Surgical instrument with modular shaft and end effector
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- (a) a body assembly comprising;
(i) a casing having a distal aperture formed in a distal end of the casing,(ii) at least one resilient element housed within the casing proximally of the distal opening, and(iii) a trigger; and
(b) an end effector assembly comprising;
(i) a proximal end configured to releasably couple to the body assembly,(ii) a distal end having an end effector, wherein the end effector is configured to clamp tissue in response to actuation of the trigger, and(iii) at least one shaft extending distally from the proximal end and including a proximal shaft portion configured to be inserted through the distal aperture, wherein the at least one shaft is operatively coupled with the end effector;
wherein the proximal shaft portion is configured to engage and deflect the at least one resilient element when the proximal shaft portion is inserted through the distal opening, and the at least one resilient element is configured to engage the proximal shaft portion to releasably couple the end effector assembly to the body assembly;
wherein the releasable coupling is configured to inhibit longitudinal translation between at least a portion of the end effector assembly and the body assembly while permitting rotation of the at least one shaft relative to the body assembly.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument operable to sever tissue includes a body assembly and a selectively coupleable end effector assembly. The end effector assembly may include a transmission assembly, an end effector, and a rotational knob operable to rotate the transmission assembly and the end effector. The body assembly includes a trigger and a casing having a distal aperture configured to receive a portion of the end effector assembly. First and second coupling mechanism portions cooperatively couple the end effector assembly to the body assembly for use. The coupling may mechanically and/or electrically couple the end effector assembly to the body assembly via various coupling mechanisms. For instance, a threaded slip nut may couple to threads within the body assembly. In one configuration, the end effector assembly may have locking tabs that rotate into rotational recesses in the body assembly. The locking tabs may include electrical contacts and/or optically perceivable indicators.
383 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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(a) a body assembly comprising; (i) a casing having a distal aperture formed in a distal end of the casing, (ii) at least one resilient element housed within the casing proximally of the distal opening, and (iii) a trigger; and (b) an end effector assembly comprising; (i) a proximal end configured to releasably couple to the body assembly, (ii) a distal end having an end effector, wherein the end effector is configured to clamp tissue in response to actuation of the trigger, and (iii) at least one shaft extending distally from the proximal end and including a proximal shaft portion configured to be inserted through the distal aperture, wherein the at least one shaft is operatively coupled with the end effector; wherein the proximal shaft portion is configured to engage and deflect the at least one resilient element when the proximal shaft portion is inserted through the distal opening, and the at least one resilient element is configured to engage the proximal shaft portion to releasably couple the end effector assembly to the body assembly; wherein the releasable coupling is configured to inhibit longitudinal translation between at least a portion of the end effector assembly and the body assembly while permitting rotation of the at least one shaft relative to the body assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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(a) a body assembly, wherein the body assembly comprises; (i) a body, (ii) a resilient element housed within the body, and (iii) an actuator housed within the body; and (b) an end effector assembly configured to releasably couple with the body assembly, wherein the end effector assembly comprises; (i) an end effector operable to clamp tissue, and (ii) a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector, wherein the shaft assembly comprises; (A) a first shaft, wherein the first shaft is configured to remain longitudinally fixed relative to the body, and (B) a second shaft translatably disposed relative to the first shaft, wherein a proximal end of the second shaft is configured to couple with the actuator such that the second shaft is operable to actuate a portion of the end effector in response to movement of the actuator, and (iii) a proximal coupling feature disposed at a proximal end of the end effector assembly, wherein the resilient element is configured to resiliently engage the proximal coupling feature and thereby fix the first shaft longitudinally relative to the body while permitting rotation of the first shaft relative to the body and permitting translation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft and the body. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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(a) a body assembly, wherein the body assembly comprises; (i) a body, (ii) a trigger movably coupled to the body, (iii) a resilient element housed within the body, and (iv) an actuator housed within the body, wherein the actuator is operatively coupled with the trigger; and (b) an end effector assembly configured to releasably couple with the body assembly, wherein the end effector assembly comprises; (i) an end effector, wherein the end effector includes a pair of jaws operable to clamp tissue therebetween, (ii) an elongate member extending proximally relative to the end effector, wherein a distal end of the elongate member is operatively coupled with the end effector, wherein a proximal end of the elongate member is configured to couple with the actuator such that the elongate member is operable to actuate the jaws relative one another in response to actuation of the trigger, and (iii) a proximal coupling feature disposed at a proximal end of the end effector assembly, wherein the resilient element is configured to resiliently engage the proximal coupling feature and thereby fix the end effector longitudinally relative to the body while permitting translation and rotation of the elongate member relative to the body. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification