Articulated surgical instrument with improved articulation control mechanism
First Claim
1. An articulated surgical instrument for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures comprising:
- a handle;
an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end of said shaft being coupled to said handle;
a tip pivotally coupled to said distal end of said shaft for articulation about an articulation axis;
a proximal rod having a proximal end and a distal end and disposed in said shaft for reciprocating movement between a proximal position and a distal position;
a desensitizing link coupled to said distal end of said proximal rod at a first pivot point and disposed within said shaft for rotational movement about a second pivot point in response to the reciprocating movement of said proximal rod; and
a distal rod having a proximal end and a distal end and coupled at its proximal end to said desensitizing link at a third pivot point for reciprocating movement between a proximal position and a distal position in response to the rotational movement of said desensitizing link and operatively coupled at its distal end to said tip such that the reciprocating movement of said distal rod causes said tip to articulate about said articulation axis;
wherein said third pivot point is closer to said second pivot point than is said first pivot point such that said distal rod reciprocates over a lesser distance than does said proximai rod.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides an articulated surgical instrument for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures including, in general; a handle, an elongated shaft, and an articulating tip. The instrument further includes a proximal rod, a desensitizing link, and a distal rod. The proximal rod is disposed in the shaft for reciprocating movement between a proximal position and a distal position. The distal end of the proximal rod is coupled to the desensitizing link at a first pivot point. The desensitizing link is disposed within the shaft for rotational movement about a second pivot point in response to the reciprocating movement of the proximai rod. The proximal end of the distal rod is coupled to the desensitizing link at a third pivot point. The distal rod reciprocates between a proximal position and a distal position in response to the rotational movement of the desensitizing link, and its distal end is operatively coupled to the tip such that the reciprocating movement of the distal rod causes the tip to articulate about the articulation axis. The third pivot point, however, is closer to the second pivot point than is the first pivot point such that the distal rod reciprocates over a lesser distance than does the proximal rod.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An articulated surgical instrument for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures comprising:
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a handle; an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end of said shaft being coupled to said handle; a tip pivotally coupled to said distal end of said shaft for articulation about an articulation axis; a proximal rod having a proximal end and a distal end and disposed in said shaft for reciprocating movement between a proximal position and a distal position; a desensitizing link coupled to said distal end of said proximal rod at a first pivot point and disposed within said shaft for rotational movement about a second pivot point in response to the reciprocating movement of said proximal rod; and a distal rod having a proximal end and a distal end and coupled at its proximal end to said desensitizing link at a third pivot point for reciprocating movement between a proximal position and a distal position in response to the rotational movement of said desensitizing link and operatively coupled at its distal end to said tip such that the reciprocating movement of said distal rod causes said tip to articulate about said articulation axis;
wherein said third pivot point is closer to said second pivot point than is said first pivot point such that said distal rod reciprocates over a lesser distance than does said proximai rod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In an articulation surgical instrument for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures including a handle;
- an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the elongated shaft being coupled to the handle;
a tip pivotally coupled to the distal end of the shaft for articulation about an articulation axis;
a manually engageable actuator mounted on the handle; and
an articulation drive member operatively coupled to the actuator which reciprocates between a proximal position and a distal position in response to movements of the actuator;
the improvement comprising;a desensitizing link coupled to the articulation drive member at a first pivot point and disposed within said shaft for rotational movement about a second pivot point in response to the reciprocating movement of the articulation drive member; and a rod coupled at one end to said desensitizing link at a third pivot point for reciprocating movement between a proximal position and a distal position in response to the rotational movement of said desensitizing link and operatively coupled at the other end to the tip such that the reciprocating movement of said distal rod causes the tip to articulate about the articulation axis, wherein said third pivot point is closer to said second pivot point than is said first pivot point such that said rod reciprocates over a lesser distance than does the articulation drive member. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
- an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the elongated shaft being coupled to the handle;
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23. An articulated linear stapling instrument for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures comprising:
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a handle; an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end of said shaft being coupled to said handle; a tip pivotally coupled to said distal end of said shaft for articulation about an articulation axis and including two opposed jaws pivotally coupled for movement between an open position and a closed position; an actuator mounted for movement on said handle and operatively connected to said tip such that movement of said actuator causes articulation of said tip; and a lever mounted on said handle, said lever being moveable between a raised position and a lowered position such that movement of said lever causes said opposed jaws to move from their open position to their closed position; wherein said lever, in its raised position, is disengaged from said actuators and said lever, in its lowered position, engages and immobilizes said actuator such that articulation of said tip is precluded when said opposed jaws are in their closed position. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification