# US 11,076,850 B2 · Surgical instrument including an adapter assembly and an articulating surgical loading unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,850 B2 - Document ID: US11076850B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/695,380 - Filed: 2019-11-26 - Published: 2021-05-27 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-11-26 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Kenneth Whitfield; Thomas Casasanta; John Beardsley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076850B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable} - A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/07214: {Stapler heads} - A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/2913: {cams or guiding means} - A61B 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft} - A61B 2017/2929: {with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An adapter assembly of a surgical instrument includes a cam member defining a proximal cam slot and a distal cam slot, a first articulation shaft, and a second articulation shaft. The first articulation shaft has a proximal end portion received in the proximal cam slot, and a distal end portion configured to be coupled to a surgical loading unit. The second articulation shaft has a proximal end portion received in the distal cam slot, and a distal end portion configured to be coupled to the surgical loading unit. The first and second articulation shafts are configured to move in opposing longitudinal directions in response to a rotation of the cam member to articulate the surgical loading unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adapter assembly, comprising: a cam member defining a first cam slot and a second cam slot; an outer tube extending distally from the cam member and having a distal end portion configured to be coupled to a surgical loading unit; a first articulation shaft having a proximal end portion operably coupled to the first cam slot of the cam member, and a distal end portion configured to be coupled to the surgical loading unit; and a second articulation shaft having a proximal end portion operably coupled to the second cam slot of the cam member, and a distal end portion configured to be coupled to the surgical loading unit, wherein the first and second articulation shafts are configured to translate in opposite directions in response to a rotation of the cam member to articulate the surgical loading unit relative to the outer tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adapter assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a proximal ring member disposed about the cam member and having a projection received in the first cam slot; and a distal ring member disposed about the cam member and having a projection received in the second cam slot, wherein the proximal and distal ring members are configured to move axially in opposite longitudinal directions in response to the rotation of the cam member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The adapter assembly according to claim 2, wherein the proximal end portion of the first articulation shaft is axially restrained to the proximal ring member, and the proximal end portion of the second articulation shaft is axially restrained to the distal ring member, such that the first and second articulation shafts are configured to move axially with the respective proximal and distal ring members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The adapter assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first and second articulation shafts are rotatable relative to and about the respective proximal and distal ring members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The adapter assembly according to claim 4, wherein the proximal ring member defines an outer annular groove therein, and the proximal end portion of the first articulation shaft has an annular protrusion slidably received in the annular groove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The adapter assembly according to claim 5, wherein the distal ring member defines an outer annular groove therein, and the proximal end portion of the second articulation shaft has an annular protrusion slidably received in the annular groove of the distal ring member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The adapter assembly according to claim 4, further comprising a knob housing disposed about a proximal end portion of the outer tube, wherein the proximal end portion of each of the first and second articulation shafts is non-rotationally coupled to the knob housing and axially movable relative to the knob housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The adapter assembly according to claim 7, wherein the knob housing includes an inner surface defining a pair of longitudinally-extending slots, and the proximal end portion of each of the first and second articulation shafts has a longitudinally-extending ridge received in the respective pair of longitudinally-extending slots of the knob housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The adapter assembly according to claim 7, wherein the proximal end portion of the first articulation shaft has an inwardly-extending protrusion, and the distal end portion of the outer tube defines a longitudinally-extending slot having received therein the protrusion of the first articulation shaft, such that the distal end portion of the outer tube rotates with the first articulation shaft about the longitudinal axis in response to a rotation of the knob housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end portion of each of the first and second articulation shafts is disposed about the outer tube and the cam member. ### Claim 11 A surgical instrument, comprising: a surgical loading unit; and an adapter assembly including: a coupling mechanism having a drive shaft; a cam member operably coupled to the drive shaft and defining a proximal cam slot and a distal cam slot; an outer tube extending distally from the cam member and having a distal end portion configured to be coupled to the surgical loading unit; a first articulation shaft having a proximal end portion operably coupled to the proximal cam slot of the cam member, and a distal end portion configured to be coupled to the surgical loading unit; and a second articulation shaft having a proximal end portion operably coupled to the distal cam slot of the cam member, and a distal end portion configured to be coupled to the surgical loading unit, wherein the first and second articulation shafts are configured to translate in opposite directions in response to a rotation of the cam member to articulate the surgical loading unit relative to the outer tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the adapter assembly further includes: a proximal ring member disposed about the cam member and having a projection received in the proximal cam slot; and a distal ring member disposed about the cam member and having a projection received in the distal cam slot, wherein the proximal and distal ring members are configured to move axially in opposite longitudinal directions in response to the rotation of the cam member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the proximal end portion of the first articulation shaft is axially restrained to the proximal ring member, and the proximal end portion of the second articulation shaft is axially restrained to the distal ring member, such that the first and second articulation shafts are configured to move axially with the respective proximal and distal ring members. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical instrument according to claim 13, wherein the first and second articulation shafts are rotatable relative to and about the respective proximal and distal ring members. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the proximal ring member defines an outer annular groove therein, and the proximal end portion of the first articulation shaft has an annular protrusion slidably received in the annular groove. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein the distal ring member defines an outer annular groove therein, and the proximal end portion of the second articulation shaft has an annular protrusion slidably received in the annular groove of the distal ring member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the adapter assembly further includes a knob housing rotationally coupled to the coupling mechanism and disposed about a proximal end portion of the outer tube, wherein the proximal end portion of each of the first and second articulation shafts is non-rotationally coupled to the knob housing and axially movable relative to the knob housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The surgical instrument according to claim 17, wherein the knob housing includes an inner surface defining a pair of longitudinally-extending slots, and the proximal end portion of each of the first and second articulation shafts has a longitudinally-extending ridge received in the respective pair of longitudinally-extending slots of the knob housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The surgical instrument according to claim 17, wherein the proximal end portion of the first articulation shaft has an inwardly-extending protrusion, and the distal end portion of the outer tube defines a longitudinally-extending slot having received therein the protrusion of the first articulation shaft, such that the distal end portion of the outer tube rotates with the first articulation shaft about the longitudinal axis in response to a rotation of the knob housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the proximal end portion of each of the first and second articulation shafts are curved and disposed about the outer tube and the cam member.