FEATURES PROVIDING LINEAR ACTUATION THROUGH ARTICULATION JOINT IN SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

• US 20130131651A1
• Filed: 01/15/2013
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Strobl, Geoffrey S., Scheib, Charles J., Boudreaux, Chad P., Norvell, David K.
• Application Number:
  US13/741,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20130131651A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive 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 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

An apparatus for operating on tissue includes an end effector having a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw is configured to pivot relative to the second jaw from an open position to a closed position. The end effector also includes a blade member configured to translate within the end effector. An articulation portion is positioned between the end effector and a handpiece. The articulation portion is configured to bend to position the handpiece along a first longitudinal axis and the end effector along a second longitudinal axis. The articulation portion comprises a translation feature operable to translate the blade member.

Claims

1. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:

(a) an end effector, the end effector comprising;

(i) a first jaw,

(ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is configured to pivot relative to the second jaw from an open position and a closed position, and

(iii) a blade member, wherein the blade member is configured to translate within the end effector;

(b) a shaft, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis;

(c) an articulation portion positioned between the end effector and the shaft, wherein the articulation portion is configured to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and

(d) a translating cable extending through the articulation portion, wherein the translating cable is coupled with the blade member, wherein the translating cable is operable to translate the blade member longitudinally relative to the first and second jaws.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a set of ball members associated with the translating cable, wherein the ball members are configured to translate with the translating cable.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the translating cable extends through the ball members.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the ball members are operable to drive the blade member distally.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the translating cable is operable to pull the blade member proximally.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the articulation portion comprises a pre-bent tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ball members are positioned in the pre-bent tube.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second jaw defines a channel configured to receive at least some of the ball members.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, one of the first jaw or the second jaw includes a guide post, wherein the translating cable is at least partially wrapped about the guide post.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one of the first jaw or the second jaw has a distal end, wherein the guide post is positioned at the distal end of the one of the first jaw or the second jaw.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the guide post is operable to redirect the cable by approximately 180 degrees.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the translating cable is operable to advance the blade member distally in response to proximal movement of the translating cable.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the translating cable is secured to the blade member.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a jaw opening cable, wherein the jaw opening cable is translatable to pivot the first jaw relative to the second jaw.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the jaw opening cable comprises a ball end coupled with the first jaw.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the translating cable defines a first length and a second length extending through the articulation portion, wherein the first and second lengths are configured to translate in opposing directions in response to translation of the blade member.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the articulation portion is configured to bend more than about 90 degrees.

19. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:

(a) an end effector, the end effector comprising;

(i) a first jaw,

(ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is configured to pivot relative to the second jaw from an open position and a closed position, wherein at least one of the first jaw or the second jaw comprises an electrode, and

(iii) a blade member, wherein the blade member is configured to translate within the end effector;

(b) a shaft, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis; and

(c) an articulation portion positioned between the end effector and the shaft, wherein the articulation portion is configured to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the articulation portion comprises an actuator operable to translate the blade member, wherein the actuator comprises one or both of a cable or bearings.

20. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:

(a) an end effector, the end effector comprising;

(i) a first jaw,

(ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is configured to pivot relative to the second jaw from an open position and a closed position, wherein the second jaw comprises a screw drive, and

(iii) a blade member, wherein the blade member is configured to translate within the end effector, wherein the blade member comprises a threaded feature coupled with the screw drive;

wherein at least one of the jaws comprises at least one electrode, wherein the at least one electrode is operable to deliver RF energy to tissue clamped between the first and second jaw;

(b) a shaft; and

(c) an articulation portion positioned between the end effector and the shaft, wherein the articulation portion is configured to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the articulation portion comprises a drive shaft coupled with the screw drive, wherein the drive shaft is operable to rotate the screw drive to translate the threaded feature of the blade member along the screw drive.