SURGICAL CUTTING AND SEALING INSTRUMENT WITH REDUCED FIRING FORCE
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector comprising;
a first flexible jaw defining a longitudinal axis and a channel;
a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are operably coupled together;
a cutting member including a distal end, wherein the cutting member is sized and configured to fit at least partially within the channel, the cutting member configured to translate along the channel between a retracted position and a fully advanced position, wherein the first flexible jaw has a thickness less than or equal to about 1.3 mm in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and at a plane that transects the channel at the distal end of the cutting member when the cutting member is between the retracted position and the fully advanced position; and
at least one compression element extending from the cutting member, wherein the at least one compression element is configured to cause the first flexible jaw to rotate with respect to the second jaw from an open position to a closed position when the cutting member translates with respect to the first flexible jaw beyond the retracted position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument is provided that can comprise and end effector including two jaws and a cutting member configured to move between the jaws. In at least one embodiment, one or both of the jaws may be flexible, such that a jaw is configured to flex when gripping tissue. Further, at least one of the jaws may include a thin cross-sectional area such that the jaw flexes when gripping tissue. Additionally, in at least one embodiment, one or more compression elements may extend from the cutting member and may be configured to cause the jaws to close when the cutting member is advanced. The compression elements may comprise a roller and/or a low-friction material. Moreover, in at least one embodiment, one or both of the jaws may be precurved, away from the cutting member'"'"'s longitudinal axis. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the overall force required to advance the cutting member and/or close the jaws may be reduced.
20 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector comprising; a first flexible jaw defining a longitudinal axis and a channel; a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are operably coupled together; a cutting member including a distal end, wherein the cutting member is sized and configured to fit at least partially within the channel, the cutting member configured to translate along the channel between a retracted position and a fully advanced position, wherein the first flexible jaw has a thickness less than or equal to about 1.3 mm in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and at a plane that transects the channel at the distal end of the cutting member when the cutting member is between the retracted position and the fully advanced position; and at least one compression element extending from the cutting member, wherein the at least one compression element is configured to cause the first flexible jaw to rotate with respect to the second jaw from an open position to a closed position when the cutting member translates with respect to the first flexible jaw beyond the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector coupled comprising; a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are operably coupled together; a cutting member configured to translate with respect to the first jaw and the second jaw; and at least one compression element extending from the cutting member, wherein the at least one compression element is configured to contact the first jaw such that the first jaw rotates with respect to the second jaw when the cutting member translates with respect to the first jaw, wherein the at least one compression element comprises one or both of a roller and a low-friction material, wherein the static coefficient of friction between the low-friction material and the first jaw is less than or equal to about 0.10. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector comprising; a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are operably coupled together; a cutting member configured to translate with respect to the first jaw between a retracted position and a fully advanced position, the cutting member defining a longitudinal axis; and at least one compression element extending from the cutting member, wherein the at least one compression element is configured to contact the first jaw such that the first jaw rotates with respect to the second jaw between an open position and a closed position when the cutting member translates with respect to the first jaw, wherein the first jaw is precurved such that the first jaw curves away from the longitudinal axis when the first jaw is in the open position and no external load is applied to the first jaw. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
Specification