Medical instrument with dual action drive

• US 5,263,967 A
• Filed: 05/15/1992
• Issued: 11/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SSI Medical Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: SSI Divestiture, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Kirwan, John, Lyons, William G. III
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US07/883,080
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 606/120, 606/151, 606/157, 606/158, 606/203, 606/205, 606/206, 606/208, 433/4, 433/157, 433/159, 294/115, 294/116
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2934 arcuate shaped guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points

Abstract

A medical instrument including a tubular extension within which and to which two movable end effectors, such as jaw members, are rotatably attached by a pivot. The proximal end of each end effector is pivotally attached to and butts against a drive surface of its respective arm of a dual action drive member also located within the tubular extension. As the dual action drive member is moved proximally or distally within the tubular extension, the distal ends of the end effectors rotate or counter rotate about the pivot in opposition to one another. The dual action drive member paired arms have end surfaces which transfer, to the end effectors, the force required to rotate the end effectors toward one another, thereby reducing the shear force applied to pivot posts on the arms used to open the jaws. The dual action drive member may be used with a variety of different end effector devices including but not limited to medical grippers, hole punches, dissectors, extractors, scissors, and clamps.

Claims

1. A medical instrument comprising:

a tubular extension having a distal end and a proximal end;

a first movable end effector pivotally attached by a pivot to said distal end of said tubular extension;

a second movable end effector pivotally attached by said pivot to said distal end of said tubular extension; and

a dual action drive member located within the tubular extension and capable of moving between a first proximal position and a second distal position within said tubular extension,

said dual action drive member comprising a first arm in communication with said first movable end effector and a second arm in communication with said second movable end effector,

said first arm having a distal end surface for transferring force to said first end effector and said second arm having a distal end surface for transferring force to said second end effector,

wherein said dual action drive member is capable of moving in a proximal direction to cause said first movable end effector and said second movable end effector to rotate about said pivot away from one another and is capable of moving in a distal direction so as to cause force to be transferred to said first movable end effector by said distal end surface of said first arm and to cause force to be transferred to said second movable end effector by said distal end surface of said second arm thereby to cause said distal end of said second end effector and said distal end of said first end effector to move toward one another.

2. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein each said end effector is a gripper.

3. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein each said end effector is a scissor blade.

4. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein each said end effector is a clamp tine.

5. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein said extension has a longitudinal axis and comprises a slot in its distal end so as to permit the distal end of said first end effector and the distal end of said second end effector to move in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said extension.

6. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein said first arm and said second arm are joined in a flexible wishbone junction.

7. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein said pivot is hollow.

8. A medical instrument comprising:

a tubular extension having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis;

a handle portion attached adjacent to said proximal end of said tubular extension, said handle portion comprising an activation mechanism;

a first movable end effector pivotally attached by a hollow pivot to said distal end of said tubular extension;

a second movable end effector pivotally attached by said hollow pivot to said distal end of said tubular extension; and

a dual action drive member located within the tubular extension and connected to said activation mechanism, said dual action drive member comprising a first arm and a second arm, said first arm being attached to said first movable end effector and having a distal end surface for transferring force to said first end effector, and said second arm being attached to said second movable end effector and having a distal end surface for transferring force to said second end effector, said first arm and said second arm joined in a wishbone junction,

wherein said activation member is capable of moving said dual action drive member between a first proximal position and a second distal position within said tabular extension,

wherein said dual action drive member moving in a distal direction causes said distal end of said first movable end effector and said distal end of said second movable end effector to rotate about said pivot toward one another,

wherein said dual action drive member moving in a proximal direction causes said distal end of said first movable end effector and said distal end of said second movable end effector to rotate about said pivot away from one another, and

wherein said tubular extension comprises a slot in its distal end so as to permit the distal end of said first end effector and the distal end of said second end effector to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said extension.

9. A medical instrument comprising:

a tubular extension having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end;

at least one movable end effector pivotally attached by a pivot to said distal end of said tubular extension; and

a drive member located within the tubular extension and capable of moving between a first proximal position and a second distal position within said tabular extension,

said drive member having at least one arm pivotally attached by a pin and pull to said movable end effector, said arm having a distal end surface for transferring force to said movable end effector,

wherein when said drive member is moved in said distal direction, force is transferred to said movable end effector causing said movable end effector to rotate about said pivot toward said longitudinal axis.