# US 11,439,373 B2 · Endoscopic reusable surgical device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,373 B2 - Document ID: US11439373B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/485,501 - Filed: 2017-03-20 - Published: 2020-02-13 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-20 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Encheng Hu; Xiaolin Sang; Xin Yue - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439373B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/1285: {for minimally invasive surgery} - A61L 2/186: Peroxide solutions - A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery - A61B 90/70: Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments - A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable} - A61B 2017/2929: {with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft} - A61B 2090/0813: {Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable} - A61L 2103/15: Laboratory, medical or dentistry appliances, e.g. catheters or sharps - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract An endoscopic shaft assembly includes: an elongate outer shaft; and an outer housing coupled to a proximal portion of the elongate outer shaft. The outer housing includes: a tubular wall defining a cavity; and a shaft plunger disposed within the cavity and configured to move axially within at least a portion of the cavity along a travel path. The shaft plunger includes a collar. The collar is configured to be separated from the tubular wall along a first travel portion of the travel path and to contact the tubular wall along a second travel portion of the travel path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endoscopic shaft assembly, comprising: an elongate shaft; and an outer housing coupled to a proximal portion of the elongate outer shaft, the outer housing including: a tubular wall defining a cavity; and a shaft plunger disposed within the cavity and configured to move axially within at least a portion of the cavity along a travel path, the shaft plunger including a collar, wherein the collar is configured to be separated from the tubular wall along a first travel portion of the travel path and to contact the tubular wall along a second travel portion of the travel path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endoscopic shaft assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cavity includes a first cavity portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second cavity diameter, the first cavity portion corresponding to the first travel portion and the second cavity portion corresponding to the second travel portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The endoscopic shaft assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The endoscopic shaft assembly according to claim 3, wherein the collar has an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the second diameter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The endoscopic shaft assembly according to claim 4, wherein the first cavity portion is disposed proximally of the second cavity portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The endoscopic shaft assembly according to claim 5, wherein the cavity includes a third cavity disposed distally of the second cavity portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The endoscopic shaft assembly according to claim 6, wherein the third cavity is configured to prevent entry of the collar thereinto. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The endoscopic shaft assembly according to claim 7, wherein the third cavity has a third diameter that is smaller than the second diameter and the outer diameter of the collar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The endoscopic shaft assembly according to claim 2, further comprising: a biasing member disposed within the cavity, the biasing member configured to bias the shaft plunger in a distal direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The endoscopic shaft assembly according to claim 9, wherein the biasing member in a relaxed state is configured to maintain the shaft plunger at a distance such that the collar is disposed within the first cavity portion. ### Claim 11 A surgical device comprising: a handle assembly; and an endoscopic shaft assembly configured to couple to the handle assembly, the endoscopic shaft assembly, including: an elongate outer shaft; and an outer housing coupled to a proximal portion of the elongate outer shaft, the outer housing including: a tubular wall defining a cavity; a biasing member disposed within the cavity; and a shaft plunger including a collar and disposed within the cavity, wherein the shaft plunger is configured to move axially within at least a portion of the cavity from a first position to a second position, such that in the first position the collar is separated from the tubular wall and in the second position the collar contacts the tubular wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The surgical device according to claim 11, wherein the handle assembly includes a trigger and a drive plunger movable by the trigger. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The surgical device according to claim 12, wherein upon the endoscopic shaft assembly being coupled to the handle assembly, the drive plunger engages the shaft plunger and moves the shaft plunger to the second position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical device according to claim 13, wherein the outer housing further includes a proximal opening in communication with the cavity, such that wherein upon the endoscopic shaft assembly being coupled to the handle assembly, the drive plunger passes through the proximal opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical device according to claim 14, wherein upon the endoscopic shaft assembly being detached from the handle assembly the biasing member moves the shaft plunger to the first position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical device according to claim 15, wherein the collar includes a frustoconical portion that is separated from the proximal opening when the shaft plunger is in the first position thereby creating a passage for adding a sterilizing agent into the cavity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The surgical device according to claim 15, wherein the handle assembly includes a nose portion configured to couple to the outer housing, the nose portion includes a plug configured to seal the side opening upon the endoscopic shaft assembly being coupled to the handle assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The surgical device according to claim 11, wherein the outer housing further includes a tubular wall and a side opening therethrough in communication with the cavity. ### Claim 19 A method for sterilizing a surgical device, the method comprising: detaching an endoscopic shaft assembly from a handle assembly, the endoscopic assembly including a tubular wall defining a cavity, a biasing member disposed within the cavity, and a shaft plunger having a collar and disposed within the cavity, wherein the biasing member moves the shaft plunger upon detaching the endoscopic shaft assembly from the handle assembly into a first position in which the collar is separated from the tubular wall thereby creating a passage through the cavity; and supplying a sterilizing agent into passage.