Pinion Blade Drive Mechanism for a Laparoscopic Vessel Dissector

• US 20110276049A1
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gerhardt, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,265,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly including an actuator mounted for manipulation through an actuation stroke. An elongate shaft extends distally from the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. A reciprocating member extends at least partially through the elongate shaft, and is mounted for longitudinal motion through the elongate shaft in response to manipulation of the actuator through the actuation stroke. A drive mechanism includes a first rotating component coupled to the actuator about a first circumference to induce rotational motion in the first rotating component. A second rotating component is coupled to the first rotating component such that rotational motion in the first rotating component induces rotational motion in the second rotating component. The second rotating component is coupled to the reciprocating member about a second circumference such that rotational motion of the second rotating component induces longitudinal motion in the reciprocating member. The second circumference is greater than the first circumference.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly including an actuator mounted for manipulation through an actuation stroke;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;

a reciprocating member extending at least partially through the elongate shaft, the reciprocating member mounted for longitudinal motion through the elongate shaft; and

a drive mechanism for inducing longitudinal motion in the reciprocating member in response to manipulation of the actuator through the actuation stroke, the drive mechanism including;

a first rotating component defining a first circumference, the first rotating component coupled to the actuator about the first circumference such that the manipulation of the actuator through the actuation stroke induces rotational motion in the first rotating component; and

a second rotating component defining a second circumference, the second rotating component coupled to the first rotating component such that rotational motion in the first rotating component induces rotational motion in the second rotating component, the second rotating component further coupled to the reciprocating member about the second circumference such that rotational motion of the second rotating component induces longitudinal motion in the reciprocating member, wherein the second circumference is greater than the first circumference.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first rotating component includes a pinion gear defining a plurality of discrete teeth engaged with the actuator.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the actuator includes a trigger mounted for pivoting through an actuation stroke to define an angle.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first rotating component is a pulley coupled to the actuator by a belt.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the actuator includes a drive wheel mounted for rotational motion.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the second rotating component comprises a gear having a plurality of discrete teeth engaged with a rack having a plurality of discrete teeth, the rack being mounted for longitudinal motion.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of discrete teeth of the rack encircle a circumferential surface of the rack, and wherein the rack is mounted for rotational motion about the longitudinal axis.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising an end effector extending distally from the elongate shaft, the end effector including a pair of jaw members wherein at least one jaw member is configured to move between an open position substantially spaced from the other of the pair of jaw members and a closed position wherein the jaw members are closer together.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the reciprocating member is coupled to a knife adjacent a distal end of the reciprocating member, the knife being selectively extendable through a knife channel defined in the jaw members.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the pair of jaw members include at least one electrode connectable to a source of electrosurgical energy.

11. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly including an actuator mounted for manipulation through an actuation stroke;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;

an end effector extending distally from the elongate shaft, the end effector including a pair of jaw members wherein at least one jaw member is configured to move between an open position substantially spaced from the other of the pair of jaw members and a closed position wherein the jaw members are closer together, and wherein the pair of jaw members includes at least one electrode connectable to a source of electrosurgical energy;

a reciprocating member extending at least partially through the elongate shaft mounted for longitudinal motion through the elongate shaft;

a knife coupled to the reciprocating member, the knife being extendable into the end effector; and

a drive mechanism for inducing longitudinal motion in the reciprocating member in response to manipulation of the actuator through the actuation stroke, the drive mechanism including gear set having a first gear engaging the actuator and a second gear engaging the reciprocating member, wherein the gear set defines a gear ratio less than one.

12. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the gear ratio is about 1:

2.