Surgical instrument comprising a closure lock
AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorsRichard L. Leimbach, Michael J. Stokes, Nicholas J. Ross, Shane R. Adams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical instrument comprising an end effector and a closure actuator configured to engage with the end effector is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation drive operable to rotate the end effector about an articulation joint when the closure drive is in its partially-closed position. The surgical instrument further comprises a closure lock biased toward a top portion of the closure actuator and configured to interact with a top notch such that the closure actuator remains in a fully open position, a partially closed position, or a fully closed position.
Claims19
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle comprising a closure actuator movably coupled to the handle, the closure actuator movable between a fully open position, a partially closed position, and a fully closed position, and the closure actuator further comprising:
- a top portion comprising an arcuate profile;
- and
- a notch defined in the top portion;
- a shaft extending from the handle;
- an end effector;
- an articulation joint, wherein the end effector is rotatable relative to the shaft about the articulation joint;
- an articulation drive operable to rotate the end effector about the articulation joint when the articulation drive is in an activated operative state, wherein the articulation drive is placeable in a deactivated inoperative state, wherein the articulation drive is in the activated operative state when the closure actuator is between the fully open position and the partially closed position, including the partially closed position, and wherein the articulation drive is in the deactivated inoperative state when the closure actuator is between the partially closed position and the fully closed position;
- and
- a closure lock that is biased toward the top portion of the closure actuator, that is engageable with the notch when the closure actuator is in the partially closed position, that is deflectable from the notch upon actuation of the closure actuator, and that remains in contact with the top portion when the closure actuator is between the fully open position and the partially closed position.
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a closure actuator movable between a fully open position, a partially closed position, and a fully closed position, and the closure actuator further comprising:
- a top portion comprising an arcuate profile;
- and
- a notch defined in the top portion;
- a shaft;
- an end effector comprising:
- a first jaw;
- and
- a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw and movable between a fully open position, a partially clamped position, and a partially clamped position;
- an articulation joint, wherein the end effector is rotatable relative to the shaft about the articulation joint;
- an articulation drive operable to rotate the end effector about the articulation joint when the articulation drive is in an activated operative state, wherein the articulation drive is placeable in a deactivated inoperative state, wherein the articulation drive is in the activated operative state when the closure actuator is between the fully open position and the partially closed position, including the partially closed position, and wherein the articulation drive is in the deactivated inoperative state when the closure actuator is between the partially closed position and the fully closed position;
- and
- a closure lock that is biased toward the top portion of the closure actuator, that is engageable with the notch when the closure actuator is in the partially closed position, that is deflectable from the notch upon actuation of the closure actuator, and that remains in contact with the top portion when the closure actuator is between the fully open position and the partially closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.