Laparoscopic surgical instrument
First Claim
1. A laparoscopic surgical instrument comprising in combination the components of:
- A. an articulation section, said articulation section comprising in combination;
i. an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and at least one passageway disposed along the entire length of said shaft;
ii. a flexible bending portion disposed at said elongated shaft distal end having a proximal end and a distal end and at least one passageway disposed along the entire length of said bending portion;
iii. at least one flexible control member having a proximal end and a distal end disposed in said passageways along the entire length of said shaft and said bending portion;
B. an end effecter mounting assembly attached to the distal end said control member; and
C. A handpiece connected to the proximal end of said articulation section, the proximal end of said shaft, and the proximal end of said flexible control member, said handpiece for moving and controlling said control member and said end effecter mounting assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An articulating surgical instrument for laparoscopic, endoscopic, and natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgical procedures consisting of a separable combination of a reusable operational handpiece section and a separable reusable or disposable articulation section. The handpiece section which remains external to the patient incorporates various control and command devices and assemblies, while the articulation section is composed of various linkages, rods, and cables which transmit positioning and operating commands from the handpiece to end effectors positioned at the distal tip of the articulation section within the patient. Improved positioning and operating configurations for the end effectors suitable for the invention as well as the general class of these instruments are also disclosed.
955 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A laparoscopic surgical instrument comprising in combination the components of:
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A. an articulation section, said articulation section comprising in combination; i. an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and at least one passageway disposed along the entire length of said shaft; ii. a flexible bending portion disposed at said elongated shaft distal end having a proximal end and a distal end and at least one passageway disposed along the entire length of said bending portion; iii. at least one flexible control member having a proximal end and a distal end disposed in said passageways along the entire length of said shaft and said bending portion; B. an end effecter mounting assembly attached to the distal end said control member; and C. A handpiece connected to the proximal end of said articulation section, the proximal end of said shaft, and the proximal end of said flexible control member, said handpiece for moving and controlling said control member and said end effecter mounting assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A laparoscopic surgical instrument comprising in combination the components of:
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A. an articulation section, said articulation section comprising in combination; i. an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and at least one passageway disposed along the entire length of said shaft; ii. a flexible bending portion disposed at said elongated shaft distal end having a proximal end and a distal end and at least one passageway disposed along the entire length of said bending portion; iii. at least one flexible control member having a proximal end and a distal end disposed in said passageways along the entire length of said shaft and said bending portion; B. an end effecter mounting assembly attached to the distal end said control member; C. means for articulating said bending portion about a complete circular pattern with respect to the axis of said shaft, said means comprising a plurality of cables attached to said bending portion distal end, said cables disposed in said passageways along the entire length of said shaft and said bending portion; and D. a handpiece connected to the proximal end of said articulation section, the proximal end of said shaft, the proximal end of said flexible control member, and the proximal end of said cables, said handpiece for controlling and moving said control member and said end effecter mounting assembly, said handpiece for further controlling and moving said cables and said bending portion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification