Surgical Stapler Having an Articulation Mechanism
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- a flexible shaft;
a nutating gear drive operatively connected to the flexible shaft, the nutating gear drive configured to reduce a speed and increase a torque of the flexible shaft;
a drive shaft configured to be selectively attached to the nutating gear drive;
a tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge, the anvil pivotally connected to the cartridge; and
a clamp cam operatively associated with the drive shaft, the clamp cam configured to translate upon rotation of the drive shaft, thereby causing motion of the anvil relative to the cartridge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An articulation mechanism for use with a surgical instrument includes a shaft, a first member disposed in mechanical cooperation with the articulation shaft, a second member disposed in mechanical cooperation with the shaft, and a flexible shaft having proximal and distal portions. The flexible member is operatively coupled to the first and second members. Upon rotation of the articulation shaft, at least one of the first and the second members moves longitudinally with respect to the other of the first and second members between a first position where the first and second members are approximated to each other and a second position where the first and second members are spaced apart from each other. This longitudinal motion causes the distal portion of the flexible member to articulate relative to the proximal portion.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a flexible shaft; a nutating gear drive operatively connected to the flexible shaft, the nutating gear drive configured to reduce a speed and increase a torque of the flexible shaft; a drive shaft configured to be selectively attached to the nutating gear drive; a tool assembly including an anvil and a cartridge, the anvil pivotally connected to the cartridge; and a clamp cam operatively associated with the drive shaft, the clamp cam configured to translate upon rotation of the drive shaft, thereby causing motion of the anvil relative to the cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. The surgical instrument according to claim 8, further comprising first and second threaded holes formed in the actuation sled, wherein the first threaded hole is configured to receive the first long lead screw and the second threaded hole is configured to receive the second long lead screw.
Specification