Combined unilateral/bilateral jaws on a surgical instrument
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a housing supporting first and second actuators thereon;
an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;
first and second jaw members pivotally coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis;
first and second drive members extending through the elongated shaft, the first drive member operatively coupled between the first actuator and the first jaw member such that manipulation of the first actuator induces pivotal movement of the first jaw member about the pivot axis, the second drive member operatively coupled between the second actuator and the second jaw member such that manipulation of the second actuator induces pivotal movement of the second jaw member about the pivot axis;
a compression spring having an end associated with the first drive member; and
a coupling member operatively associated with the first and second drive members, the coupling member selectively movable between a locked configuration in which the coupling member is pressed against the bias of the compression spring and wherein the first and second drive members are coupled to one another and move concurrently to pivot the jaw members in a bilateral manner, and an unlocked configuration wherein the first and second drive members are decoupled from one another and move independently to pivot their respective jaw member in a unilateral manner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a housing supporting first and second actuators thereon, and an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing. First and second drive members extend through the elongated shaft to operatively couple respective actuators to respective jaw members such that independent manipulation of one of the actuators may induce pivotal movement of an individual jaw member. A locking member is operatively associated with the first and second drive members, and is selectively movable between locked and unlocked positions. When the locking member is in the locked position, the first and second drive members are coupled to one another and move concurrently to drive the jaw members in a bilateral manner. When the locking member is in the unlocked position, the drive members are decoupled from one another and move independently to permit operation of the instrument in a unilateral manner.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a housing supporting first and second actuators thereon; an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis; first and second jaw members pivotally coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis; first and second drive members extending through the elongated shaft, the first drive member operatively coupled between the first actuator and the first jaw member such that manipulation of the first actuator induces pivotal movement of the first jaw member about the pivot axis, the second drive member operatively coupled between the second actuator and the second jaw member such that manipulation of the second actuator induces pivotal movement of the second jaw member about the pivot axis; a compression spring having an end associated with the first drive member; and a coupling member operatively associated with the first and second drive members, the coupling member selectively movable between a locked configuration in which the coupling member is pressed against the bias of the compression spring and wherein the first and second drive members are coupled to one another and move concurrently to pivot the jaw members in a bilateral manner, and an unlocked configuration wherein the first and second drive members are decoupled from one another and move independently to pivot their respective jaw member in a unilateral manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a housing supporting a first actuator and a second actuator thereon; an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing; first and second jaw members pivotally coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis; first and second drive members extending through the elongated shaft, the first drive member operatively coupled between the first actuator and the first jaw member such that manipulation of the first actuator induces pivotal movement of the first jaw member about the pivot axis, the second drive member operatively coupled between the second actuator and the second jaw member such that manipulation of the second actuator induces pivotal movement of the second jaw member about the pivot axis; a compression spring associated with an outer wall of the housing; and an immobilization member operatively associated with the second drive member, the immobilization member movable between a locked configuration in which the immobilization member is pressed against the bias of the compression spring and wherein longitudinal motion of the second drive member is impeded such that manipulation of the first actuator induces unilateral pivotal motion of the first jaw member, and an unlocked configuration wherein longitudinal motion of the second drive member is permitted such that manipulation of the first actuator induces bilateral pivotal jaw motion of both jaw members;
such that a coupling member operatively associated with the first and second drive members, is in a locked configuration. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification