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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
First Claim
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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.

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