Super-elastic flexible jaw assembly
First Claim
1. End effectors for use in a surgical instrument, the end effectors comprising:
- a first end effector having a superelastic metal arm and a superelastic metal jaw cup at a distal end of the arm, wherein the first end effector is capable of flexing from a first position to a second position; and
a second end effector opposing the first end effector.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A jaw assembly for an endoscopic bioptome includes a pair of opposed end effectors having resilient arms formed from a super-elastic metal. The distal ends of the resilient arms terminate in end effector jaw cups which are also preferably formed from super-elastic metal, while the proximal portions of the resilient arms include angled portions which urge the jaw cups away from each other. The jaw cups are brought together into a biting action by a cylinder having a sharp distal edge which moves relative to and over he arms of the end effectors. As the resilient arms are formed from a super-elastic metal, they exhibit very high resiliency and durability even after numerous uses.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. End effectors for use in a surgical instrument, the end effectors comprising:
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a first end effector having a superelastic metal arm and a superelastic metal jaw cup at a distal end of the arm, wherein the first end effector is capable of flexing from a first position to a second position; and
a second end effector opposing the first end effector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. End effectors for use in a surgical instrument, the end effectors comprising:
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a first end effector having an arm and a jaw cup at a distal end of the arm, the arm and jaw cup being formed from a material capable of a stress induced molecular structure transformation which permits pseudo-plastic deformation from a first shape under an applied stress and subsequent reversion to the first shape without permanent deformation upon removal of the stress; and
a second end effector opposing the first end effector. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An end effector assembly for attachment to a distal portion of a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:
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first and second end effectors each having arms, the first end effector formed from a superelastic metal and biased away from the second end effector; and
a connector for coupling the arms of the first and the second end effectors to the surgical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 14)
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13. An endoscopic instrument, comprising:
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a distal end assembly including a cylindrical member and first and second end effectors, the first end effector having an arm formed from a superelastic metal, the arm biasing the first end effector away from the second end effector; and
an actuation device coupled by a catheter portion to either the cylindrical member or the first and second end effectors, the actuation device for causing the cylindrical member and the first and second end effectors to move relative to each other so as to cause the cylindrical member, in a first position, to extend over at least a portion of both of the first and second end effectors and force the first end effector toward the second end effector and, in a second position, to permit the first end effector to extend away from the second end effector.
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15. An endoscopic instrument, comprising:
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a distal end assembly including a cylindrical member and first and second end effectors, the first end effector having an arm formed from a superelastic metal, the first end effector being biased away from the second end effector; and
an actuation device coupled by a catheter portion to either the cylindrical member or the first and second end effectors, the actuation device for causing the cylindrical member and the first and second end effectors to move relative to each other so as to cause the cylindrical member, in a first position, to extend over at least a portion of the first and second end effectors and force the first end effector toward the second end effector and, in a second position, to permit the first end effector to extend away from the second end effector. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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21. A proximal handle assembly for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a distal end effector assembly and an elongate flexible coil connecting the distal end effector assembly to the proximal handle assembly, the proximal handle assembly comprising:
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a shaft; and
a spool slidably mounted on the shaft, the spool including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a locking tab for insertion into a tab receiving slot defined by the second portion and the second portion including a locking tab for insertion into a tab receiving slot defined by the first portion. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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23. A proximal handle assembly for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a distal end effector assembly and an elongate flexible coil connecting the distal end effector assembly to the proximal handle assembly, the proximal handle assembly comprising:
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a shaft; and
a spool slidably mounted on the shaft, the spool including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a locking tab for insertion into a tab receiving slot defined by the second portion. - View Dependent Claims (24, 28, 29)
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Specification