Method of Transferring Force Using Flexible Fluid-Filled Tubing in an Articulating Surgical Instrument
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an elongated shaft including distal and proximal ends, the distal end generally defining a distal shaft axis and the proximal end generally defining a proximal shaft axis;
an end effector coupled to the distal end of the elongated shaft, the end effector including first and second opposable jaw members movable from an open configuration for receiving tissue to at least one closed configuration for maintaining a closure pressure on the tissue;
a handle coupled to the proximal end of the elongated shaft, the handle selectively movable to induce motion in the jaw members between the open configuration and the closed configuration; and
a fluid flow path extending between the handle and the end effector through the elongated shaft, the fluid flow path including a master cylinder operatively associated with the handle to control a flow of a hydraulic fluid in the fluid flow path and a follower cylinder responsive to flow of the hydraulic fluid to move the jaw members between the open configuration and the closed configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic surgical instrument for sealing tissue includes an elongated shaft defining a proximal shaft axis and a distal shaft axis. The shaft axes may be misaligned to appropriately position and orient an end effector coupled to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The instrument is configured such that the shaft may resist a tendency to realign itself as the end effector moves from an open configuration for receiving tissue to a closed configuration for maintaining a closure pressure on the tissue ranging from about 3 kg/cm2 to about 16 kg/cm2. A handle coupled to the proximal end of the elongated shaft is operable to control the end effector by controlling a flow of hydraulic fluid through flow path extending s between the handle and the end effector.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongated shaft including distal and proximal ends, the distal end generally defining a distal shaft axis and the proximal end generally defining a proximal shaft axis; an end effector coupled to the distal end of the elongated shaft, the end effector including first and second opposable jaw members movable from an open configuration for receiving tissue to at least one closed configuration for maintaining a closure pressure on the tissue; a handle coupled to the proximal end of the elongated shaft, the handle selectively movable to induce motion in the jaw members between the open configuration and the closed configuration; and a fluid flow path extending between the handle and the end effector through the elongated shaft, the fluid flow path including a master cylinder operatively associated with the handle to control a flow of a hydraulic fluid in the fluid flow path and a follower cylinder responsive to flow of the hydraulic fluid to move the jaw members between the open configuration and the closed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification