ENDOSCOPIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH A HANDLE THAT CAN ARTICULATE WITH RESPECT TO THE SHAFT
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector sized to be inserted through a trocar;
an elongated shaft assembly coupled to said end effector, said elongated shaft assembly having a distal portion adjacent to said end effector for insertion into the trocar with said end effector and a proximal portion remote from said distal portion such that said proximal portion protrudes from the trocar when the end effector and distal portion are inserted therethrough; and
a control handle articulatably coupled to said proximal portion of said elongated shaft assembly.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument particular suited to endoscopic use is disclosed. Various embodiments include an end effector that is sized to be inserted through a trocar. An elongated shaft assembly is coupled to the end effector and a control handle. The elongated shaft assembly has a distal portion that is adjacent to the effector for insertion into the trocar. The elongated shaft assembly further has a proximal portion that is remote from the distal portion such that the proximal portion protrudes from the trocar when the end effector and distal portion are inserted therethrough. The control handle is articulatably coupled to the proximal portion of said elongated shaft assembly to enable the surgeon to move the handle portion to a more ergonomically comfortable position while carrying out the endoscopic procedure. Various articulation joint embodiments and locking arrangements are disclosed.
673 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector sized to be inserted through a trocar; an elongated shaft assembly coupled to said end effector, said elongated shaft assembly having a distal portion adjacent to said end effector for insertion into the trocar with said end effector and a proximal portion remote from said distal portion such that said proximal portion protrudes from the trocar when the end effector and distal portion are inserted therethrough; and a control handle articulatably coupled to said proximal portion of said elongated shaft assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector sized to be inserted through a trocar; an elongated shaft assembly coupled to said end effector, said elongated shaft assembly having a distal portion adjacent to said end effector for insertion into the trocar with said end effector and a proximal portion remote from said distal portion such that said proximal portion protrudes from the trocar when the end effector and distal portion are inserted therethrough; and means for controlling said end effector articulatably coupled to said proximal portion of said elongated shaft assembly.
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22. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector sized to be inserted through a trocar; a control handle operably supporting at least one drive motor therein; a proximal hollow shaft segment having a first proximal end rotatably coupled to said control handle for selective rotation about an elongated shaft axis and a first distal end; a distal hollow shaft segment having a second distal end portion operably coupled to said end effector for selective actuation thereof by axial movement along said elongated shaft axis, said distal hollow shaft segment having a second proximal end portion sized to protrude out of the trocar when said end effector is inserted through the trocar; a first upper tab protruding from said first distal end of said proximal hollow shaft segment; a first lower tab protruding from said first distal end of said proximal hollow shaft segment and in spaced relation to said first lower tab; a second upper tab protruding from said second proximal end of said distal hollow shaft segment; a second lower tab protruding from said second proximal end of said distal hollow shaft segment in spaced relation to said second upper tab; an upper double pivot link sized to span between said first and second upper tabs, said upper double pivot link having a first upper pin pivotally coupled to said first upper tab and a second upper pivot pin pivotally coupled to said second upper tab; a lower double pivot link sized to span between said first and second lower tabs, said lower double pivot link having a first lower pin pivotally coupled to said first lower tab and a second lower pin pivotally coupled to said second lower tab; a proximal spine segment attached to said control handle and extending through said proximal hollow shaft segment and protruding from said first distal end thereof; a distal spine segment extending through said distal hollow shaft segment and having a proximal end adjacent a distal end of said proximal spine segment, said distal spine segment having a distal end attached to said end effector and being supported within said distal hollow shaft segment such that said distal hollow shaft segment can be selectively axially moved relative to said distal spine segment; a distal drive shaft portion operably supported in said distal spine segment and being coupled to an actuator shaft in said end effector; a proximal drive shaft portion operably coupled to one of said at least one drive motors in said control handle and operably supported within said proximal spine segment; and a drive shaft articulation joint coupled between said distal drive shaft portion and said proximal drive shaft portion to enable said proximal drive shaft portion to articulate relative to said distal drive shaft portion when said control handle is articulated relative to said distal shaft segment. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification