Applicator instruments for dispensing surgical fasteners having articulating shafts and articulation control elements

An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners comprising:

• a handle;
• an articulating shaft extending from a distal end of said handle, said articulating shaft including a proximal shaft section extending along a longitudinal axis, a distal shaft section, and an articulating joint interconnecting said proximal and distal shaft sections;
• said proximal shaft section including a proximal outer tube that is slides in distal and proximal directions along the longitudinal axis and a proximal inner member disposed inside said proximal outer tube that is rigidly secured to said distal end of said handle;
• said distal shaft section including a distal outer tube and a distal inner member disposed inside said distal outer tube, wherein said distal outer tube is adapted to slide distally and proximally relative to said distal inner member, and wherein said distal inner member has a distal end face having a surgical fastener dispensing window;
• said articulating joint including a first pivot connection between a distal end of said proximal outer tube and a proximal end of said distal outer tube, and a joining member including a second pivot connection with said proximal inner member and a third pivot connection with said distal outer tube;
• an articulation control element coupled with said articulating shaft for changing the articulation angle of said distal shaft section relative to said proximal shaft section;
• and
• an incompressible member interconnecting said proximal inner member and said distal inner member to form an inner shaft member having a length extending along a longitudinal axis of said inner shaft member, wherein as said articulating shaft moves between a straight configuration and an articulated configuration the length of said inner shaft member remains fixed.

An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners comprising:

• a handle;
• an articulating shaft extending from a distal end of said handle, said articulating shaft including a proximal shaft section extending along a longitudinal axis, a distal shaft section, and an articulating joint interconnecting said proximal and distal shaft sections;
• a firing system disposed in said handle including a firing rod extending through said articulating shaft;
• an actuator coupled with said handle for activating said firing system;
• said proximal shaft section including a proximal outer tube that is slides in distal and proximal directions along the longitudinal axis and a proximal inner member disposed inside said proximal outer tube that is rigidly secured to said distal end of said handle;
• said distal shaft section including a distal outer tube and a distal inner member disposed inside said distal outer tube, wherein said distal outer tube is adapted to slide distally and proximally relative to said distal inner member, and wherein said distal inner member has a distal end face having a surgical fastener dispensing window;
• an articulation control element coupled with said articulating shaft for changing the articulation angle of said distal shaft section relative to said proximal shaft section;
• and
• an incompressible member interconnecting said proximal inner member and said distal inner member to form an inner shaft member having a length extending along a longitudinal axis of said inner shaft member, wherein as said articulating shaft moves between a straight configuration and an articulated configuration the distance between a distal-most end of said distal outer tube and said distal end of said handle changes while the length of said inner shaft member extending along the longitudinal axis of said inner shaft member remains fixed.