Surgical instrument
First Claim
1. A multi-function surgical instrument comprising:
- an end effector assembly including at least first and second movable members;
a first actuator coupled to the first movable member;
a second actuator coupled to the second movable member; and
a handle assembly including;
a drive mechanism, and a switching mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism and having at least two positions, a first position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the first actuator to operate the first movable member and, a second position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the second actuator to operate the second movable member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-function laparoscopic instrument with an end effector assembly including at least first and second movable members, a first actuator coupled to the first movable member, a second actuator coupled to the second movable member, and a handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a drive mechanism, at least one movable trigger pivotably connected with the drive mechanism, and a switching mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism and having at least two positions, a first position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the first actuator to operate the first movable member when the movable trigger is activated and, a second position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the second actuator to operate the second movable member when the movable trigger is activated.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A multi-function surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector assembly including at least first and second movable members;
a first actuator coupled to the first movable member;
a second actuator coupled to the second movable member; and
a handle assembly including;
a drive mechanism, and a switching mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism and having at least two positions, a first position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the first actuator to operate the first movable member and, a second position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the second actuator to operate the second movable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
a pivotable rocker assembly including a depending arm and forward and rearward shelves which alternately engage the drive mechanism; and
an actuator coupled to the depending arm of the rocker assembly.
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29. The surgical instrument of claim 28 in which the actuator is a button including a spring which is disposed to push on the arm of the rocker assembly when the button is depressed, the button further including a pawl biased to pull the arm of the rocker assembly when the button is released.
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30. The surgical instrument of claim 28 in which the pivotable rocker assembly further includes forward and rearward stops disposed to engage whichever actuator is not engaged by the drive mechanism.
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31. A multi-function laparoscopic instrument comprising:
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an end effector assembly including at least first and second movable jaws;
a first actuator coupled to the first movable jaw;
a second actuator coupled to the second movable jaw;
a drive mechanism engageable with the first and second actuators; and
switching means having a first position which orients the drive mechanism to engage the first actuator and a second position which orients the drive mechanism to engage the second actuator for alternatively operating the first and second movable jaws. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A switchable actuator assembly comprising:
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a first actuator;
a second actuator;
a forward coupler attached to the proximal end of the first actuator and having a passage which receives the second actuator therethrough;
a rearward coupler on the proximal end of the second actuator;
a pivotable drive mechanism disposed over the forward and rearward couplers; and
a switching mechanism engageable with the pivotable drive mechanism for pivoting the drive mechanism rearward to engage the rearward coupler and forward to engage the forward coupler, the switching mechanism including a rocker member pivotable in a first direction to urge the drive mechanism to pivot rearward and pivotable in a second direction to urge the drive mechanism to pivot forward, the switching mechanism further including an actuator compliantly coupled to the rocking member and operable independent of the position of the first and second actuators. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector assembly including;
a central fixed jaw with a grasping surface and a cutting surface, a first movable jaw including a grasping surface which engages the grasping surface of the central fixed jaw to grasp tissue therebetween as the first movable jaw is opened and closed, and a second movable jaw including a cutting surface which cooperates with the cutting surface of the central fixed jaw to cut tissue therebetween as the second movable jaw is opened and closed;
a first actuator having a proximal end and a distal end coupled to the first movable jaw and which reciprocates to open and close the first movable jaw;
a second actuator having a proximal end and a distal end coupled to the second movable jaw and which reciprocates to open and close the second movable jaw; and
a handle assembly including;
the proximal ends of both the first and second actuators, a drive mechanism having a first position which engages the proximal end of the first actuator and a second position which engages the proximal end of the second actuator, and a movable trigger coupled with the drive mechanism to open and close the first movable jaw when the drive mechanism is engaged with the proximal end of the first actuator and to open and close the second movable jaw when the drive mechanism is engaged with the proximal end of the second actuator. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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48. A switching system comprising:
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a pivotable drive mechanism translatable forward and rearward;
