Back to results
US 11,524,398 B2Granted
Gear drive mechanisms for surgical instruments
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorJacob C. Baril
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly having a gear drive mechanism. The gear drive mechanism includes a variable radius gear to provide a desired mechanical advantage to a user during actuation of a movable handle of the surgical instrument.
Claims14
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle assembly including a housing and a movable handle pivotally connected to the housing;
- an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;
- a drive member extending at least partially through the elongated shaft and movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the elongated shaft;
- and
- a drive gear mechanism disposed at least partially within the housing, the drive gear mechanism including a first gear, a second gear disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first gear, a third gear disposed in mechanical cooperation with the second gear, and a fourth gear disposed in mechanical cooperation with the third gear, the third gear including a complex curve defining a first radius of curvature and a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature being different from the second radius of curvature.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.