Jaw assembly for an endoscopic instrument
First Claim
1. An end effector assembly for an endoscopic instrument, the endoscopic instrument having a closure means for closing first and second end effectors of the end effector assembly by extending over at least a portion of the first and second end effectors, and an actuation means for causing relative movement of the closure means and the first and second end effectors, said end effector assembly comprising:
- a) the first and second end effectors each having arms biased away from each other; and
b) coupling means for coupling said arms of said first and said second end effectors to the endoscopic instrument, said coupling means comprising a hollow screw,said hollow screw having a head with a pair of arm receiving grooves, and said screw having a threaded portion with threads for engaging a distal portion of the endoscopic instrument.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An end effector assembly for an endoscopic instrument includes first and second end effectors, a screw, and optionally a washer. The end effectors have arms which are biased away from each other. The screw has a threaded portion dimensioned to engage the distal end of the endoscopic instrument and a head portion with a pair of arm receiving grooves. In a presently preferred embodiment, the washer extends over the arms of the end effectors which pass through grooves in the head of the screw. In this manner, the arms of the end effectors are captured between the screw and the washer. The grooves are preferably provided with upstanding pins which engage mounting holes in the arms of the end effectors. Where the endoscopic instrument is a biopsy forceps type instrument having a long coil, the threaded portion of the screw mates naturally with the distal end of the coil, and the end effectors, which are normally biased away from each other, are closed by a cylinder which is moved over the arms of the end effectors. Where the endoscopic instrument is a laparoscopic type instrument, an inner rod of the instrument is provided with threads to receive the screw, and the end effectors are closed either by the outer tube of the instrument which is slid over the arms of the end effectors, or by pulling the inner rod into the outer tube.
131 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An end effector assembly for an endoscopic instrument, the endoscopic instrument having a closure means for closing first and second end effectors of the end effector assembly by extending over at least a portion of the first and second end effectors, and an actuation means for causing relative movement of the closure means and the first and second end effectors, said end effector assembly comprising:
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a) the first and second end effectors each having arms biased away from each other; and b) coupling means for coupling said arms of said first and said second end effectors to the endoscopic instrument, said coupling means comprising a hollow screw, said hollow screw having a head with a pair of arm receiving grooves, and said screw having a threaded portion with threads for engaging a distal portion of the endoscopic instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An endoscopic instrument comprising:
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a) an elongate member having proximal and distal portions; b) a cylindrical member; c) first and second end effectors each having arms biased away from each other; and d) coupling means for coupling said arms of said first and said second end effectors to said distal portion of said elongate member, said coupling means comprising a hollow screw, said screw having a head with a pair of arm receiving grooves, and said screw having a threaded portion which engages said distal portion of said elongate member, and e) actuation means coupled to either said cylindrical member or to said first and second end effectors for causing said cylindrical member and said first and second end effectors to move relative to each other so as to cause said cylindrical member, in a first position, to extend over at least a portion of the first and second end effectors so as to force said arms of said first and second end effectors toward each other and assume a relatively closed position, and, in a second position, to permit said first and second end effectors to extend away from each other and assume a relatively open position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification