Articulation transmission mechanism for surgical instruments
First Claim
1. An articulating surgical instrument (30) having an end effector (37), said instrument comprising an articulation transmission assembly (41) for remotely articulating said end effector of said instrument, said assembly including:
- a) a body (50) mounted on said instrument, said body having a housing (62) extending therefrom;
b) an oscillating member (49) seated rotationally stationary within said housing for oscillating movement therein, said oscillating member having a first set of unloading teeth (51) thereon and a first set of locking teeth (52) thereon;
c) a rotating member (48) fitted into said oscillating member for rotational movement therein, said rotating member having a drive gear (55) thereon extending into said body of said articulation transmission assembly for translating rotational movement of said rotating member into axial movement of at least one elongated transmission band (45,46) attached to said drive gear, said rotating member having a second set of locking teeth (54) thereon; and
d) an actuator (47) rotatably mounted on said housing of said body and secured to said rotating member for applying a rotational force on said rotating member, said actuator having a second set of unloading teeth (70) thereon.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An articulating surgical instrument with an articulation transmission assembly for remotely articulating the end effector of the instrument includes a body with a housing mounted on the instrument, oscillating and rotating members, and an actuator rotatably mounted on the housing and secured to the rotating member. The oscillating member is seated rotationally stationary within the housing. The rotating member fits into the oscillating member, and has a drive shaft extending into the body for translating rotation from the rotating member into reciprocation of an elongated transmission rod attached to the drive shaft. First and second sets of unloading teeth are displayed on the oscillating member and actuator, respectively. First and second locking teeth are displayed on the oscillating and rotating members, respectively. The assembly provides ratcheting rotation for precisely positioning the end effector in discrete positions. In the preferred embodiment, the frictional forces between the unloading teeth are less than those between the locking teeth. The instrument may be used for endoscopic as well as conventional open surgical procedures.
1984 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An articulating surgical instrument (30) having an end effector (37), said instrument comprising an articulation transmission assembly (41) for remotely articulating said end effector of said instrument, said assembly including:
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a) a body (50) mounted on said instrument, said body having a housing (62) extending therefrom; b) an oscillating member (49) seated rotationally stationary within said housing for oscillating movement therein, said oscillating member having a first set of unloading teeth (51) thereon and a first set of locking teeth (52) thereon; c) a rotating member (48) fitted into said oscillating member for rotational movement therein, said rotating member having a drive gear (55) thereon extending into said body of said articulation transmission assembly for translating rotational movement of said rotating member into axial movement of at least one elongated transmission band (45,46) attached to said drive gear, said rotating member having a second set of locking teeth (54) thereon; and d) an actuator (47) rotatably mounted on said housing of said body and secured to said rotating member for applying a rotational force on said rotating member, said actuator having a second set of unloading teeth (70) thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification