Surgical stapling instrument with an articulating end effector
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft;
an end effector;
a joint connecting said shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is movable relative to said shaft about said joint, wherein said joint includes a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein one of said first joint member and second joint member is mounted to said end effector and the other of said first joint member and said second joint member is mounted to said shaft, wherein said first joint member is movable relative to said second joint member about an axis of rotation, and wherein said first joint member comprises;
a first portion comprising a first perimeter;
a second portion comprising a second perimeter, wherein said second perimeter is different than said first perimeter;
a first tooth, wherein said first tooth is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion;
a second tooth;
a recess defined between said first tooth and second tooth, wherein said recess is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion;
a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said first tooth and said second tooth to limit relative movement between said end effector and said shaft.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument including a shaft assembly and an end effector, where the end effector can be moved relative to the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly can include a lock member selectively engageable with the end effector to limit, or prevent, relative movement therebetween. In at least one embodiment, the end effector can include a lock member having a plurality of teeth and/or a plurality of recesses, where the shaft assembly lock member can engage the teeth and/or recesses to fix the relative position between the end effector and shaft assembly. In various embodiments, the teeth can be positioned between first and second surfaces of the end effector lock member to reduce the possibility that the teeth can impinge on soft tissue surrounding the lock member. In other embodiments, the teeth can be beveled in order to allow the teeth to slide relative to the soft tissue.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a shaft; an end effector; a joint connecting said shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is movable relative to said shaft about said joint, wherein said joint includes a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein one of said first joint member and second joint member is mounted to said end effector and the other of said first joint member and said second joint member is mounted to said shaft, wherein said first joint member is movable relative to said second joint member about an axis of rotation, and wherein said first joint member comprises; a first portion comprising a first perimeter; a second portion comprising a second perimeter, wherein said second perimeter is different than said first perimeter; a first tooth, wherein said first tooth is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion; a second tooth; a recess defined between said first tooth and second tooth, wherein said recess is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion; a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said first tooth and said second tooth to limit relative movement between said end effector and said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9)
-
-
7. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a shaft; an end effector; a joint connecting said shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is movable relative to said shaft about said joint, wherein said joint includes a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein one of said first joint member and second joint member is mounted to said end effector and the other of said first joint member and said second joint member is mounted to said shaft, wherein said first joint member is movable relative to said second joint member about an axis of rotation, and wherein said first joint member comprises; a first portion comprising a first perimeter; a second portion comprising a second perimeter, wherein said second perimeter is different than said first perimeter; a first tooth, wherein said first tooth is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion; a second tooth; a recess defined between said first tooth and second tooth, wherein said recess is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion; a locking means for selectively engaging at least one of said first tooth and said second tooth to prevent relative movement between said end effector and said shaft.
-
-
8. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a shaft; an end effector; a joint connecting said shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is movable relative to said shaft about said joint, wherein said joint includes a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein one of said first joint member and second joint member is mounted to said end effector and the other of said first joint member and said second joint member is mounted to said shaft, wherein said first joint member is movable relative to said second joint member about an axis of rotation, and wherein said first joint member comprises; a first portion comprising a first perimeter; a second portion comprising a second perimeter, wherein said second perimeter is different than said first perimeter; a first tooth, wherein said first tooth is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion; a second tooth; a recess defined between said first tooth and second tooth, wherein said recess is positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion; a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to engage said recess to limit relative movement between said end effector and said shaft.
-
-
10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a shaft; an end effector; a joint connecting said shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is movable relative to said shaft about said joint, wherein said joint includes a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein one of said first joint member and second joint member is mounted to said end effector and the other of said first joint member and said second joint member is mounted to said shaft, wherein said first joint member is movable relative to said second joint member about an axis of rotation, and wherein said first joint member comprises; a first surface; a second surface; a first tooth; a second tooth; and a recess defined between said first tooth and said second tooth, wherein said recess is positioned intermediate said first surface and said second surface; and a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said first tooth and said second tooth to limit relative movement between said end effector and said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A surgical instrument, comprising;
-
a shaft; an end effector; a joint connecting said shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is movable relative to said shaft about said joint, wherein said joint includes a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein one of said first joint member and second joint member is mounted to said end effector and the other of said first joint member and said second joint member is mounted to said shaft, wherein said first joint member is movable relative to said second joint member about an axis of rotation, and wherein said first joint member comprises; a first surface; a second surface; a first recess; a second recess; and a tooth defined between said first recess and second recess, wherein said tooth is at least partially positioned intermediate said first surface and said second surface; and a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to engage said tooth to limit relative movement between said end effector and said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a shaft; an end effector; a joint connecting said shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is movable relative to said shaft about said joint, wherein said joint includes a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein one of said first joint member and second joint member is mounted to said end effector and the other of said first joint member and said second joint member is mounted to said shaft, wherein said first joint member is movable relative to said second joint member about an axis of rotation, and wherein said first joint member comprises; a first surface; a second surface; a first tooth; a second tooth; a recess defined between said first tooth and said second tooth, wherein said recess is positioned intermediate said first surface and said second surface; locking means for selectively engaging at least one of said first tooth and said second tooth to prevent relative movement between said end effector and said shaft.
-
-
20. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a shaft; an end effector; a joint connecting said shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is movable relative to said shaft about said joint, wherein said joint includes a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein one of said first joint member and second joint member is mounted to said end effector and the other of said first joint member and said second joint member is mounted to said shaft, wherein said first joint member is movable relative to said second joint member about an axis of rotation, and wherein said first joint member comprises; a first surface; a second surface; a first tooth; a second tooth; and a recess defined between said first tooth and said second tooth, wherein said recess is positioned intermediate said first surface and said second surface; and a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to engage said recess to limit relative movement between said end effector and said shaft.
-
-
21. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a shaft; an end effector; a joint connecting said shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is movable relative to said shaft about said joint, wherein said joint includes a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein one of said first joint member and second joint member is mounted to said end effector and the other of said first joint member and said second joint member is mounted to said shaft, wherein said first joint member is movable relative to said second joint member about an axis of rotation, and wherein said first joint member comprises; a first surface; a second surface; a first recess; a second recess; and a tooth defined between said first recess and second recess, wherein said tooth is at least partially positioned intermediate said first surface and said second surface; and locking means for selectively engaging at least one of said first recess and said second recess to prevent relative movement between said end effector and said shaft.
-
-
22. A surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a shaft; an end effector; a joint connecting said shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is movable relative to said shaft about said joint, wherein said joint includes a first joint member and a second joint member, wherein one of said first joint member and second joint member is mounted to said end effector and the other of said first joint member and said second joint member is mounted to said shaft, wherein said first joint member is movable relative to said second joint member about an axis of rotation, and wherein said first joint member comprises; a first surface; a second surface; a first recess; a second recess; and a tooth defined between said first recess and second recess, wherein said tooth is at least partially positioned intermediate said first surface and said second surface; and a locking mechanism, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said first recess and said second recess to limit relative movement between said end effector and said shaft.
-
Specification