SEALS AND SEALING METHODS FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING AN ARTICULATED END EFFECTOR ACTUATED BY A DRIVE SHAFT
First Claim
1. A seal for a minimally-invasive surgical instrument having an internal drive shaft, the seal comprising:
- a substantially rigid portion having an outer perimeter shaped to interface with an instrument shaft of the surgical instrument, the instrument shaft defining a shaft axis and the rigid portion is configured to receive an internal drive shaft mounted axially there through for rotation within the instrument shaft; and
a first slot oriented laterally to the shaft axis and first and second apertures configured to receive the internal drive shaft axially there through, the first and second apertures disposed on opposing sides of the first slot and opening to the first slot, the first slot open at a first radially perimeter location of the seal and configured to receive a first o-ring seal via the first perimeter opening, the first slot having opposing internal sides oriented laterally to the shaft axis and spaced to simultaneously interface with opposed axial surfaces of the first o-ring seal, the first and second apertures being larger than the internal drive shaft passing through the first and second apertures, respectively, so as to accommodate lateral displacement of the internal drive shaft relative to the instrument shaft while the internal drive shaft rotates and the first o-ring seal inhibits axial transmission of at least one of an insufflated gas or bodily fluids within the instrument shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Sealing assemblies and methods are disclosed for sealing a surgical instrument having an internal drive shaft subject to lateral displacement. A sealing assembly includes a rigid portion shaped to interface with an instrument shaft of the surgical instrument. A laterally oriented slot is open at a radially perimeter location and configured to receive an o-ring seal via the perimeter location. Apertures are disposed on opposing sides of the slot and open to the slot. The apertures are configured to receive the drive shaft there through and are larger than the drive shaft to accommodate lateral displacement of the drive shaft. The slot includes opposing internal sides spaced to interface with opposed axial surfaces of the o-ring seal. The seal inhibits axial transmission of an insufflated gas and/or bodily fluids while accommodating lateral displacement of the drive shaft.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A seal for a minimally-invasive surgical instrument having an internal drive shaft, the seal comprising:
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a substantially rigid portion having an outer perimeter shaped to interface with an instrument shaft of the surgical instrument, the instrument shaft defining a shaft axis and the rigid portion is configured to receive an internal drive shaft mounted axially there through for rotation within the instrument shaft; and a first slot oriented laterally to the shaft axis and first and second apertures configured to receive the internal drive shaft axially there through, the first and second apertures disposed on opposing sides of the first slot and opening to the first slot, the first slot open at a first radially perimeter location of the seal and configured to receive a first o-ring seal via the first perimeter opening, the first slot having opposing internal sides oriented laterally to the shaft axis and spaced to simultaneously interface with opposed axial surfaces of the first o-ring seal, the first and second apertures being larger than the internal drive shaft passing through the first and second apertures, respectively, so as to accommodate lateral displacement of the internal drive shaft relative to the instrument shaft while the internal drive shaft rotates and the first o-ring seal inhibits axial transmission of at least one of an insufflated gas or bodily fluids within the instrument shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for sealing a minimally-invasive surgical instrument having an internal drive shaft against an insufflated gas and bodily fluids, the method including:
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interfacing an o-ring seal with an external surface of an internal drive shaft mounted for rotation within an instrument shaft of a minimally-invasive surgical instrument, the instrument shaft defining a shaft axis; interfacing opposed axial surfaces of the o-ring seal with opposing internal sides of a slot oriented laterally to the shaft axis; and accommodating the internal drive shaft within apertures that are disposed on opposing sides of the slot and are open to the slot. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method including:
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providing an internal drive shaft suitable for mounting within an instrument shaft of a minimally-invasive surgical instrument, the instrument shaft defining an axis; sliding an annular sealing body radially inwardly into a slot of a valve seat within the instrument shaft so that resilient compression of the annular sealing body within the slot induces axial sealing engagement between the annular sealing body and the valve seat; and sliding the internal drive shaft axially through an aperture of the annular sealing body so that resilient expansion of the annular sealing body around the internal drive shaft induces radial sealing engagement between the internal drive shaft and the sealing body such that the sealing body is configured to inhibit axial flow of at least one of bodily fluids or an insufflated gas within the shaft while accommodating rotation of the internal drive shaft, axial displacement of the internal drive shaft, and lateral displacement of the internal drive shaft within the instrument shaft. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification