Endoscopic surgical instrument for rotational manipulation

• US 6,663,641 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2000
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Origin Medsystems Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wei, Michael F., Kovac, Tim J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Application Number:
  US09/704,396
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 606/205-208, 606/144, 606/148, 606/170, 606/180, 606/174, 600/104, 813/48, 813/85
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0491 Sewing machines for surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/062 Needle manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

An endoscopic surgical instrument suitable for use with a needle-grasper having a rotational translation device for creating rotational motion at the distal end of the surgical instrument in a non 1:1 ratio to rotational energy imparted at the handle of the surgical instrument. The shaft of the surgical instrument has an articulated segment capable of remote adjustment to articulate the effector unit at the end of the surgical instrument. The effector unit may be a needle-gripper having an upwardly pointed V-shaped notch in a channeled upper jaw, a convex gripping surface on the lower jaw, such that grasping a curved suture needle between the upper and lower jaw serves to automatically orient the needle perpendicular to the needle-gripper with the curvature pointed down. Conically tapered edges on the upper jaw further facilitate this orientation. A reciprocal motion transmission occurs between the handle and the effector unit so that gripping the levers on the handle serves to operate a function in the effector unit. The device is suitable for manual operation by a surgeon performing endoscopic surgical manipulations directly and without the intervention of motors or the like.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a rotatable handle;

a rotatable effector unit; and

a rotational motion translator coupled to said rotatable handle and said rotatable effector unit, said rotational motion translator to translate rotational motion from said rotatable handle to said rotatable effector unit in a non 1;

1 ratio, when said rotatable handle is rotated.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said rotational motion translator is a Planetary Gear Mechanism comprising:

an outer ring gear coupled to said handle;

a sun gear coupled to said effector unit; and

at least one planetary gear disposed between said ring gear and said sun gear.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

an elongated shaft disposed between said rotatable effector unit and said rotational motion translator; and

a torque transmission tube interior of said shaft and coupled to said rotatable effector unit and said rotational motion translator.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 further comprising a tension bar interior of said shaft and coupled to said handle and said rotatable effector unit to effect a non-rotatable force upon said rotatable effector unit.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 3 further comprising:

an articulation section of said shaft;

an adjustment cable coupled to said shaft distal and articulation section; and

an adjustment knob coupled to said shaft proximal said articulation section, said adjustment knob coupled to said adjustment cable and to effect articulation of said articulation section.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 wherein said articulation section includes a slotted tube comprising a plurality of ribs with cutouts therebetween to allow flexure of said articulation section.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein said rotatable effector unit is a needle gripper.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 further comprising:

a first jaw having a concave portion; and

a second jaw having a convex portion, said concave portion and said convex portion to cooperate in securing a curved needle.

9. A surgical method comprising:

providing a surgical instrument having a rotatable effector unit and a rotatable handle with a rotational motion translator coupled to said rotatable effector unit;

advancing said surgical instrument to a surgical site to be effected by said rotatable effector unit; and

rotating said rotatable handle; and

translating said rotating from said handle to said rotatable effector unit in a non 1;

1 ratio via said rotational motion translator.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising articulating an articulation section of a shaft disposed between said rotatable effector unit said rotational motion translator after said advancing.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising laterally moving a tension bar coupled to said handle and said rotatable effector unit to effect a non-rotatable force upon said rotatable effector unit after said advancing.