Articulation and firing force mechanisms

• US 7,954,685 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US12/261,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20090114699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/176.1, 227/175.1, 227/180.1, 227/178.1, 606/139, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00407 Ratchet means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2917 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

There is provided a surgical instrument incorporating driving force mechanisms capable of transmitting a driving force through an articulated section of the surgical instrument. In one embodiment, a series of racks connect with a transfer gear to pass forces around the articulated section. In an alternative embodiment a series of cable sections and wheels or pulleys are provided to transmit a driving force through the articulated section of the surgical instrument.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle having an elongate-tubular member extending distally from the handle, the elongate tubular member having a proximal portion, a distal portion and an articulation portion positioned between the distal and proximal portions, the articulation portion allowing the distal portion to move relative to the proximal portion; and

a drive force mechanism including a drive element positioned in the proximal portion, a transfer bar positioned in the distal portion and a transfer device positioned in the articulation portion, the transfer device receiving a driving force from the drive element and reorienting the driving force around the articulation portion and to the transfer bar, the transfer device being rotatably mounted in the articulation portion.

2. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the transfer device is a gear rotatably mounted at a point of articulation.

3. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 2, wherein the drive element includes a rack engagable with the gear so as to rotate the gear in response to longitudinal motion of the rack.

4. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 2, wherein the transfer bar includes a rack engagable with the gear such that rotation of the gear moves the transfer bar longitudinally within the distal portion.

5. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the transfer device includes at least one wheel rotatably mounted in the articulation portion.

6. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 5, wherein the drive element is a flexible cable, the flexible cable passing around the at least one wheel.

7. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 6, wherein the drive mechanism includes a rotating member rotatably mounted in the distal portion, a first end of the rotating member being connected to the transfer bar.

8. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 7, wherein the rotating member is selected from the group consisting of a lever, link and pawl.

9. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 7, wherein a second end of the rotating member is connected to the cable.

10. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 9, wherein the cable has an upper section and a lower section, the upper section being connected to the first end of the rotating member and the lower section being connected to the second end of the rotating member.

11. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument includes an actuator positioned in the distal portion to operate an end effector associated with the surgical instrument and the transfer bar is engagable with the actuator.

12. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 11, wherein the transfer bar includes a drive tooth engagable with the actuator.

13. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 12, wherein the drive tooth is releasably engagable with the actuator.

14. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 13, wherein the actuator includes a plurality of abutments and the drive tooth includes a drive face engagable within the abutments.

15. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 14, wherein the abutments are selected form the group consisting of windows, notches, pins and teeth.

16. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 14, wherein the drive tooth includes a proximal sloped face, the proximal sloped face engagable with the abutments to disengage the drive tooth from the abutments.

17. The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the drive force is a firing force that facilitates the firing of the surgical instrument.