Hydraulically and electrically actuated articulation joints for surgical instruments

• US 8,858,571 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Swayze, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine M
• Assistant Examiner(s): OU, JING RUI
• Application Number:
  US12/731,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20100179382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 606139-151, 606/167, 606/170, 600/101, 600139-150
• US Class Current: 606/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3205 Excision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0645 being elastically deformed for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2901 Details of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 Pistol grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

Articulation joints for use in connection with a surgical instrument that has a portion that must be passed through a trocar or similar structure and then articulated relative to another portion of the instrument received within the trocar. Various embodiments of the articulation joint include at least one flexible driven member to articulate the surgical implement relative to the handle assembly of the instrument.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing assembly;

a proximal tube segment attached to said housing assembly and protruding distally out of said housing assembly;

a distal tube segment;

an articulating joint assembly pivotally coupling said distal tube segment to said proximal tube segment, said articulating joint assembly comprising;

a first joint member non-movably coupled to one end of one of said proximal and distal tube segments and rotatably received in a corresponding socket in another end of the other of said proximal tube segment and distal tube segment; and

at least one flexible cable attached to a motor, said flexible cable having a series of worm gear teeth thereon arranged to drivingly engage a corresponding passageway formed in the first joint member or socket for retaining a portion of said first joint member in said socket and, upon selective rotation, articulate said distal tube segment relative to said proximal tube segment; and

a surgical implement attached to said distal tube segment.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said surgical implement comprises an endocutter end effector.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said first joint member has at least one hollow passage therethrough adapted to communicate with openings in said distal and proximal tube segments.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said motor is electrically powered.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said motor is powered by hydraulic fluid.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said motor is powered by air.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first joint member comprises a ball member.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first joint member comprises a disc-like member.