Surgical instrument with multi-phase trigger bias
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) an end effector, wherein the end effector is operable to grasp tissue;
(b) an elongate shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the end effector is positioned at the distal end of the shaft;
(c) a handle assembly associated with the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the handle assembly comprises;
(i) a body portion,(ii) a trigger movable relative to the body portion, wherein the trigger is operable to control the end effector to selectively grasp tissue, wherein the trigger is movable from a home position to an actuated position, wherein the trigger includes a cam feature,(iii) a trigger return lever positioned to engage the cam feature of the trigger,(iv) a first biasing member coupled with the trigger and the body portion, wherein the first biasing member is configured to bias the trigger toward the home position during at least part of a range of motion of the trigger from the home position to the actuated position, and(v) a second biasing member coupled with the trigger return lever and the body portion, wherein the second biasing member is configured to bias the trigger return lever toward the trigger.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus comprises an end effector, an elongate shaft, and a handle assembly. The end effector is operable to grasp tissue. The elongate shaft extends between the end effector and the handle assembly. The handle assembly comprises a body portion, a trigger, and a trigger return lever. The trigger is movable relative to the body portion from a home position to an actuated position, and is thereby operable to control the end effector to selectively grasp tissue. The trigger includes a cam feature. The trigger return lever is positioned to engage the cam feature of the trigger. The trigger return lever is configured to bias the trigger toward the home position during at least part of a range of motion of the trigger from the home position to the actuated position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) an end effector, wherein the end effector is operable to grasp tissue; (b) an elongate shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the end effector is positioned at the distal end of the shaft; (c) a handle assembly associated with the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the handle assembly comprises; (i) a body portion, (ii) a trigger movable relative to the body portion, wherein the trigger is operable to control the end effector to selectively grasp tissue, wherein the trigger is movable from a home position to an actuated position, wherein the trigger includes a cam feature, (iii) a trigger return lever positioned to engage the cam feature of the trigger, (iv) a first biasing member coupled with the trigger and the body portion, wherein the first biasing member is configured to bias the trigger toward the home position during at least part of a range of motion of the trigger from the home position to the actuated position, and (v) a second biasing member coupled with the trigger return lever and the body portion, wherein the second biasing member is configured to bias the trigger return lever toward the trigger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) an end effector, wherein the end effector is operable to operate on tissue; (b) an elongate shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the end effector is positioned at the distal end of the shaft; (c) a handle assembly associated with the proximal end of the shaft, wherein the handle assembly comprises; (i) a body portion, (ii) a trigger movable relative to the body portion, wherein the trigger is operable to control the end effector, wherein the trigger is movable through a first range of motion from a home position to an intermediate position, wherein the trigger is further movable through a second range of motion from the intermediate position to an actuated position, and (iii) a trigger return lever positioned to engage a portion of the trigger, (iv) a first biasing member coupled with the trigger and the body portion, wherein the first biasing member is configured to bias the trigger toward the home position during the first range of motion, (v) a second biasing member coupled with the trigger return lever and the body portion, wherein the second biasing member is configured to bias the trigger return lever toward the trigger. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a body; (b) an end effector comprising; (i) a first jaw, and (ii) a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is movable toward the second jaw to clamp tissue between the first and second jaw, wherein at least one of the jaws comprises at least one electrode, wherein the at least one electrode is operable to deliver RF energy to tissue clamped between the first and second jaw; (c) a cutting member operable to cut tissue clamped between the first jaw and the second jaw; (d) a shaft extending between the body and the end effector; (e) a trigger operable to actuate the cutting member, wherein the trigger includes a cam arm; (f) a first biasing member coupled with the trigger and the body; (g) a trigger return lever engaged with the cam arm, wherein the first biasing member is configured to bias the trigger to a home position; and (h) a second biasing member coupled with the trigger return lever and the body, wherein the second biasing member is configured to bias the trigger return lever toward the trigger.
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Specification