Surgical instrument with articulation mechanism

• US 9,980,726 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cappola, Kenneth M., Marini, Frank, Horn, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desai, Hemant M
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALLOW, EYAMINDAE CHOSSAN
• Application Number:
  US15/376,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20170086828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft

Abstract

A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is disclosed. The instrument comprises a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an end effector, and an articulation mechanism. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle assembly. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion. The articulation mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector for articulating the end effector. The articulation mechanism comprises a lever, a knob, a plate and a lower clutch. The plate is disposed at least partially within a portion of the knob. The lower clutch is disposed in mechanical engagement with the plate. The plate is disposed at least partially between the lower clutch and the knob. The lower clutch is keyed to the plate to limit rotation therebetween. The lower clutch is keyed to the knob to limit rotation therebetween.

Claims

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

a lever rotatable about a lever axis;

a housing;

a plate disposed at least partially within a portion of the housing; and

a lower clutch keyed to the housing to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the housing,

wherein at least a portion of the plate is disposed between the lower clutch and the housing, wherein at least a portion of the lower clutch is disposed between the plate and the lever in a direction parallel to the lever axis, and wherein the lower clutch is keyed to the plate to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the plate.

2. The articulation mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the lower clutch includes a first key and a second key, the housing includes a first recess, and the plate includes a second recess.

3. The articulation mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first key mechanically engages the first recess to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the housing, and the second key mechanically engages the second recess to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the plate.

4. The articulation mechanism according to claim 1, further including a cover disposed in contact with the lever, a biasing element disposed in mechanical cooperation with the cover, and an upper clutch disposed in mechanical cooperation with the lower clutch and with the biasing element.

5. The articulation mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the lower clutch is keyed to the plate to prevent rotation between the lower clutch and the plate in response to movement of the lever to effect articulation of an end effector of the surgical instrument.

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

a cover;

a lever rotatable about a lever axis;

a knob;

a lower clutch keyed to the knob to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the knob;

a biasing element disposed in mechanical cooperation with the cover;

an upper clutch disposed in mechanical cooperation with the lower clutch and in mechanical cooperation with the biasing element; and

a plate movable with respect to the upper clutch, a portion of the plate disposed between the knob and the lower clutch,

wherein rotation of the knob with respect to an elongated portion of the surgical instrument causes an end effector of the surgical instrument disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated portion to rotate about a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated portion, and wherein at least a portion of the lower clutch is disposed between the plate and the lever in a direction parallel to the lever axis.

7. The articulation mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the lower clutch is keyed to the plate to limit rotation between the lower clutch and the plate.

8. The articulation mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the lower clutch is keyed to the plate via four keys.

9. The articulation mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the lower clutch includes a key, they key being used to key the lower clutch to the knob and also being used to key the lower clutch to the plate.

10. The articulation mechanism according to claim 6, further including a drive element, a shaft of the drive element defining a shaft axis and extending through an aperture of the plate.

11. The articulation mechanism according to claim 10, further including an articulation shaft disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive element, wherein rotation of the drive element about the shaft axis causes longitudinal translation of the articulation shaft.

12. The articulation mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the lower clutch is keyed to the plate to prevent rotation between the lower clutch and the plate during articulation of the end effector with respect to the elongated portion.