User interface support devices for endoscopic surgical instruments
First Claim
1. An interface system for aiding clinicians in controlling and manipulating at least one endoscopic surgical instrument and a cable-controlled guide tube system, said interface system comprising:
- a tool docking assembly supportable relative to the cable-controlled guide system, said tool docking assembly comprising;
a first tool docking station for retainingly supporting one of the at least one endoscopic surgical instruments for selective pivotal travel about a first axis upon application of a first pivotal motion thereto and about a second axis upon application of a second pivotal motion thereto;
a first cable attachment assembly configured to couple a first cable from the cable controlled guide tube system to said first tool docking station;
at least one friction brake assembly interacting with said first tool docking station for retaining said first tool docking station in a desired position upon discontinuing application of at least one of said first and second pivotal motions to said first tool docking station;
a second tool docking station for retainingly supporting another one of the at least one endoscopic surgical instruments for selective pivotal travel about a third axis upon application of a third pivotal motion thereto and about a fourth axis upon application of a fourth pivotal motion thereto;
a third cable attachment assembly configured to couple another cable from the cable-controlled guide tube system to said second tool docking station; and
at least one other friction brake assembly interacting with said second tool docking station for retaining said second tool docking station in another desired position upon discontinuing application of at least one of said third and fourth pivotal motions to said second tool docking station.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interface system for interfacing between at least one endoscopic surgical instrument and a cable-controlled guide tube system. Various embodiments may include a tool docking assembly that is supportable relative to the cable-controlled guide system. The tool docking assembly may comprise one or more tool docking stations for retainingly supporting at least one endoscopic surgical instrument for selective pivotal travel about transverse axes. The system may further include cable attachment arrangements for coupling steering cables from the guide tube assembly to the various tool docking stations.
1370 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An interface system for aiding clinicians in controlling and manipulating at least one endoscopic surgical instrument and a cable-controlled guide tube system, said interface system comprising:
a tool docking assembly supportable relative to the cable-controlled guide system, said tool docking assembly comprising; a first tool docking station for retainingly supporting one of the at least one endoscopic surgical instruments for selective pivotal travel about a first axis upon application of a first pivotal motion thereto and about a second axis upon application of a second pivotal motion thereto; a first cable attachment assembly configured to couple a first cable from the cable controlled guide tube system to said first tool docking station; at least one friction brake assembly interacting with said first tool docking station for retaining said first tool docking station in a desired position upon discontinuing application of at least one of said first and second pivotal motions to said first tool docking station; a second tool docking station for retainingly supporting another one of the at least one endoscopic surgical instruments for selective pivotal travel about a third axis upon application of a third pivotal motion thereto and about a fourth axis upon application of a fourth pivotal motion thereto; a third cable attachment assembly configured to couple another cable from the cable-controlled guide tube system to said second tool docking station; and at least one other friction brake assembly interacting with said second tool docking station for retaining said second tool docking station in another desired position upon discontinuing application of at least one of said third and fourth pivotal motions to said second tool docking station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An interface system for aiding clinicians in controlling and manipulating at least one endoscopic surgical instrument and a cable-controlled guide tube system, said interface system comprising:
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a central bar having a first end portion and a second end portion spaced from said first end portion; a first tool docking station movably coupled to said first end portion of said central bar for selective pivotal travel relative to said central bar about a first axis upon application of a first pivotal motion thereto and a second axis upon application of a second pivotal motion thereto, said first tool docking station configured to operably support one of the at least one endoscopic surgical instruments therein; a first friction brake assembly interacting with said first tool docking station for retaining said first tool docking station in a desired position about said first axis upon discontinuing application of said first pivotal motion to said first tool docking station; a second friction brake assembly interacting with said first tool docking station for retaining said first tool docking station in a desired position about said second axis upon discontinuing application of said second pivotal motion to said first tool docking station; a first cable attachment assembly configured to couple a first cable from the cable-controlled guide tube system to said first tool docking station; a second cable attachment assembly configured to couple a second cable from the cable-controlled guide tube system to said first tool docking station; a second tool docking station movably coupled to said second end portion of said central bar for selective pivotal travel relative to said central bar about a third axis upon application of a third pivot motion thereto and about a fourth axis upon application of a fourth pivotal motion thereto, said second tool docking station configured to operably support another one of the at least one endoscopic surgical instruments therein; a third friction brake assembly interacting with said second tool docking station for retaining said second tool docking station in a desired position about said third axis upon discontinuing application of said third pivotal motion to said second tool docking station; a fourth friction brake assembly interacting with said second tool docking station for retaining said second tool docking station in a desired position about said fourth axis upon discontinuing application of said fourth pivotal motion to said second tool docking station; a third cable attachment assembly configured to couple a third cable from the cable-controlled guide tube system to said second tool docking station; and a fourth cable attachment assembly configured to couple a fourth cable from the cable-controlled guide tube system to said second tool docking station.
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13. A method for controlling a cable-controlled guide tube system, comprising:
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movably mounting a surgical instrument having a first elongated flexible portion to a first tool docking station positioned relative to the cable-controlled guide tube system; inserting the first elongated flexible portion through a first steerable working channel in the cable-controlled guide tube system; affixing a first cable attached to the first steerable working channel to said first tool docking station; affixing a second cable attached to the first steerable working channel to said first tool docking station; and moving the first tool docking station in a first direction to apply a first actuation motion to said first cable. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An interface system for aiding clinicians in controlling and manipulating at least one endoscopic surgical instrument and a cable-controlled guide tube system, said interface system comprising:
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a tool docking assembly supportable relative to the cable-controlled guide system, said tool docking assembly comprising; a first tool docking station for retainingly supporting one of the at least one endoscopic surgical instruments for selective pivotal travel about a first axis upon application of a first pivotal motion thereto and about a second axis upon application of a second pivotal motion thereto; a first cable attachment assembly configured to couple a first cable from the cable controlled guide tube system to said first tool docking station; at least one friction brake assembly interacting with said first tool docking station for retaining said first tool docking station in a desired position upon discontinuing application of at least one of said first and second pivotal motions to said first tool docking station; a second cable attachment assembly configured to couple a second cable from the cable-controlled guide tube system to said first tool docking station; a second tool docking station for retainingly supporting another one of the at least one endoscopic surgical instruments for selective pivotal travel about a third axis and a fourth axis; a third cable attachment assembly configured to couple a third cable from the cable-controlled guide tube system to said second tool docking station; and a fourth cable attachment assembly configured to couple a fourth cable from the cable-controlled guide tube system to said second tool docking station. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An interface system for aiding clinicians in controlling and manipulating at least one endoscopic surgical instrument and a cable-controlled guide tube system, said interface system comprising:
a tool docking assembly supportable relative to the cable-controlled guide system, said tool docking assembly comprising; a first tool docking station for retainingly supporting one of the at least one endoscopic surgical instruments for selective pivotal travel about a first axis upon application of a first pivotal motion thereto and about a second axis upon application of a second pivotal motion thereto; a first cable attachment assembly configured to couple a first cable from the cable controlled guide tube system to said first tool docking station; at least one friction brake assembly interacting with said first tool docking station for retaining said first tool docking station in a desired position upon discontinuing application of at least one of said first and second pivotal motions to said first tool docking station; a central cross bar assembly; a first tool mounting bracket selectively pivotable relative to said central cross-bar about the first axis; and a first tool docking plate pivotally attached to said first tool mounting bracket for selective pivotal travel about the second axis relative to said first tool mounting bracket. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
Specification