SURGICAL APPARATUS WITH FORCE LIMITING CLUTCH
First Claim
1. A surgical system comprising:
- a drive element comprising a first set of drive features;
an actuator for applying a drive force to the drive element;
a transmission element comprising a first set of transmission features; and
a drive shaft coupled to the transmission element,wherein when the first set of drive features are engaged with the first set of transmission features in a first orientation, the drive element and the transmission element move together when the drive force is less than a first threshold force, and the first set of drive features slips past the first set of transmission features in a first direction when the drive force reaches the first threshold force.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A force-limiting clutch for a surgical instrument includes a drive element and a transmission element. An actuator is coupled to the drive element, and a drive shaft is coupled to the transmission element for providing an output force. If the force input from the actuator to the clutch reaches a predetermined threshold, the force-limiting clutch “slips” and does not transfer the actuator force to the drive shaft to prevent excessive force/pressure output. Normally, drive features on the drive element engage with transmission features on the transmission element to transfer forces from the actuator to the drive shaft. When a threshold force is reached, the drive features slip past the transmission features. This clutch “breakpoint” determines the maximum loading that the surgical instrument can provide at its output. In various embodiments, multiple transmission features can be arranged in a serial manner, such that the force-limiting clutch provides multiple breakpoints.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical system comprising:
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a drive element comprising a first set of drive features; an actuator for applying a drive force to the drive element; a transmission element comprising a first set of transmission features; and a drive shaft coupled to the transmission element, wherein when the first set of drive features are engaged with the first set of transmission features in a first orientation, the drive element and the transmission element move together when the drive force is less than a first threshold force, and the first set of drive features slips past the first set of transmission features in a first direction when the drive force reaches the first threshold force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A kit including a surgical instrument for performing a surgical procedure, the surgical instrument comprising:
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a drive element comprising a first set of drive features; an actuator for applying a drive force to the drive element; a transmission element comprising a first set of transmission features; and a drive shaft coup ed to the transmission element, wherein when the first set of drive features are engaged with the first set of transmission features in a first orientation, the drive element and the transmission element move together when the drive force is less than a first threshold force, and the first set of drive features slips past the first set of transmission features in a first direction when the drive force reaches the first threshold force. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification