Medical device having linear to rotation control
First Claim
1. A medical instrument comprising:
- a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end;
a shaft at least partially received in the sleeve and including a proximal end and a distal end, an end effector connected to the shaft distal end, and a shaft portion having a discontinuous outer surface profile;
a handle assembly attached to the proximal end of the sleeve and the proximal end of the shaft, the handle assembly capable of controlling at least a linear movement of the shaft; and
a torque transmitter element fixedly located within the sleeve and having an opening extending therethrough for receiving the shaft portion, a surface surrounding the opening having a discontinuous profile for mating with the discontinuous profile of the shaft portion so that a linear movement of the shaft causes a rotational motion of the end effector.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical instrument converts linear movement of a shaft at a proximal end of the instrument to a rotational movement of an end effector of the instrument. According to one embodiment, the medical instrument includes an end effector formed of a snare loop connected to a shaft that is located within a sleeve. Once the sleeve is located near a desired location within a patient, the snare loop may be rotationally positioned with linear movement of the shaft by the operator. The shaft is formed with a threaded portion that matches threads formed in a torque transmitter element fixed within the sleeve. Linear movement of the shaft through the torque transmitter element causes the shaft to rotate. The medical instrument may also include a pivot connector for reducing torque build-up of the shaft and/or a clutch assembly for restricting controlled rotation of the snare loop to only one direction.
1339 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A medical instrument comprising:
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a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end;
a shaft at least partially received in the sleeve and including a proximal end and a distal end, an end effector connected to the shaft distal end, and a shaft portion having a discontinuous outer surface profile;
a handle assembly attached to the proximal end of the sleeve and the proximal end of the shaft, the handle assembly capable of controlling at least a linear movement of the shaft; and
a torque transmitter element fixedly located within the sleeve and having an opening extending therethrough for receiving the shaft portion, a surface surrounding the opening having a discontinuous profile for mating with the discontinuous profile of the shaft portion so that a linear movement of the shaft causes a rotational motion of the end effector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A medical instrument comprising:
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a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end;
a shaft formed of at least a first shaft segment and a second shaft segment, the shaft at least partially received in the sleeve and including a proximal end and a distal end, an end effector connected to the shaft distal end, and a shaft portion having a discontinuous outer surface profile;
a handle assembly attached to the proximal end of the sleeve and the proximal end of the shaft, the handle assembly capable of controlling at least a linear movement of the shaft;
a torque transmitter element fixedly located within the sleeve and having an opening extending therethrough for receiving the shaft portion, a surface surrounding the opening having a discontinuous profile for mating with the discontinuous profile of the shaft portion so that a linear movement of the shaft causes a rotational motion of the end effector; and
a pivot connector located within the sleeve and proximal to the torque transmitter element, the pivot connector including a housing for receiving a distal end of the first shaft segment and a proximal end of the second shaft segment, the housing substantially restricting relative linear movement between the first and second shaft segments while allowing unrestricted relative rotational movement between the first and second shaft segments. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A medical instrument comprising:
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a sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end;
a shaft formed of at least a first shaft segment and a second shaft segment, the shaft at least partially received in the sleeve and including a proximal end and a distal end, an end effector connected to the shaft distal end, and a shaft portion having a discontinuous outer surface profile;
a handle assembly attached to the proximal end of the sleeve and the proximal end of the shaft, the handle assembly capable of controlling at least a linear movement of the shaft;
a torque transmitter element fixedly located within the sleeve and having an opening extending therethrough for receiving the shaft portion, a surface surrounding the opening having a discontinuous profile for mating with the discontinuous profile of the shaft portion so that a linear movement of the shaft causes a rotational motion of the end effector; and
a clutch assembly located within the sleeve and distal of the torque transmitter element, the clutch assembly including a clutch housing for receiving a distal end of the first shaft segment and a proximal end of the second shaft segment, the housing restricting controlled rotational movement of the end effector to only one rotational direction. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of positioning an end effector of a medical instrument at a desired location comprising the steps of:
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positioning a sleeve within a patient at the desired location, the sleeve including therein a shaft having the end effector connected to a distal end thereof; and
moving a portion of the shaft in a linear direction through a torque transmitter element to cause rotation of the end effector to a desired rotational position. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification