Surgical stapler having articulation mechanism
AssigneeApplied Medical Resources Corporation
InventorsJoshua M. Schober, Andrew J. McCarthy, Babak D. Jasemian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A handle assembly for a surgical stapler can comprise a rotatable actuation shaft. The actuation shaft can have a first rotational orientation in which it can actuate a jaw assembly in a repeatable open and close mode, a second rotational orientation in which it can actuate a jaw assembly in a staple firing mode, and a third rotational orientation in which it can actuate a jaw assembly in a reversing mode. The handle assembly can include an articulation mechanism including a ball screw to selectively articulate the jaw assembly relative to an elongate shaft.
Claims18
A handle assembly for a surgical stapler, the handle assembly comprising:
- a handle body comprising a stationary handle and a movable handle pivotably coupled to the handle body;
- an actuation shaft mechanically coupled to the movable handle for manual actuation thereof, the actuation shaft slidable within the handle body along a longitudinal axis;
- and
- an articulation mechanism comprising:
- a manually actuated articulation knob positioned at a proximal end of the handle body and rotatable about the longitudinal axis;
- and
- an articulation adapter positioned at the distal end of the handle body, the articulation adapter operatively coupled to the articulation knob such that rotation of the articulation knob about the longitudinal axis longitudinally slides the articulation adapter, wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises:
- a ball screw having a helical thread formed therein;
- a ball sleeve positioned radially outwardly of the ball screw, and having an aperture formed therein;
- and
- a ball bearing positioned in the aperture of the ball sleeve and engaged in the helical thread of the ball screw.
A handle assembly for a surgical stapler, the handle assembly comprising:
- a handle body comprising a stationary handle and a movable handle pivotably coupled to the handle body;
- an actuation shaft mechanically coupled to the movable handle for manual actuation thereof, the actuation shaft slidable within the handle body along a longitudinal axis;
- and
- an articulation mechanism comprising:
- a manually actuated articulation knob positioned at a proximal end of the handle body and rotatable about the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a ball screw operatively coupled to the articulation knob and longitudinally movable by rotation of the articulation knob.
A handle assembly for a surgical stapler, the handle assembly comprising:
- a handle body comprising a stationary handle and a movable handle pivotably coupled to the handle body, the handle body having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a central longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end;
- an actuation mechanism within the handle body;
- and
- an articulation mechanism comprising:
- a manually actuated articulation knob positioned at a proximal end of the handle body and rotatable about the longitudinal axis;
- an articulation adapter positioned at the distal end of the handle body, the articulation adapter operatively coupled to the articulation knob such that rotation of the articulation knob about the longitudinal axis longitudinally slides the articulation adapter;
- and
- a first articulation link operatively coupling the actuation knob to the articulation adaptor and extending longitudinally within the handle body laterally offset from the actuation mechanism;
- and wherein the articulation mechanism comprises an articulation bearing rotationally coupling the first articulation link to the articulation adapter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.