US 10,299,854 B2 · Articulating surgical apparatus

Abstract

An endoscopic instrument includes a housing having shaft extending therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The shaft includes an articulating section disposed thereon. The articulating section has a central annulus extending therealong and first and second pluralities of bores. The first plurality of bores configured to receive corresponding tendons therethrough and the second plurality of bores configured to receive corresponding conductive leads therethrough. An end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft including a pair of first and second jaw members. The corresponding conductive leads transition from a first state for enabling articulation of the shaft about the articulating section, to a second state for disabling articulation of the shaft about the articulating section.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An articulating mechanism configured to articulate a surgical end effector assembly, the articulating mechanism comprising:

a plurality of links aligned along a length having a first end and a second end, the plurality of links defining a first bore extending through each of the plurality of links and a second bore extending through each of the plurality of links, the plurality of links configured to operably couple to a surgical end effector assembly at one of the first end or the second end of the length of the plurality of links;
a tendon extending through the first bore;
and
a conductive lead extending through the second bore,
wherein, in response to application to energy to the conductive lead, the conductive lead is configured to transition from a first state, enabling articulation of the plurality of links relative to one another, to a second state, disabling articulation of the plurality of links relative to one another.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Articulating surgical apparatus

Life of this patent

Articulating surgical apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19