Surgical instrument incorporating a fluid transfer controlled articulation bladder and method of manufacture
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 fluid transfer articulation mechanism that is proximally controlled. A fluid control, which is attached to a proximal portion, transfers fluid through the elongate shaft through a first fluid passage to a first fluid actuator that responds by articulating an articulation joint. Two opposing fluid actuators may respond to differential fluid transfer to effect articulation. Thereby, design flexibility is achieved by avoiding the design constraints of transferring a mechanical motion through the tight confines of the elongate shaft sufficient to effect articulation.
Claims31
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle containing a reservoir;
- a control attached to the handle positionable to vary an internal volume of the reservoir;
- an elongate implement portion sized for insertion through a cannula to reach internal tissue and containing a bladder cavity;
- a laterally actuated member attached to the elongate implement portion and comprising a motive surface laterally proximate to the bladder cavity;
- and
- an actuator in fluid communication with the reservoir and positioned within the bladder cavity in the elongate implement portion to laterally actuate the laterally actuated member in response to fluid transfer with the reservoir;
- wherein a selected one of a group consisting of the reservoir and the actuator comprises a bladder.
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle containing a reservoir bladder;
- a compression surface movably attached to the handle to vary an internal volume of the reservoir bladder;
- an elongate implement portion sized for insertion through a cannula to reach internal tissue and containing a bladder cavity;
- an actuated member attached to the elongate implement portion and comprising a motive surface proximate to the bladder cavity;
- and
- an actuating bladder in fluid communication with the reservoir bladder and positioned within the bladder cavity in the elongate implement portion to actuate the motive surface of the actuating member in response to fluid transfer with the reservoir bladder.
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle containing a fluid source having first and second conduits;
- a differential control movably attached to the handle to differentially vary fluid transfer from the fluid source to the first and second conduits;
- an elongate implement portion sized for insertion through a cannula to reach internal tissue and containing first and second bladder cavities;
- an actuated member attached to the elongate implement portion and comprising a motive surface positioned between the first and second bladder cavities;
- a first actuating bladder in fluid communication with the first conduit and positioned within the first bladder cavity in the elongate implement portion to actuate the motive surface of the actuating member in a first direction in response to fluid transfer from the first conduit;
- and
- a second actuating bladder in fluid communication with the second conduit and positioned within the second bladder cavity in the elongate implement portion to actuate the motive of the actuating member in a second direction in opposition to the first direction in response to fluid transfer from the second conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.