Articulation assembly for surgical instruments

• US 5,704,534 A
• Filed: 09/30/1996
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Nalagatla, Anil K., Schulze, Dale R., Huitema, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, III, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STELACONE, JAY
• Application Number:
  US08/724,727
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/177.1, 227/178.1, 227/179.1, 227/180.1, 227/19
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2913 cams or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2932 Transmission of forces to jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking

Abstract

An articulating surgical instrument which has an articulation transmission assembly for remotely articulating an end effector of the instrument is disclosed. Ratcheting rotation of a compressible deck within a detent housing of the assembly from a first locked position to a second locked position causes axial movement of an elongated transmission member for the articulation of the end effector from a first position to a second position angled from the first position. Also disclosed is a flexible neck assembly for articulating the end effector of the surgical instrument. Neck ribs, each having an interior plate and an exterior dish, extend from a central longitudinal rib separating a pair of flexible neck portions of the assembly. A pair of transmission band assemblies, each having an interior articulation band and an attached exterior reinforcement band, reciprocate in opposite directions within side slots of the neck ribs in response to actuation of the articulation transmission assembly. Reciprocation causes the flexible neck assembly to bend, effecting articulation. The shape of the neck ribs optimizes the radius of curvature when articulation is effected, and the reinforcement bands prevent buckling of the articulation bands.

Claims

1. An articulating surgical instrument comprising:

a) a frame including a hand grip for gripping and manipulating said instrument at a first end of said instrument;

b) a shaft extending from said frame, said shaft having a longitudinal axis;

c) an end effector at an opposite end of said instrument for manipulating tissue to carry out a desired surgical function, said end effector being movable to provide articulation of said end effector from a first position generally parallel to said shaft longitudinal axis to a second position angled from said shaft longitudinal axis; and

d) a flexible neck assembly coupled to a proximal end of said end effector for articulating said end effector from said first position to said second position, said flexible neck assembly including;

i) first and second flexible neck portions separated by a central longitudinal rib therebetween, each of said flexible neck portions having a plurality of neck ribs extending from said longitudinal rib and a plurality of kerfs separating each of said neck ribs from an adjacent neck rib, and each of said neck ribs having a side slot therethrough; and

ii) first and second transmission band assemblies received within each said side slot of said neck ribs of said first and second flexible neck portions for reciprocating movement therein, each of said transmission band assemblies having an interior articulation band and an exterior reinforcement band attached thereto;

wherein when said first and second transmission band assemblies are reciprocated in opposite directions within each said side slot of said neck ribs of said first and second flexible neck portions of said flexible neck assembly, said end effector is articulated from said first position to said second position.

2. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising an articulation transmission assembly spaced from said flexible neck assembly and coupled to said first and second transmission band assemblies for effecting reciprocating movement of said transmission band assemblies.

3. The instrument of claim 2 wherein each of said neck ribs is configured as a semi-circular disk.

4. The instrument of claim 3 wherein each said disk includes an interior plate extending generally perpendicularly from said central longitudinal rib and parallel to an adjacent interior plate, and a concave exterior dish extending from said interior plate.

5. The instrument of claim 4 wherein said flexible neck assembly has first and second spaced-apart supporting guide surfaces extending proximally from said first and second flexible neck portions, and said first and second flexible band assemblies slide on said first and second support guide surfaces for supporting thereon.

6. The instrument of claim 5 wherein said central longitudinal rib has a central slot therethrough.

7. The instrument of claim 6 wherein said shaft is an elongated shaft, and said instrument is adapted for endoscopic surgery.

8. The instrument of claim 7 wherein said end effector is a surgical fastening assembly.

9. An articulating surgical instrument comprising:

a) a frame including a hand grip for gripping and manipulating said instrument at a first end of said instrument;

b) a shaft extending from said frame, said shaft having a longitudinal axis;

c) an end effector at an opposite end of said instrument for manipulating tissue to carry out a desired surgical function, said end effector being movable to provide articulation of said end effector from a first position generally parallel to said shaft longitudinal axis to a second position angled from said shaft longitudinal axis;

d) a flexible neck assembly coupled to a proximal end of said end effector for articulating said end effector from said first position to said second position, said flexible neck assembly including;

i) first and second flexible neck portions separated by a central longitudinal rib therebetween, each of said flexible neck portions having a plurality of neck ribs configured as semi-circular disks extending from said central longitudinal rib and a plurality of kerfs separating each of said neck ribs from an adjacent neck rib, each of said neck ribs having a side slot therethrough, and each of said semi-circular disks of said neck ribs having an interior plate extending generally perpendicularly from said central longitudinal rib and parallel to an adjacent interior plate, and a concave exterior dish extending from said interior plate; and

ii) first and second transmission bands received within each said side slots of said neck ribs of said first and second flexible neck portions for reciprocating movement therein;

wherein when said first and second transmission bands are reciprocated in opposite directions within each said side slot of said neck ribs of said first and second flexible neck portions of said flexible neck assembly, said end effector is articulated from said first position to said second position.

10. The instrument of claim 9 further comprising an articulation transmission assembly spaced from said flexible neck assembly and coupled to said first and second transmission bands for effecting reciprocating movement of said transmission bands.

11. The instrument of claim 10 wherein said central longitudinal rib has a central slot therethrough.

12. The instrument of claim 11 wherein said shaft is an elongated shaft, and said instrument is adapted for endoscopic surgery.

13. The instrument of claim 12 wherein said end effector is a surgical fastening assembly.