Surgical instrument with stopper assembly

• US 20160175026A1
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: BHAGAT, SIMRANJEET, APPEL, VICTOR
• Granted Patent: US 10,463,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• 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 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2903 transferring rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00297 Means for providing haptic feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a housing, an elongated member that extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis, an end effector assembly coupled to a distal portion of the elongated member, and a stopper assembly operably coupled to the proximal portion of the outer shaft member. The stopper assembly is disposed within one or more cavities defined within the housing. The stopper assembly is configured to prevent longitudinal movement of the outer shaft member along the longitudinal axis and to rotate within the one or more cavities upon rotation of the elongated member about the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an elongated member extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis, the elongated member configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis and including an outer shaft member having a proximal portion disposed within the housing;

an end effector assembly coupled to a distal portion of the elongated member, the end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members moveable relative to each other to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source for conducting electrosurgical energy through grasped tissue; and

a stopper assembly operably coupled to the proximal portion of the outer shaft member and disposed within at least one cavity defined within the housing, the stopper assembly configured to prevent longitudinal movement of the outer shaft member along the longitudinal axis and to rotate within the at least one cavity upon rotation of the elongated member about the longitudinal axis.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the stopper assembly includes at least one annular member coupled to an outer surface of the outer shaft member and including at least one slot defined through the annular member perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the outer shaft member defines at least one groove therein perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the at least one groove configured to align with the at least one slot of the at least one annular member.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein the at least one groove of the outer shaft member and the at least one slot of the annular member are configured to receive a clip therein to couple the at least one annular member to the outer shaft member.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein a diameter of the outer shaft member is less than a diameter of the at least one annular member.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the at least one cavity is defined by a distal wall and a proximal wall each defining an annular clearance configured to receive the outer shaft member therethrough.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the diameter of the at least one annular member is greater than a diameter of the annular clearance of at least one of the distal wall or the proximal wall such that the at least one annular member engages at least one of the distal wall or the proximal wall.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the at least one annular member includes an inner surface defining at least one rib configured to engage a longitudinal slot defined through the proximal portion of the outer shaft member.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the stopper assembly includes a first annular member and a second annular member, the first annular member restricting proximal longitudinal movement of the outer shaft member along the longitudinal axis and the second annular member restricting distal longitudinal movement of the outer shaft member along the longitudinal axis.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the stopper assembly includes at least one surface structure protruding from an outer surface of the outer shaft member, the at least one surface structure configured to engage at least one wall defining the at least one cavity.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the stopper assembly includes a key member disposed within a key slot extending through the proximal portion of the outer shaft member, at least a portion of the key member protruding from the outer shaft member and configured to engage at least one wall defining the at least one cavity.

19. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the stopper assembly includes a key member disposed within a key slot extending through the proximal portion of the outer shaft member, at least a portion of the key member protruding from the outer shaft member and configured to engage the distal wall to prevent longitudinal movement of the outer shaft member along the longitudinal axis.

12. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing including at least one cavity defined therein;

an elongated member extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis, the elongated member configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis and including an outer shaft member having a proximal portion disposed within the at least one cavity;

an end effector assembly coupled to a distal portion of the elongated member, the end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members moveable relative to each other to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source for conducting electrosurgical energy through grasped tissue; and

a stopper assembly operably coupled to the proximal portion of the outer shaft member and rotatable within the at least one cavity upon rotation of the elongated member about the longitudinal axis, the stopper assembly configured to engage at least one wall defining the at least one cavity to prevent longitudinal movement of the outer shaft member along the longitudinal axis.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the stopper assembly includes at least one lance protruding from the outer shaft member.

14. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the at least one cavity is defined by a distal wall and a proximal wall each defining an annular clearance configured to receive the outer shaft member therethrough.

15. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing including at least one cavity defined therein, the at least one cavity defined by a distal wall and a proximal wall each defining an annular clearance;

an elongated member extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis, the elongated member configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis and including an outer shaft member having a proximal portion disposed within the annular clearance of the distal and proximal walls;

an end effector assembly coupled to a distal portion of the elongated member, the end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members moveable relative to each other to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one of the jaw members adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source for conducting electrosurgical energy through grasped tissue; and

a stopper assembly operably coupled to the proximal portion of the outer shaft member and rotatable within the at least one cavity upon rotation of the elongated member about the longitudinal axis, the stopper assembly having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of at least one of the annular clearances defined by one of the distal wall or the proximal wall such that the stopper assembly is configured to engage at least one of the distal wall or the proximal wall to prevent longitudinal movement of the outer shaft member along the longitudinal axis.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein the stopper assembly includes at least one annular member coupled to an outer surface of the outer shaft member and including at least one slot defined through the annular member perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein the stopper assembly is configured to be welded to the outer shaft member.

18. The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein the stopper assembly includes at least one surface structure protruding from an outer surface of the outer shaft member and configured to engage the distal wall to prevent longitudinal movement of the outer shaft member along the longitudinal axis.

20. The surgical instrument according to claim 16, wherein a diameter of the outer shaft member is less than a diameter of the at least one annular member.