Articulating endoscope instrument
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle portion on a proximal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument;
an elongated middle portion having a length, and comprising a proximal end which is coupled to the handle portion and consisting of components which extend along substantially the entire length of the elongated middle portion that are formed of flexible materials;
an articulating portion coupled to a distal end of the elongated middle portion comprising a plurality of link members coupled together such that the articulating portion is bendable in a plane;
a tool portion on a distal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument, coupled to a distal end of the articulating portion; and
an articulation control member disposed on the handle portion that is moveable in the plane and coupled to the articulating portion to control movement of the articulating portion;
wherein the plane of movement of the articulation control member substantially corresponds to the plane of movement of the bending of the articulating portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic surgical instrument is provided that includes a handle portion, an elongated middle portion, an articulating portion and a tool portion. The tool portion is steerable by control mechanisms disposed on the handle portion which are accessible to a single hand of a user of the endoscopic surgical instrument. The endoscopic surgical instrument is advantageously employed in a variety of endoscopic surgical techniques, including transgastric or transluminal surgery.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle portion on a proximal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument; an elongated middle portion having a length, and comprising a proximal end which is coupled to the handle portion and consisting of components which extend along substantially the entire length of the elongated middle portion that are formed of flexible materials; an articulating portion coupled to a distal end of the elongated middle portion comprising a plurality of link members coupled together such that the articulating portion is bendable in a plane; a tool portion on a distal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument, coupled to a distal end of the articulating portion; and an articulation control member disposed on the handle portion that is moveable in the plane and coupled to the articulating portion to control movement of the articulating portion; wherein the plane of movement of the articulation control member substantially corresponds to the plane of movement of the bending of the articulating portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle portion on a proximal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument; an elongated middle portion having a length, and comprising a proximal end which is coupled to the handle portion, at least one lumen along its length, and consisting of components which extend along substantially the entire length of the elongated middle portion that are formed of flexible materials; an articulating portion coupled to a distal end of the elongated middle portion comprising a plurality of link members coupled together such that the articulating portion is bendable in a plane; a tool portion on a distal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument, coupled to a distal end of the articulating portion; and two control wires each disposed in the elongated middle portion, wherein the two control wires are coupled to an articulation control member disposed on the handle portion and are coupled to the distal end of the articulating portion and wherein the articulation control member is movable in a plane and such movement controls the bending of the articulating portion. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle portion on a proximal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument; an elongated middle portion having a length, and comprising a proximal end which is coupled to the handle portion, at least one lumen along its length, and consisting of components which extend along substantially the entire length of the elongated middle portion that are formed of flexible materials; an articulating portion coupled to a distal end of the elongated middle portion comprising a plurality of link members coupled together such that the articulating portion is bendable in a plane; a tool portion on a distal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument, coupled to a distal end of the articulating portion; two control wires each disposed in the elongated middle portion, wherein the two control wires are coupled to an articulation control member disposed on the handle portion and are coupled to the distal end of the articulating portion and wherein the articulation control member is movable in a plane and such movement controls the bending of the articulating portion; and wherein the plane of movement of the articulation control member substantially corresponds to the plane of movement of the bending of the articulating portion. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. An endoscopic surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle portion on a proximal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument; an elongated middle portion having a length, and comprising a proximal end which is coupled to the handle portion and consisting of components which extend along substantially the entire length of the elongated middle portion that are formed of flexible materials; an articulating portion coupled to a distal end of the elongated middle portion comprising a plurality of link members coupled together such that the articulating portion is bendable in a plane; and a tool portion on a distal end of the endoscopic surgical instrument, coupled to a distal end of the articulating portion; wherein the elongated middle portion includes at least one lumen along its length and wherein the tool portion is coupled to a tool insert disposed in the elongated middle portion, and the tool insert is coupled at its proximal end to a lever member disposed on the handle portion such that movement of the lever member exerts a force on the tool insert to actuate the tool portion; and wherein the tool insert is also coupled to a rotating control member which transmits rotation about the longitudinal axis of the elongated middle portion to the tool insert which in turn rotates the tool portion relative to the articulating portion. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification