Endoscopic surgical instrument with pivotable and rotatable staple cartridge
First Claim
1. An endoscopic surgical stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising:
- a handle including a staple actuator mechanism;
a tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from said handle;
a staple cartridge mounted on said support shaft and connected to said staple actuator mechanism for applying one or more staples to the tissue;
said staple cartridge being mounted for rotation relative to said support shaft to permit the rotational orientation of said staple cartridge to be adjusted;
pivot means for articulating said staple cartridge relative to said support shaft;
means for retaining said staple cartridge in different rotational orientations as said staple cartridge is rotated;
means for retaining said staple cartridge in different articulated orientations as said staple cartridge is articulated;
first control means proximate said handle for rotating said staple cartridge relative to said support shaft;
second control means proximate said handle for articulating said staple cartridge relative to said support shaft;
a first external sleeve rotatably positioned on said tubular support shaft; and
a second external sleeve engaging said staple cartridge, said first external sleeve means having a distal end terminating proximate said pivot means, said second external sleeve means having a proximal end terminating proximate said pivot means, said distal and proximal sleeve ends engaging one another for transferring rotational movement from said first external sleeve to said second external sleeve and to said staple cartridge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument is provided which is insertable through an endoscopic tube to enable a surgeon to perform a surgical technique inside a body cavity. The surgical instrument includes a shaft with a pivotally mounted tip attached thereto, the shaft extending from a handle for gripping the instrument for insertion to the body cavity. The tip of the shaft is adjustable to different angular orientations relative to the support shaft and is rotatable at any angular orientation of the tip. The support shaft may be rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the handle, or it may be fixed with respect to the handle, in which case the handle may be rotated to rotate the shaft inside the body cavity. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument comprises an endoscopic stapling device and the tip of the instrument comprises a staple cartridge which is rotatable 360° about its axes after the cartridge has been articulated with respect to the support shaft. An improved device for articulating the shaft tip is also provided in which a control knob is mounted to the support shaft for providing sweeping articulation of the shaft tip. Separate actuator mechanisms are provided on the handle to control the pivotal movement of the shaft tip, as well as the rotation of the shaft tip and the rotation of the support shaft.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An endoscopic surgical stapling instrument for applying one or more surgical staples to tissue, comprising:
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a handle including a staple actuator mechanism; a tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from said handle; a staple cartridge mounted on said support shaft and connected to said staple actuator mechanism for applying one or more staples to the tissue; said staple cartridge being mounted for rotation relative to said support shaft to permit the rotational orientation of said staple cartridge to be adjusted; pivot means for articulating said staple cartridge relative to said support shaft; means for retaining said staple cartridge in different rotational orientations as said staple cartridge is rotated; means for retaining said staple cartridge in different articulated orientations as said staple cartridge is articulated; first control means proximate said handle for rotating said staple cartridge relative to said support shaft; second control means proximate said handle for articulating said staple cartridge relative to said support shaft; a first external sleeve rotatably positioned on said tubular support shaft; and a second external sleeve engaging said staple cartridge, said first external sleeve means having a distal end terminating proximate said pivot means, said second external sleeve means having a proximal end terminating proximate said pivot means, said distal and proximal sleeve ends engaging one another for transferring rotational movement from said first external sleeve to said second external sleeve and to said staple cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification