Surgical stapler having an articulation mechanism
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- a tool assembly;
a drive shaft operatively coupled with the tool assembly;
a nutating gear drive configured to reduce a speed and increase a torque of the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is transitionable between a first position in which the drive shaft operatively engages the nutating gear drive and a second position in which the drive shaft disengages the nutating gear drive.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An articulation mechanism for use with a surgical instrument includes a shaft, a first member disposed in mechanical cooperation with the articulation shaft, a second member disposed in mechanical cooperation with the shaft, and a flexible shaft having proximal and distal portions. The flexible member is operatively coupled to the first and second members. Upon rotation of the articulation shaft, at least one of the first and the second members moves longitudinally with respect to the other of the first and second members between a first position where the first and second members are approximated to each other and a second position where the first and second members are spaced apart from each other. This longitudinal motion causes the distal portion of the flexible member to articulate relative to the proximal portion.
235 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a tool assembly; a drive shaft operatively coupled with the tool assembly; a nutating gear drive configured to reduce a speed and increase a torque of the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is transitionable between a first position in which the drive shaft operatively engages the nutating gear drive and a second position in which the drive shaft disengages the nutating gear drive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification