Surgical instrument with articulation mechanism

• US 8,979,827 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cappola, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crandall, Lyn
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENG, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US13/419,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20130245676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/180.1
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly, an elongated portion extending distally from the handle assembly, an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion, and an articulation mechanism disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector. The articulation mechanism comprises a lever, a first set of teeth, a second set of teeth, a first plunger for engaging the first set of teeth, and a second plunger for engaging the second set of teeth. A predetermined amount of rotation of the lever in a first direction moves at least a portion of the first plunger away from the first set of teeth. A predetermined amount of rotation of the lever in a second, opposite direction moves at least a portion of the second plunger away from the second set of teeth.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongated portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a first longitudinal axis;

an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion, the end effector defining a second longitudinal axis; and

an articulation mechanism disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector for moving the end effector between a first position where the first longitudinal axis is aligned with the second longitudinal axis and a second position where the first longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle with respect to the second longitudinal axis, the articulation mechanism comprising;

a lever;

a first set of teeth;

a second set of teeth;

a first plunger for engaging the first set of teeth; and

a second plunger for engaging the second set of teeth;

wherein a predetermined amount of rotation of the lever in a first direction moves at least a portion of the first plunger away from the first set of teeth, a predetermined amount of rotation of the lever in a second direction moves at least a portion of the second plunger away from the second set of teeth, and wherein the first direction is opposite from the second direction.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein each of the first plunger and the second plunger are spring biased towards their respective set of teeth.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first set of teeth is disposed on a different plane from the second set of teeth.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a cam member, the cam member including a first camming surface for engaging a portion of the first plunger, and the cam member including a second camming surface for engaging a portion of the second plunger.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a drive member, the drive member including a drive shaft for mechanically engaging the lever, a portion of the drive shaft extends through an aperture in the cam member.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein rotation of the lever causes rotation of the cam member.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a drive member, the drive member including a drive shaft for mechanically engaging the lever.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the lever is rotatable with respect to the drive member.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein after a predetermined amount of rotation of the lever, the rotation of the lever causes rotation of the drive member.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the drive member includes a first passageway for accepting at least a portion of the first plunger therein, and wherein the drive member includes a second passageway for accepting at least a portion of the second plunger therein.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first set of teeth are ratchet-like teeth, and wherein the second set of teeth are ratchet-like teeth.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second set of teeth are disposed on a ring-like cover, the cover including an alignment feature for ensuring proper alignment with the first set of teeth.

13. An articulation mechanism for use with a surgical instrument, the articulation mechanism comprising:

a lever;

a first set of teeth;

a second set of teeth;

a first plunger for engaging the first set of teeth;

a second plunger for engaging the second set of teeth; and

a drive member including a drive shaft for mechanically engaging the lever, the drive shaft defining a shaft axis;

wherein a predetermined amount of rotation of the lever in a first direction moves at least a portion of the first plunger away from the first set of teeth, a predetermined amount of rotation of the lever in a second direction moves at least a portion of the second plunger away from the second set of teeth, and wherein the first direction is opposite from the second direction.

14. The articulation mechanism of claim 13, wherein the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth are disposed at different locations along the shaft axis.

15. The articulation mechanism of claim 13, wherein the first plunger and the second plunger are movable in directions that are substantially parallel to each other.

16. The articulation mechanism of claim 13, wherein the first plunger and the second plunger are movable in directions that are substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis.

17. The articulation mechanism of claim 13, wherein each of the first plunger and the second plunger are spring biased towards their respective set of teeth.

18. The articulation mechanism of claim 13, wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a cam member, the cam member including a first camming surface for engaging a portion of the first plunger, and the cam member including a second camming surface for engaging a portion of the second plunger.

19. The articulation mechanism of claim 13, wherein the first set of teeth are ratchet-like teeth, and wherein the second set of teeth are ratchet-like teeth.

20. The articulation mechanism of claim 13, wherein the second set of teeth are disposed on a ring-like cover, the cover including an alignment feature for ensuring proper alignment with the first set of teeth.