Combined Unilateral/Bilateral Jaws on a Surgical Instrument

• US 20120172924A1
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Allen, James D. IV
• Granted Patent: US 8,936,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2938 Independently actuatable jaw members, e.g. two actuating rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a housing supporting first and second actuators thereon, and an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing. First and second drive members extend through the elongated shaft to operatively couple respective actuators to respective jaw members such that independent manipulation of one of the actuators may induce pivotal movement of an individual jaw member. A locking member is operatively associated with the first and second drive members, and is selectively movable between locked and unlocked positions. When the locking member is in the locked position, the first and second drive members are coupled to one another and move concurrently to drive the jaw members in a bilateral manner. When the locking member is in the unlocked position, the drive members are decoupled from one another and move independently to permit operation of the instrument in a unilateral manner.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing supporting first and second actuators thereon;

an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;

first and second jaw members pivotally coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis;

first and second drive members extending through the elongated shaft, the first drive member operatively coupled between the first actuator and the first jaw member such that manipulation of the first actuator induces pivotal movement of the first jaw member about the pivot axis, the second drive member operatively coupled between the second actuator and the second jaw member such that manipulation of the second actuator induces pivotal movement of the second jaw member about the pivot axis; and

a locking member operatively associated with the first and second drive members, the locking member selectively movable between a locked position wherein the first and second drive members are coupled to one another and move concurrently to drive the jaw members in a bilateral manner, and an unlocked position wherein the first and second drive members are decoupled from one another and move independently to permit operation of the instrument in a unilateral manner.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second drive members is coupled to a respective drive pin, and wherein each of the respective drive pins is engaged with a cam slot defined in a respective one of the first and second jaw members.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein each of the cam slots define a generally curvilinear path through the respective jaw members.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein each of the cam slots is disposed proximally with respect to the pivot axis.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein each of the cam slots is disposed distally with respect to the pivot axis.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the locking member includes a peg coupled to the first drive member, and wherein the second drive member includes a plurality of holes defined therein for receiving the peg when the locking member is moved to the locked configuration.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second drive members is operatively associated with an immobilization member, the immobilization member operable to selectively impede motion of the at least one of the first and second drive members with respect to the housing.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the immobilization member includes a peg receivable in the plurality of holes defined in the second drive member to impede motion of the second drive member with respect to the housing.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first and second jaw members are movable between an open configuration wherein the first and second jaw members are substantially spaced relative to one another, and a neutral closed configuration wherein the first and second jaw members are closer together and generally aligned with the longitudinal axis.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the first and second jaw members are movable between the open configuration and an offset closed configuration wherein the jaw members are closer together and obliquely disposed with respect the longitudinal axis.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members includes an electrode coupled to a source of electrosurgical energy.

12. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing supporting at least one actuator thereon;

an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing;

first and second jaw members pivotally coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis;

first and second drive members extending through the elongated shaft, the first drive member operatively coupled between the at least one actuator and the first jaw member such that manipulation of the at least one actuator induces pivotal movement of the first jaw member about the pivot axis, the second drive member operatively coupled between the at least one actuator and the second jaw member such that manipulation of the second actuator induces pivotal movement of the second jaw member about the pivot axis;

an immobilization member operatively associated with the second drive member, the immobilization member movable between a locked position wherein motion of the second drive member is impeded such that manipulation of the at least one actuator induces unilateral jaw motion, and an unlocked position wherein motion of the second drive member is permitted such that manipulation of the at least one actuator induces bilateral jaw motion.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the at least one actuator includes movable handle pivotally supported by the housing.

14. The surgical instrument according to claim 13, wherein the movable handle is pivotable in a proximal direction to induce longitudinal translation of the first drive member in a distal direction.

15. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the first jaw member is coupled to the first drive member by a drive pin extending into a cam slot defined in the first jaw member, and wherein the cam slot is disposed distally with respect to the pivot axis.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein longitudinal translation of the first drive member in the distal direction induces pivotal movement of the first jaw member about the pivot axis in a direction toward the second jaw member.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the first and second drive members are operatively coupled to independent first and second motors.

18. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein each of the first and second drive members includes a generally flat surface disposed adjacent the generally flat surface of the other of the first and second drive members.