# US 11,298,146 B2 · Actuation mechanism with arcuate levers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,146 B2 - Document ID: US11298146B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/751,363 - Filed: 2020-01-24 - Published: 2020-08-06 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-01 - Assignees: Alcon Inc. - Applicants: Alcon Inc. - Inventors: Thomas Linsi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298146B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery - A61F 9/00736: {Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments (A61F9/008 takes precedence)} - A61B 17/3201: Scissors (for biopsy A61B10/02) - A61B 2017/00862: {elastic or resilient} - A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect} - A61B 2017/00955: {thermoplastic} - A61B 2017/2918: {flexible handles} - A61B 2017/2932: {Transmission of forces to jaw members} - A61B 2017/305: {Tweezer like handles with tubular extensions, inner slidable actuating members and distal tools, e.g. microsurgical instruments} - A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself} - A61F 9/007: Methods or devices for eye surgery - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical instrument comprising a device having a functional end configured to be inserted into a body part, a shaft coupled to a proximal end of the device, and a shaft housing configured to receive a distal end of the shaft and operable to move along a central axis of the shaft. The surgical instrument further comprises a tube coupled to the distal end of the shaft housing and configured to partially house the device such that the functional end of the device at least partially extends beyond the distal end of the tube. The surgical instrument further comprises a plurality of arcuate levers such that pressing one or more of the plurality of arcuate levers moves the shaft housing and the tube toward the functional end of the device, causing the tube to transition the device from a deactivated state to an activated state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument, comprising: a device having a functional end configured to be inserted into a body part; a shaft coupled to a proximal end of the device; a shaft housing having a proximal end configured to receive a distal end of the shaft and operable to move along a central axis of the shaft; a tube coupled to the distal end of the shaft housing and configured to partially house the device such that the functional end of the device at least partially extends beyond a distal end of the tube; a plurality of arcuate levers, each arcuate lever having a proximal end coupled to the shaft and a distal end coupled to the shaft housing such that pressing one or more of the plurality of arcuate levers moves the shaft housing and the tube toward the functional end of the device, causing the tube to transition the device from a deactivated state to an activated state; the proximal end of each of the plurality of arcuate levers comprises a lever tail configured to rotate within a tail housing of the shaft; and the distal end of each of the plurality of arcuate levers comprises a lever head configured to rotate within a head housing of the shaft housing; wherein pressing the one or more of the plurality of arcuate levers causes the lever tail and the lever head of each of the plurality of arcuate levers to rotate within the respective tail housing and head housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein pressing at least one of the plurality of arcuate levers transitions the at least one of the plurality of arcuate levers from a first curvature to a second curvature, the second curvature being shallower than the first curvature. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein: the functional end of the device comprises jaws or arms; and causing the tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to the activated state further comprises closing the jaws or arms. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the plurality of levers is formed of a resilient material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arcuate levers is formed of at least one of polycarbonate or polyetheretherketone (PEEK). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of arcuate levers extends when the lever is pressed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising: a protrusion extending outward from the shaft housing configured to limit movement of the plurality of arcuate levers towards the shaft housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the protrusion comprises a stop ring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein releasing the one or more of the plurality of arcuate levers when the device is in the activated state causes the shaft housing and tube to move towards the proximal end of the device, causing the tube to transition the device from the activated state to the deactivated state. ### Claim 10 A surgical instrument, comprising: a device having a functional end configured to be inserted into a body part; a shaft coupled to a proximal end of the device; a shaft housing having a proximal end configured to receive a distal end of the shaft and operable to move along a central axis of the shaft; a tube coupled to the distal end of the shaft housing and configured to partially house the device such that the functional end of the device at least partially extends beyond a distal end of the tube; a plurality of arcuate levers, each arcuate lever having a proximal end coupled to the shaft and a distal end coupled to the shaft housing such that pressing one or more of the plurality of arcuate levers moves the shaft housing and the tube toward the functional end of the device, causing the tube to transition the device from a deactivated state to an activated state; wherein: the shaft comprises a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the central axis of the shaft; and the shaft housing comprises a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle configured to receive one of the plurality of protrusions when the shaft is received by the shaft housing, such that interaction of the respective plurality of protrusions and plurality of receptacles limits rotation of the shaft relative to the shaft housing when the one or more of the plurality of arcuate levers are pressed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein pressing at least one of the plurality of arcuate levers transitions the at least one of the plurality of arcuate levers from a first curvature to a second curvature, the second curvature being shallower than the first curvature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein: the functional end of the device comprises jaws or arms; and causing the tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to the activated state further comprises closing the jaws or arms. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the plurality of levers is formed of a resilient material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the plurality of arcuate levers is formed of at least one of polycarbonate or polyetheretherketone (PEEK). ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein: the proximal end of each of the plurality of arcuate levers comprises a lever tail configured to rotate within a tail housing of the shaft; and the distal end of each of the plurality of arcuate levers comprises a lever head configured to rotate within a head housing of the shaft housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein pressing the one or more of the plurality of arcuate levers causes the lever tail and the lever head of the each of the plurality of arcuate levers to rotate within the respective tail housing and head housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of arcuate levers extends when the lever is pressed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising: a protrusion extending outward from the shaft housing configured to limit movement of the plurality of arcuate levers towards the shaft housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the protrusion comprises a stop ring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein releasing the one or more of the plurality of arcuate levers when the device is in the activated state causes the shaft housing and tube to move towards the proximal end of the device, causing the tube to transition the device from the activated state to the deactivated state.