Surgical instrument comprising an articulatable end effector
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle;
a trigger;
an articulation actuator;
an end effector, comprising;
a first jaw member;
a second jaw member, wherein one of said first jaw member and said second jaw member is movable relative to the other of said first jaw member and said second jaw member; and
an electrode;
a power switch selectively actuatable to operably couple said electrode with a power source; and
a shaft extending between said handle and said end effector, wherein said shaft comprises;
an outer tube, comprising;
a first portion comprising a proximal end mounted to said handle and a distal end comprising a first angled surface;
a second portion comprising a distal end mounted to said end effector and a proximal end comprising a second angled surface, wherein said second portion is rotatable relative to said first portion; and
an inner cavity extending through said first portion and said second portion;
a drive member extending through said inner cavity, wherein said drive member is operably coupled to said trigger, wherein an actuation of said trigger is configured to move said drive member from a proximal position to a distal position; and
an articulation member extending through said inner cavity, wherein said articulation member is rotatable relative to said first portion of said outer tube, wherein said articulation member is operably mounted to said articulation actuator and said second portion of said outer tube such that the rotation of said articulation actuator is configured to rotate said second portion relative to said first portion, wherein said second angled surface is configured to contact said first angled surface when said second portion is rotated relative to said first portion on a rotation axis in order to articulate said second portion on an articulation axis relative to said first portion, and wherein said articulation axis is different than said rotation axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument can comprise a handle and an end effector, wherein the end effector can comprise first and second jaws which can be opened and closed in order to capture tissue therebetween. The surgical instrument can further comprise a shaft extending between the handle and the effector and means for articulating the end effector relative to the shaft. The articulating means can comprise a portion of the shaft which is rotatable about a first axis in order to articulate the end effector about a second axis. In at least one embodiment, the shaft can comprise a first portion including a cam and a second portion including a cam follower, wherein the rotation of the second portion and the interaction of the cam and cam follower can cause the second portion to pivot relative to the first portion.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle; a trigger; an articulation actuator; an end effector, comprising; a first jaw member; a second jaw member, wherein one of said first jaw member and said second jaw member is movable relative to the other of said first jaw member and said second jaw member; and an electrode; a power switch selectively actuatable to operably couple said electrode with a power source; and a shaft extending between said handle and said end effector, wherein said shaft comprises; an outer tube, comprising; a first portion comprising a proximal end mounted to said handle and a distal end comprising a first angled surface; a second portion comprising a distal end mounted to said end effector and a proximal end comprising a second angled surface, wherein said second portion is rotatable relative to said first portion; and an inner cavity extending through said first portion and said second portion; a drive member extending through said inner cavity, wherein said drive member is operably coupled to said trigger, wherein an actuation of said trigger is configured to move said drive member from a proximal position to a distal position; and an articulation member extending through said inner cavity, wherein said articulation member is rotatable relative to said first portion of said outer tube, wherein said articulation member is operably mounted to said articulation actuator and said second portion of said outer tube such that the rotation of said articulation actuator is configured to rotate said second portion relative to said first portion, wherein said second angled surface is configured to contact said first angled surface when said second portion is rotated relative to said first portion on a rotation axis in order to articulate said second portion on an articulation axis relative to said first portion, and wherein said articulation axis is different than said rotation axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle; a trigger; an articulation actuator; an end effector, comprising; a first jaw member; a second jaw member, wherein one of said first jaw member and said second jaw member is movable relative to the other of said first jaw member and said second jaw member; and an electrode; a power actuator selectively actuatable to operably couple said electrode with a power source; and a shaft extending between said handle and said end effector, wherein said shaft comprises; an outer tube, comprising; a first portion comprising a proximal end mounted to said handle and a distal end comprising a first cam surface; a second portion comprising a distal end mounted to said end effector and a proximal end comprising a second cam surface; an intermediate portion positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion, wherein said intermediate portion is rotatable relative to said first portion and said second portion, and wherein said intermediate portion comprises; a first cam follower surface positioned opposite said first cam surface; and a second cam follower surface positioned opposite said second cam surface; and an inner cavity extending through said first portion, said intermediate portion, and said second portion; a spine extending through said inner cavity, wherein said spine is mounted to at least one of said end effector and said second portion of said outer tube and at least one of said handle and said first portion of said outer tube; a drive member extending through said inner cavity, wherein said drive member is operably coupled to said trigger, wherein an actuation of said trigger is configured to move said drive member from a proximal position to a distal position; and an articulation member extending through said inner cavity, wherein said articulation member is rotatable relative to said first portion of said outer tube, wherein said articulation member is operably mounted to said articulation actuator and said intermediate portion of said outer tube such that the rotation of said articulation actuator is configured to rotate said intermediate portion relative to said first portion, wherein said first cam follower surface is configured to contact said first cam surface when said intermediate portion is rotated relative to said first portion on a rotation axis in order to articulate said intermediate portion relative to said first portion on an articulation axis, and wherein said articulation axis is different than said rotation axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle; an articulation actuator; an end effector; and a shaft extending between said handle and said end effector, wherein said shaft comprises; an outer tube, comprising; a first portion comprising a proximal end mounted to said handle and a distal end comprising a first cam surface; a second portion comprising a distal end mounted to said end effector and a proximal end comprising a second cam surface; an intermediate portion positioned intermediate said first portion and said second portion, wherein said intermediate portion is rotatable relative to said first portion and said second portion, and wherein said intermediate portion comprises; a first cam follower surface positioned opposite said first cam surface; and a second cam follower surface positioned opposite said second cam surface; and an inner cavity extending through said first portion, said intermediate portion, and said second portion; a spine extending through said inner cavity, wherein said spine is mounted to at least one of said end effector and said second portion of said outer tube and at least one of said handle and said first portion of said outer tube; and an articulation member extending through said inner cavity, wherein said articulation member is rotatable relative to said first portion of said outer tube, wherein said articulation member is operably mounted to said articulation actuator and said intermediate portion of said outer tube such that the rotation of said articulation actuator is configured to rotate said intermediate portion relative to said first portion, wherein said first cam follower surface is configured to contact said first cam surface when said intermediate portion is rotated relative to said first portion on a rotation axis in order to articulate said intermediate portion relative to said first portion on an articulation axis, and wherein said articulation axis is different than said rotation axis.
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Specification