Surgical instrument with modular motor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a handpiece, wherein the handpiece presents a hollow interior and an opening;
(b) an elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft extends distally from the handpiece, and wherein the elongate shaft comprises a distal end;
(c) an end effector, wherein the end effector is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, and wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw;
(d) a motor assembly, wherein the motor assembly comprises;
i. a motor, andii. a drive gear, wherein the drive gear presents a first plurality of teeth, and wherein the motor is operable to drive rotation of the drive gear; and
(e) a first member, wherein the first member comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first member is rotatable about a first axis located between the first end and the second end, wherein the first axis extends transversely relative to the first member, wherein the first end of the first member is associated with the drive gear, wherein the drive gear is rotatable about an axis that is transverse to the first axis to cause rotation of the first member about the first axis;
(f) a firing beam, wherein the second end of the first member is associated with the firing beam; and
(g) a rack, wherein the rack is proximally movable to cause pivoting of the first member in a first direction, thereby causing distal translation of the firing beam relative to the elongate shaft, wherein the rack is distally movable to cause pivoting of the first member in a second direction, thereby causing proximal translation of the firing beam relative to the elongate shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for operating on tissue comprises a handpiece, an elongate shaft, an end effector, a firing beam, and a modular motor. The end effector has a pair of jaws configured to open and close upon tissue. The firing beam comprises a blade insert with a sharp edge operable to sever tissue captured within the end effector. The modular motor is insertable into the handpiece. The modular motor comprises a drive gear that engages a plurality of components disposed within the handpiece. Rotation of the drive gear drives longitudinal translation of the firing beam within the elongate shaft. Longitudinal translation of the firing beam opens and closes the jaws of the end effector relative to tissue. Longitudinal translation of the firing beam also severs tissue captured between closed jaws of the end effector.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a handpiece, wherein the handpiece presents a hollow interior and an opening; (b) an elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft extends distally from the handpiece, and wherein the elongate shaft comprises a distal end; (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, and wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw; (d) a motor assembly, wherein the motor assembly comprises; i. a motor, and ii. a drive gear, wherein the drive gear presents a first plurality of teeth, and wherein the motor is operable to drive rotation of the drive gear; and (e) a first member, wherein the first member comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first member is rotatable about a first axis located between the first end and the second end, wherein the first axis extends transversely relative to the first member, wherein the first end of the first member is associated with the drive gear, wherein the drive gear is rotatable about an axis that is transverse to the first axis to cause rotation of the first member about the first axis; (f) a firing beam, wherein the second end of the first member is associated with the firing beam; and (g) a rack, wherein the rack is proximally movable to cause pivoting of the first member in a first direction, thereby causing distal translation of the firing beam relative to the elongate shaft, wherein the rack is distally movable to cause pivoting of the first member in a second direction, thereby causing proximal translation of the firing beam relative to the elongate shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a handpiece, wherein the handpiece presents a hollow interior; (b) an elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft extends distally from the handpiece, and wherein the elongate shaft comprises a distal end; (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, and wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw; (d) a rack, wherein the rack is movable within the channel presented by the handpiece; (e) a first rotatable member, wherein the first rotatable member is rotatably coupled to the rack, wherein the first rotatable member is further rotatably coupled to a first pin, and wherein the rack is movable to cause rotation of the first rotatable member about the first pin; (f) a reusable motor assembly, wherein the reusable motor assembly is configured to be inserted into the hollow interior of the handpiece, and wherein the reusable motor assembly comprises; i. a body, ii. a motor, wherein the motor is disposed within the body, iii. a drive gear, wherein the drive gear is configured to engage the rack, wherein the motor is operable to drive rotation of the drive gear, wherein the drive gear is rotatable to cause movement of the first rotatable member, and iv. an integral power supply; and (g) a firing beam, wherein the drive gear is rotatable to cause longitudinal translation of the firing beam relative to the elongate shaft, wherein the firing beam is translatable relative to the elongate shaft to cause movement of the first jaw toward and away from the second jaw. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a handpiece, wherein the handpiece presents a hollow interior; (b) an elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft extends distally from the handpiece, and wherein the elongate shaft comprises a distal end; (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector is disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is selectively pivotable toward and away from the second jaw, and wherein the end effector comprises at least one electrode operable to apply RF energy to the tissue; (d) a motor assembly, wherein the motor assembly comprises; i. a motor, and ii. a drive gear, wherein the motor is operable to drive rotation of the drive gear, wherein the drive gear is rotatable to drive the first jaw toward and away from the second jaw; (e) a rack, wherein the drive gear is configured to engage the rack, wherein the rack is movable within the handpiece, wherein the drive gear is rotatable to cause movement of the rack within the handpiece when the drive gear is engaged with the rack; (f) a first member pivotable in response to movement of the rack; (g) a firing beam, wherein the rack is proximally movable to cause pivoting of the first member in a first direction, thereby causing distal translation of the firing beam relative to the elongate shaft, wherein the rack is distally movable to cause pivoting of the first member in a second direction, thereby causing proximal translation of the firing beam relative to the elongate shaft.
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Specification