Lead screw assembly for articulation control in surgical instrument

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a body;
• (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis;
• (c) an articulation section attached to a distal end of the shaft assembly;
• (d) an end effector located distally relative to the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector is connected to the articulation section such that the end effector is configured to deflect relative to the longitudinal axis defined by the shaft assembly;
• (e) an articulation connector slidably disposed within the shaft assembly, wherein the articulation connector is configured to translate relative to the shaft assembly to deflect the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis;
• and
• (f) an articulation drive assembly, wherein the articulation drive assembly is configured to translate the articulation connector relative to the shaft assembly, wherein the articulation drive assembly comprises:
• (i) a rotatable housing configured to rotate relative to the body,
• (ii) a first lead screw assembly comprising a first half and a second half, wherein the first half and the second half are configured to couple with each other to slidably receive the shaft assembly, and
• (iii) a connecting member configured to couple the articulation connector with the first lead screw assembly, wherein the first half and the second half together define a cavity when coupled, wherein the cavity houses the connecting member, wherein the connecting member comprises a pair of coupling arms configured to fix the connecting member with the articulation connector.

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a body;
• (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, wherein the shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis;
• (c) an articulation section attached to a distal end of the shaft assembly;
• (d) an end effector located distally relative to the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector is connected to the articulation section such that the end effector is configured to deflect relative to the longitudinal axis defined by the shaft assembly;
• (e) an articulation connector slidably disposed within the shaft assembly, wherein the articulation connector is configured to translate relative to the shaft assembly to deflect the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis;
• and
• (f) an articulation drive assembly, wherein the articulation drive assembly is configured to translate the articulation connector relative to the shaft assembly, wherein the articulation drive assembly comprises:
• (i) a rotatable housing configured to rotate relative to the body,
• (ii) a first lead screw assembly comprising a first half and a second half, wherein the first half is configured to couple with the second half such that the first lead screw assembly is slidably coupled with the shaft assembly, wherein the first half and the second half are configured to define a cavity when coupled together, wherein the first half comprises a pair of laterally spaced projections defining an open slot, wherein the second half comprises a projection, wherein the projection is housed within the open slot when the first half and the second half are coupled, and
• (iii) a coupling member housed within the cavity of the first lead screw assembly, wherein the coupling member is fixed to the articulation connector.