Applicator instruments for dispensing surgical fasteners during open repair procedures
First Claim
1. An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners comprising:
- a housing defining a bottom of said applicator instrument;
a firing system disposed in said housing and being moveable in distal and proximal directions along a first axis;
a handle extending upwardly from said housing along a second axis that defines an acute angle with said first axis, said handle having an upper end that defines a top of said applicator instrument;
a trigger mounted on said handle for actuating said firing system;
an elongated shaft extending from said housing, said elongated shaft having a proximal section that extends along the first axis and a distal section that is oriented at an angle relative to the proximal section for extending upwardly toward the top of said application instrument;
a linkage coupling said trigger with said handle and said firing system, wherein said linkage comprises;
a first rotating link having upper gear teeth and lower gear teeth, said first rotating link being disposed inside an upper portion of said trigger;
a first pivot pivotally securing said first rotating link to the upper portion of said trigger;
a second rotating link having upper gear teeth and lower gear teeth, said second rotating link being disposed inside a lower portion of said trigger;
a second pivot pivotally securing said second rotating link to the lower portion of said trigger; and
the lower gear teeth of said first rotating link meshing with the upper gear teeth of said second rotating link so that when said trigger is squeezed said first and second rotating links rotate at the same rate; and
a first rack located near the upper end of said handle for meshing with the upper gear teeth of said first rotating link and a second rack located near an upper end of said housing of said applicator instrument for meshing with the lower gear teeth of said second rotating link.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing defining a bottom of the applicator instrument, a firing system disposed in the housing and being moveable in distal and proximal directions along a first axis, a handle extending upwardly from the housing along a second axis that defines an acute angle with the first axis, the handle having an upper end that defines a top of the applicator instrument, and a trigger mounted on the handle for actuating the firing system. The applicator instrument includes an elongated shaft extending from the housing, the elongated shaft having a proximal section that extends along the first axis and a distal section that is oriented at an angle relative to the proximal section for extending upwardly toward the top of the application instrument. A distal end cap has a proximally sloping distal face and a dispensing window for dispensing surgical fasteners.
148 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners comprising:
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a housing defining a bottom of said applicator instrument; a firing system disposed in said housing and being moveable in distal and proximal directions along a first axis; a handle extending upwardly from said housing along a second axis that defines an acute angle with said first axis, said handle having an upper end that defines a top of said applicator instrument; a trigger mounted on said handle for actuating said firing system; an elongated shaft extending from said housing, said elongated shaft having a proximal section that extends along the first axis and a distal section that is oriented at an angle relative to the proximal section for extending upwardly toward the top of said application instrument; a linkage coupling said trigger with said handle and said firing system, wherein said linkage comprises; a first rotating link having upper gear teeth and lower gear teeth, said first rotating link being disposed inside an upper portion of said trigger; a first pivot pivotally securing said first rotating link to the upper portion of said trigger; a second rotating link having upper gear teeth and lower gear teeth, said second rotating link being disposed inside a lower portion of said trigger; a second pivot pivotally securing said second rotating link to the lower portion of said trigger; and the lower gear teeth of said first rotating link meshing with the upper gear teeth of said second rotating link so that when said trigger is squeezed said first and second rotating links rotate at the same rate; and a first rack located near the upper end of said handle for meshing with the upper gear teeth of said first rotating link and a second rack located near an upper end of said housing of said applicator instrument for meshing with the lower gear teeth of said second rotating link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners comprising:
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a housing defining a bottom of said applicator instrument; a firing system disposed in said housing and being moveable in distal and proximal directions; a handle extending upwardly from said housing and being angled toward a distal end of said applicator instrument, said handle having an upper end that defines a top of said applicator instrument; a shaft extending distally from said housing near the bottom of said applicator instrument, said shaft having a proximal section that extends along a longitudinal axis of said applicator instrument and a distal section that is oriented at an angle relative to the proximal section for extending upwardly toward the top of said application instrument; a plurality of surgical fasteners loaded in series into said shaft; a cap secured to the distal end of said shaft, said cap having a lower distal edge and a distal face that slopes upwardly and proximally from said lower distal edge, said cap including a delivery window formed in said distal face, said delivery window having a lower end that is spaced from said lower distal edge; a trigger mounted on said handle for actuating said firing system for dispensing said surgical fasteners through said delivery window; a linkage coupling said trigger with said handle and said firing system, wherein said linkage comprises; a first rotating link having upper gear teeth and lower gear teeth, said first rotating link being disposed inside an upper portion of said trigger; a first pivot pivotally securing said first rotating link to the upper portion of said trigger; a second rotating link having upper gear teeth and lower gear teeth, said second rotating link being disposed inside a lower portion of said trigger; a second pivot pivotally securing said second rotating link to the lower portion of said trigger; and the lower gear teeth of said first rotating link meshing with the upper gear teeth of said second rotating link so that when said trigger is squeezed said first and second rotating links rotate at the same rate; a first elongated slot formed in an upper section of said trigger for receiving said first pivot during assembly; and a second elongated slot formed in a lower section of said handle for receiving said second pivot during assembly, wherein when said trigger is squeezed said first and second pivots rotate while moving in unison with said trigger toward a proximal end of said applicator instrument. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a housing defining a bottom of said surgical instrument; a handle extending upwardly from said housing, said handle having an upper end that defines a top of said surgical instrument; a trigger mounted on said handle and being accessible near the top of said surgical instrument; an elongated shaft extending from said housing along the bottom of said surgical instrument, said elongated shaft having a proximal end secured to said housing and a distal working end remote therefrom, wherein said trigger is coupled with the distal working end of said elongated shaft and is squeezable for actuating the distal working end for performing a surgical function; a linkage coupling said trigger with said handle, wherein said linkage comprises; a first rotating link having upper gear teeth and lower gear teeth, said first rotating link being disposed inside an upper portion of said trigger; a first pivot pivotally securing said first rotating link to the upper portion of said trigger; a second rotating link having upper gear teeth and lower gear teeth, said second rotating link being disposed inside a lower portion of said trigger; a second pivot pivotally securing said second rotating link to the lower portion of said trigger; and the lower gear teeth of said first rotating link meshing with the upper gear teeth of said second rotating link so that when said trigger is squeezed said first and second rotating links rotate at the same rate; a trigger rack connected with a lower end of said trigger for moving simultaneously with said trigger in distal and proximal directions; and a drive gear having a first set of gear teeth that mesh with said trigger rack and a second set of gear teeth that mesh with teeth on a sliding yoke that slides in distal and proximal directions. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification