suitable for transmitting a torque between a rotation knob and a respective output shaft connectable to cables, tubes, or the like, wherein said handle comprises at least first and second transmission lines which operate between a first rotation knob (12) and a first output shaft (22) and between a second rotation knob (14) and a second output shaft (24), respectively. The first and second rotation knobs are co-axially arranged along a common axis (X). The first and second output shafts are arranged on different axes (X, Y). The handle comprises a lock-out mechanism suitable for selecting between the first transmission line and the second transmission line thus preventing the rotation of the one rotation knob while the other is being rotated. The lock-out mechanism alternatively operates on the one of the rotation knobs, while the other is released due to the relative translation of the knobs along the common axis (XI between a first relative position and a second relative position and vice versa.

Claims

1. A handle (10) suitable for transmitting a torque between a rotation knob and a respective output shaft connectable to cables, tubes, or the like, wherein said handle comprises at least first and second transmission lines which operate between a first rotation knob (12) and a first output shaft (22) and between a second rotation knob (14) and a second output shaft (24), respectively,

wherein said first and second rotation knobs are co-axially arranged along a common axis (X),

wherein said first and second output shafts are arranged on different axes (X, Y),

and wherein said handle comprises a lock-out mechanism that is suitable for selecting between said first transmission line and said second transmission line by preventing the rotation of the one knob while the other is being rotated, wherein said lock-out mechanism alternatively operates on the one of the knobs, while the other is released due to the relative translation of the knobs along the common axis (X) between a first relative position and a second relative position, and vice versa.

2. The handle according to claim 1, wherein said lock-out mechanism comprises a lock-out pin (28) connected to the first rotation knob (12) such as to allow the rotation of the first rotation knob and resulting integral to the first rotation knob in the relative translation of the two rotation knobs, said lock-out pin (28) having an end (30) that is suitable for being housed within a seat (32) of the second rotation knob (14) in said first relative position of the two rotation knobs, in order to stop the rotation of the second rotation knob, and for being disengaged from said seat (32) of the second rotation knob (14) in said second relative position of the two rotation knobs, in order to allow the second rotation knob to rotate.

3. The handle according to claim 2, wherein said lock-out pin (28) is arranged parallel to a first tube (18) of said first rotation knob (12) and wherein a carriage (33) being fixed to the lock-out pin (28) is fastened to said first tube (18) of the first rotation knob (12) such as to allow the latter to rotate about the common axis (X) and translatably engage said lock-out pin (28) during the relative translation of said rotation knobs.

4. The handle according to claim 2 or 3, comprising resilient elements (34a, 34b) for maintaining and restoring said first relative position of said rotation knobs.

5. The handle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said first rotation knob (12) comprises at least one crosswise extension or pin (36) suitable for being inserted within a notch (38) of a crown element (40), in said second relative position of said rotation knobs in order to prevent the first rotation knob from rotating (12).

6. The handle according to claim 5, wherein said crown device (40) is mounted within a shroud (16) of said handle (10).

7. The handle according to one of the preceding claim, wherein said lock-out device comprises a lock-out spring (42) that is suitable for locking the relative translation of said first and second rotation knobs in said first relative position.

8. The knob according to claim 7, wherein a shroud (16) of said handle (10) comprises at least one pawl (44) against which said lock-out spring (42) is abutted in said second relative position of said rotation knobs.

9. The handle according to claim 8, comprising at least one button (46) suitable for acting on said lock-out spring (42) in order to disengage the latter from said at least one pawl (44).

10. The handle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein relative to a shroud (16) of said handle (10) said first rotation knob (12) can translate between said first relative position and said second relative position, and vice versa, and wherein said second rotation knob (14) is translatably fastened relative to said shroud (16).

11. The handle according to claim 10, wherein in said first position the rotation of the second rotation knob (14) is prevented by a lock-out pin (28) that is integral with said first rotation knob (12) and wherein in said second position the rotation of the first rotation knob (12) is prevented by a crown element (40) being fixed to said shroud (16).

12. The handle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second rotation knobs are connected to first and second tubes (18, 20), respectively, which are co-axially arranged, the one of said tubes being hollow in order to receive the other of said tubes.

13. The handle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second rotation knobs are connected to first and second tubes (18, 20), respectively, which are co-axially arranged, and wherein at least one of said transmission lines comprises at least one gear (26) in order to differentiate the axes of the output shafts.

14. The handle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first rotation knob (12) is externally arranged relative to the second rotation knob (14) comprising a seat (15) that is suitable for receiving at least one portion of the first rotation knob (12) within said second relative position.