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US 2006/0190029 A1Published application
Surgical instrument with laterally moved shaft actuator coupled to pivoting articulation joint
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorKenneth Wales
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical instrument particularly suited to endoscopic use articulates an end effector by including a laterally sliding member in a proximal portion of a shaft that pivots the end effector to a selected side. Differentially opposing actuating forces (e.g., hydraulic, fluidic, mechanical) act against the laterally sliding member without binding by incorporating guidance mechanisms between the laterally sliding member and a frame of the shaft.
Claims20
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector including a proximal camming surface;
- an elongate shaft including a frame defining a lateral recess aligned with a longitudinal axis;
- an articulation joint pivotally attaching the end effector to the distal end of the elongate shaft;
- a slide bar within the lateral recess having a distal end engaged to the proximal camming surface of the end effector;
- a first actuator positioned in the lateral recess on a selected lateral side of the slide bar;
- and
- a handle portion proximally attached to the elongate shaft and operably configured to differentially control the first actuator to laterally move the slide bar and thereby pivot the articulation joint and end effector.
4 more elements
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector;
- an elongate shaft attached to the end effector and including a frame defining a lateral recess aligned with a longitudinal axis;
- an articulation joint pivotally attaching the end effector to the distal end of the elongate shaft;
- a slide bar within the lateral recess having a distal end engaged to the proximal camming surface of the end effector, further comprising a ferromagnetic target;
- an electromagnet positioned in the lateral recess proximate to the ferromagnetic target;
- a handle portion proximally attached to the elongate shaft;
- and
- control circuitry operatively configured to selectively activate the electromagnet to position the slide bar for articulating the end effector.
5 more elements
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector;
- an elongate shaft attached to the end effector and including a frame defining a lateral recess aligned with a longitudinal axis;
- an articulation joint pivotally attaching the end effector to the distal end of the elongate shaft;
- a slide bar within the lateral recess having a distal end engaged to the proximal camming surface of the end effector;
- right and left actuators on respective sides of the slide bar in the lateral recess;
- a handle portion proximally attached to the elongate shaft;
- and
- an articulation control comprising differential, longitudinally moving members that differentially position the right and left actuators, thereby laterally displacing the slide bar.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.