# US 10,945,734 B2 · Rotation knob assemblies and surgical instruments including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,734 B2 - Document ID: US10945734B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/120,598 - Filed: 2018-09-04 - Published: 2019-05-09 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-03 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Jacob C. Baril; Matthew A. Dinino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945734B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/10: for applying or removing wound clamps {, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple (A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068)}; Wound clamp magazines - A61B 17/1285: {for minimally invasive surgery} - A61B 2017/00367: {Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like} - A61B 2017/00389: {Button or wheel for performing multiple functions, e.g. rotation of shaft and end effector} - A61B 2017/00407: {Ratchet means} - A61B 2017/00464: {for use with different instruments} - A61B 2017/00469: {for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre} - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/2922: {toggle linkages} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A rotation knob assembly, handle assembly including the same, and surgical instrument including the same are disclosed. The rotation knob assembly includes an outer knob defining a lumen and at least one groove configured to receive an indexing protrusion of an elongated assembly to rotationally fix the elongated assembly relative to the outer knob. An inner collar is disposed within a proximal lumen portion of the outer knob and rotatably engaged therewith. A plurality of ball bearing assemblies protrude radially inwardly into the proximal lumen portion of the outer knob. Each ball bearing assembly includes a head and a ball bearing captured within the head. Each ball bearing is received within a waist of the inner collar such that, upon rotation of the outer knob relative to the inner collar, the ball bearings roll about a floor of the waist of the inner collar. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotation knob assembly for a surgical instrument, the rotation knob assembly comprising: an outer knob including a body defining a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, the lumen including a proximal lumen portion and a distal lumen portion, the body defining a plurality of grooves disposed on an interior surface thereof surrounding the distal lumen portion, at least one groove of the plurality of grooves configured to receive a corresponding indexing protrusion of an elongated assembly inserted into the distal lumen portion to rotationally fix the elongated assembly relative to the outer knob; an inner collar disposed within the proximal lumen portion of the outer knob and rotatably engaged with the outer knob, the inner collar defining a waist including a floor recessed from an exterior annular surface of the inner collar; and a plurality of ball bearing assemblies protruding radially inwardly into the proximal lumen portion of the outer knob, each ball bearing assembly of the plurality of ball bearing assemblies including a head and a ball bearing captured within the head, each ball bearing received within the waist of the inner collar such that, upon rotation of the outer knob relative to the inner collar, the ball bearings roll about the floor of the waist of the inner collar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rotation knob assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the body of the outer knob defines a plurality of transverse apertures arranged annularly about and communicating with the proximal lumen portion, and each ball bearing assembly of the plurality of ball bearing assemblies includes a post extending from the head, each post received within one of the transverse apertures of the plurality of transverse apertures. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rotation knob assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer knob is formed from a polymeric material and the inner collar is formed from a metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The rotation knob assembly according to claim 1, wherein the floor of the waist defines a smooth surface such that the ball bearings are continuously rolled about the floor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rotation knob assembly according to claim 1, wherein the floor of the waist includes a plurality of ramped segments angled relative to one another to define steps therebetween such that the ball bearings are rolled about the floor between a plurality of discrete positions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The rotation knob assembly according to claim 5, wherein at least one of audible or tactile feedback is provided as the ball bearings roll about the floor. ### Claim 7 A handle assembly of a surgical instrument, comprising: a housing defining a body portion, a fixed handle portion depending from the body portion, and a distal nose extending distally from the body portion; a drive assembly disposed within the housing; a trigger pivotably connected to the housing and operably associated with the drive assembly, the trigger movable relative to the fixed handle portion of the housing from an un-actuated position to an actuated position to actuate the drive assembly; and a rotation knob assembly extending distally from the distal nose of the housing, the rotation knob assembly including: an outer knob including a body defining a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, the lumen including a proximal lumen portion and a distal lumen portion, the body defining a plurality of grooves disposed on an interior surface thereof surrounding the distal lumen portion, at least one groove of the plurality of grooves configured to receive a corresponding indexing protrusion of an elongated assembly inserted through the rotation knob assembly and into the distal nose of the housing to rotationally fix the elongated assembly relative to the outer knob; an inner collar engaged with the distal nose of the housing in fixed rotational orientation relative to the housing, the inner collar disposed within the proximal lumen portion of the outer knob and rotatably engaged with the outer knob, the inner collar defining a waist including a floor recessed from an exterior annular surface of the inner collar; and a plurality of ball bearing assemblies protruding radially inwardly into the proximal lumen portion of the outer knob, each ball bearing assembly of the plurality of ball bearing assemblies including a head and a ball bearing captured within the head, each ball bearing received within the waist of the inner collar such that, upon rotation of the outer knob relative to the inner collar and the housing, the ball bearings roll about the floor of the waist of the inner collar. