Surgical stapling apparatus having articulation mechanism

• US 8,132,706 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Marczyk, Stanislaw, Pribanic, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US12/478,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 227/176.1, 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/179.1, 173/205
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2915 arcuate shaped guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2916 pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument

Abstract

An articulation mechanism for use with a surgical apparatus having an articulating tool assembly is described. The articulation mechanism includes a rotatable shaft which is fixedly secured to a disk defining a spiral groove or slot. A linearly movable translation member is provided and includes a pin which is received within the spiral groove such that rotation of the disk effects linear translation of the translation member. The configuration of the spiral groove can be selected to provide any desired ratio of angular rotation of the disk to linear advancement of the translation member. As such, the configuration of the spiral slot can be selected to provide a uniform rate of articulation of the tool assembly of the surgical apparatus or a variable rate of articulation.

Claims

1. An articulation mechanism comprising:

a housing;

a rotatable shaft having an inner end and an outer end, the shaft extending through the housing;

an articulation member mounted on the outer end of the shaft;

a rotatable plate, positioned within the housing, and affixed to the inner end of the shaft, the rotatable plate defining a spiral slot;

a translation member mounted for longitudinal movement within the housing; and

a pin assembly affixed to the translation member and extending into the spiral slot such that rotation of the rotatable plate effects longitudinal movement of the translation member within the housing;

wherein the plate is a disk having a plurality of teeth; and

wherein the housing includes a spring loaded slide, engageable with the teeth on the disk, to provide audible and/or tactile indications of rotation of the disk.

2. The articulation mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth are formed on an outer periphery of the disk.

3. An articulation mechanism comprising:

a housing;

a rotatable shaft having an inner end and an outer end, the shaft extending through the housing;

an articulation member mounted on the outer end of the shaft;

a rotatable plate, positioned within the housing, and affixed to the inner end of the shaft, the rotatable plate defining a spiral slot;

a translation member mounted for longitudinal movement within the housing; and

a pin assembly affixed to the translation member and extending into the spiral slot such that rotation of the rotatable plate effects longitudinal movement of the translation member within the housing;

wherein the plate is a disk having a plurality of teeth; and

wherein the disk includes a recess and the housing includes a spring loaded member engageable within the recess to releasably retain the articulation member in a neutral position.

4. An articulation mechanism for use with a surgical instrument comprising:

a rotatable member defining a receptacle and a mechanism cover overlying the receptacle;

a rotatable shaft having an inner end and an outer end, the shaft extending through the mechanism cover;

an articulation lever mounted on the outer end of the shaft;

a rotatable disk, positioned within the receptacle, and affixed to the inner end of the shaft, the rotatable disk defining a spiral slot;

a translation member mounted for longitudinal movement within the rotatable member; and

a pin assembly affixed to the translation member and extending into the spiral slot such that rotation of the articulation lever effects longitudinal movement of the translation member within the rotatable member;

wherein the spiral slot defines an Archimedes spiral such that uniform rotation of the rotatable disk effects uniform longitudinal translation of the translation member through the rotatable member.

5. The articulation mechanism as recited in claim 4, wherein the spiral slot is configured to provide reduced longitudinal movement of the translation member per degree of angular rotation of the rotatable shaft near a neutral position of the articulation member than further from the neutral position of the articulation member.

6. The articulation mechanism as recited in claim 4, further comprising indexing elements formed on the rotatable disk and provided within the receptacle.

7. The articulation mechanism as recited in claim 6, wherein the indexing elements include a plurality of teeth on an outer periphery of the rotatable disk.

8. The articulation mechanism as recited in claim 7, wherein the indexing elements further include a spring loaded slide supported on the rotatable member.