a movable handle pivotable about a first pin and pivotably connected to the drive mechanism by a second pin;
a rocker assembly pivotably disposed about the first pin and including a forward shelf which urges the drive mechanism to pivot in a first direction and a rearward shelf which urges the drive mechanism to pivot in a second direction, the rocker assembly further including an arm depending therefrom; and
an actuator having first and second positions and including a first compliant member which urges the arm of the rocker assembly rearward when the actuator is in the first position to pivot the rocker assembly to engage the rearward shelf thereof with the drive mechanism, the actuator further including a pawl which urges the arm of the rocker assembly forward when the actuator is in the second position to pivot the rocker assembly to engage the forward shelf thereof with the drive mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A multi-function laparoscopic instrument comprising:
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an end effector assembly including at least first and second movable members;
a first actuator coupled to the first movable member;
a second actuator coupled to the second movable member; and
a handle assembly including;
a drive mechanism including forward and rearward clamps, at least one movable trigger pivotably connected with the drive mechanism, a switch mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism and having at least two positions, a first position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the first actuator to operate the first movable member when the movable trigger is activated and, a second position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the second actuator to operate the second movable member when the movable trigger is activated, a first coupler on a proximal end of the first actuator and a second coupler on a proximal end of the second actuator, each coupler including a circumferential groove therein which is engageable by the drive mechanism independent of the orientation of the first and second couplers, the first coupler including a passageway which slidably receives the second actuator therethrough, the second coupler positioned rearward of the first coupler in the handle assembly, the first coupler including spaced bushings on opposite sides of the circumferential groove therein, the forward clamp of the drive mechanism including an opening which receives the circumferential groove of the first coupler therein when the drive mechanism is pivoted to engage the first coupler, the second coupler including spaced bushings on opposite sides of the circumferential groove therein, the rearward clamp of the drive mechanism including an opening which receives the circumferential groove of the second coupler therein when the drive mechanism is pivoted to engage the second coupler.
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54. A multi-function laparoscopic instrument comprising:
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an end effector assembly including at least first and second movable members;
a first actuator coupled to the first movable member;
a second actuator coupled to the second movable member; and
a handle assembly including;
a drive mechanism, at least one movable trigger interconnected with the drive mechanism, and a switching mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism and having at least two positions, a first position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the first actuator to operate the first movable member when the movable trigger is activated and, a second position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the second actuator to operate the second movable member when the movable trigger is activated, the switching mechanism including;
at least a first button coupled to the drive mechanism, a rocking member pivotable between a first position which urges the drive mechanism to engage the first actuator and a second position which urges the drive mechanism to engage the second actuator, the rocking member including a first locking member which engages the first actuator when the drive mechanism is engaged with the second actuator and a second locking member which engages the second actuator when the drive mechanism is engage with the first actuator.
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55. A multi-function laparoscopic instrument comprising:
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an end effector assembly including at least first and second movable members;
a first actuator coupled to the first movable member;
a second actuator coupled to the second movable member; and
a handle assembly including;
a drive mechanism, at least one movable trigger interconnected with the drive mechanism, and a switching mechanism coupled to the drive mechanism and having at least two positions, a first position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the first actuator to operate the first movable member when the movable trigger is activated and, a second position in which the drive mechanism is engaged with the second actuator to operate the second movable member when the movable trigger is activated, the switching mechanism including;
at least a first button including a pawl, a rocking member including an arm and pivotable between a first position which urges the drive mechanism to engage the first actuator and a second position which urges the drive mechanism to engage the second actuator, the rocking member further including a first locking member which engages the first actuator when the drive mechanism engages the second actuator and a second locking mechanism which engages the second actuator when the drive mechanism is engaged with the first actuator, a first spring disposed between the first button and the arm of the rocking member which urges the arm rearward when the first button is depressed, a second spring which biases the first button in the outward position to urge the pawl of the first button to move the arm of the rocking member forward when the first button is released, a catch which holds the first button in the depressed position, and a second button which, when depressed, releases the catch and the first button.
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Specification