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The handle assembly according to claim 7, wherein: the body of the outer knob defines a plurality of transverse apertures arranged annularly about and communicating with the proximal lumen portion, and each ball bearing assembly of the plurality of ball bearing assemblies includes a post extending from the head, each post received within one of the transverse apertures of the plurality of transverse apertures. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The handle assembly according to claim 7, wherein the outer knob is formed from a polymeric material and the inner collar is formed from a metal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The handle assembly according to claim 7, wherein the floor of the waist defines a smooth surface such that the ball bearings are continuously rolled about the floor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The handle assembly according to claim 7, wherein the floor of the waist includes a plurality of ramped segments angled relative to one another to define steps therebetween such that the ball bearings are rolled about the floor between a plurality of discrete positions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The handle assembly according to claim 11, wherein at least one of audible or tactile feedback is provided as the ball bearings roll about the floor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The handle assembly according to claim 7, wherein the distal nose of the housing defines an annular recess and wherein the inner collar includes an annular protrusion configured for receipt within the annular recess to engage the inner collar with the distal nose. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The handle assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a latch assembly operably associated with the housing, wherein the latch assembly is configured to releasably engage an elongated assembly inserted through the rotation knob assembly and into the distal nose of the housing. ### Claim 15 A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle assembly; and an elongated assembly extending distally from the handle assembly and supporting an end effector assembly at a distal end portion thereof, the elongated assembly including an indexing protrusion disposed towards a proximal end portion thereof; wherein the handle assembly includes: a housing defining a body portion, a fixed handle portion depending from the body portion, and a distal nose extending distally from the body portion; a drive assembly disposed within the housing; a trigger pivotably connected to the housing and operably associated with the drive assembly, the trigger movable relative to the fixed handle portion of the housing from an un-actuated position to an actuated position to actuate the drive assembly; and a rotation knob assembly extending distally from the distal nose of the housing and disposed about the elongated assembly, the rotation knob assembly including: an outer knob including a body defining a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, the lumen including a proximal lumen portion and a distal lumen portion, the body defining a plurality of grooves disposed on an interior surface thereof surrounding the distal lumen portion, one groove of the plurality of grooves configured to receive the indexing protrusion of the elongated assembly to rotationally fix the elongated assembly relative to the outer knob; an inner collar engaged with the distal nose of the housing in fixed rotational orientation relative to the housing, the inner collar disposed within the proximal lumen portion of the outer knob and rotatably engaged with the outer knob, the inner collar defining a waist including a floor recessed from an exterior annular surface of the inner collar; and a plurality of ball bearing assemblies protruding radially inwardly into the proximal lumen portion of the outer knob, each ball bearing assembly of the plurality of ball bearing assemblies including a head and a ball bearing captured within the head, each ball bearing received within the waist of the inner collar such that, upon rotation of the outer knob relative to the inner collar and the housing, the ball bearings roll about the floor of the waist of the inner collar. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein: the body of the outer knob defines a plurality of transverse apertures arranged annularly about and communicating with the proximal lumen portion, and each ball bearing assembly of the plurality of ball bearing assemblies includes a post extending from the head, each post received within one of the transverse apertures of the plurality of transverse apertures. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein the floor of the waist defines a smooth surface such that the ball bearings are continuously rolled about the floor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein the floor of the waist includes a plurality of ramped segments angled relative to one another to define steps therebetween such that the ball bearings are rolled about the floor between a plurality of discrete positions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument according to claim 15, further comprising a latch assembly operably associated with the housing, wherein the latch assembly is configured to releasably engage the elongated assembly with the housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein the end effector is configured to fire and form at least one surgical clip about tissue in response to actuation of the drive assembly.