SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH PIVOTING COUPLING TO MODULAR SHAFT AND END EFFECTOR
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- (a) a body, wherein the body is operable to couple with an energy source;
(b) an activation member operable to selectively activate the energy source;
(c) a shaft assembly configured to removably couple with the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises;
(i) an end effector, and(ii) a transmission member configured to removably couple with the energy source, wherein the transmission member is in communication with the end effector, wherein the transmission member is configured to transmit energy from the energy source to the end effector;
wherein one or both of the body or the shaft assembly includes a pivot feature, wherein the pivot feature is operable to secure the shaft assembly to the body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument comprises a body and a shaft assembly. The body includes an energy source such as an ultrasonic transducer. The shaft assembly comprises an end effector and a transmission member such as an acoustic waveguide. The end effector may include a harmonic blade and a pivoting clamp member. One or both of the body or the shaft assembly includes a pivot feature. The pivot feature is operable to secure the shaft assembly to the body. The pivot feature may include a bar defining a pivot axis about which the shaft assembly pivots to secure the shaft assembly to the body. The pivot axis may be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft assembly. The pivot feature may also include a pivoting cover configured to cover a recess in the body in which a proximal portion of the shaft assembly is received.
209 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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(a) a body, wherein the body is operable to couple with an energy source; (b) an activation member operable to selectively activate the energy source; (c) a shaft assembly configured to removably couple with the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises; (i) an end effector, and (ii) a transmission member configured to removably couple with the energy source, wherein the transmission member is in communication with the end effector, wherein the transmission member is configured to transmit energy from the energy source to the end effector; wherein one or both of the body or the shaft assembly includes a pivot feature, wherein the pivot feature is operable to secure the shaft assembly to the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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(a) a handle assembly, the handle assembly including; (i) an ultrasonic transducer, (ii) an activation member operable to selectively activate the transducer, and (iii) a torque knob operable to rotate the transducer; (b) a shaft assembly configured to removably couple with the body, wherein the shaft assembly comprises; (i) an end effector, the end effector including a harmonic blade, and (ii) a waveguide configured to removably couple with the transducer in response to rotation of the torque knob, wherein the waveguide is in communication with the harmonic blade, wherein the waveguide is configured to transmit energy from the transducer to the harmonic blade; wherein one or both of the handle assembly or the shaft assembly includes a pivot feature, wherein the pivot feature is operable to secure the shaft assembly to the handle assembly. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method of assembling a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a handle assembly and a shaft assembly, wherein the handle assembly comprises a transducer defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft assembly comprises a waveguide defining a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
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(a) engaging a pivot feature of the shaft assembly with a complementary pivot feature of the handle assembly, wherein the longitudinal axis of the transducer and the longitudinal axis of the waveguide are non-aligned upon initiation of the act of engaging; and (b) pivoting the shaft assembly relative to the handle assembly to align the longitudinal axis of the waveguide with the longitudinal axis of the transducer, wherein the act of pivoting is performed with the pivoting features engaged. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification