Articulating surgical instruments
AssigneeC.R. Bard, Inc.
InventorsKevin J. Ranucci, Nathan Stewart Cauldwell, Augustus Felix
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical instrument and its method of use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The elongated shaft assembly may include an articulable portion with an articulation direction. The elongated shaft assembly may also include a tubular member with a flexible portion with a preferential bending direction and a direction of bending resistance. The tubular member may permit articulation of the elongated shaft assembly when the preferential bending direction is aligned with the articulation direction.
Claims32
A surgical instrument comprising:
- a handle;
- and
- an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle, wherein the elongated shaft assembly includes an articulable portion with an articulation direction, and wherein the elongated shaft assembly includes a tubular member with a flexible portion with a preferential bending direction and a direction of bending resistance, wherein the tubular member permits articulation of the elongated shaft assembly when the preferential bending direction is aligned with the articulation direction.
A surgical instrument comprising:
- a handle;
- and
- an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle, the elongated shaft assembly comprising:
- a first tubular member including a first flexible portion with a first preferential bending direction;
- a second tubular member including a second flexible portion with a second preferential bending direction;
- and
- a third tubular member including a third flexible portion with a third preferential bending direction and a direction of bending resistance, wherein the first tubular member, the second tubular member, and the third tubular member are coaxially located, wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member are axially fixed relative to one another at a position distal from the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion;
- and wherein the third tubular member is displaceable relative to the first tubular member and the second tubular member.
A surgical instrument comprising:
- a handle;
- and
- an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle, the elongated shaft assembly comprising:
- a first tubular member including a first flexible portion with a first spine;
- a second tubular member including a second flexible portion with a second spine, wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member are axially fixed relative to one another at a position distal from the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion;
- and
- a third tubular member including a third flexible portion with a third spine and a fourth spine, wherein the first tubular member, the second tubular member, and the third tubular member are coaxially located, and wherein the third tubular member is displaceable relative to the first tubular member and the second tubular member.
A surgical instrument comprising:
- a handle;
- an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle, the elongated shaft assembly including:
- a first tubular member including a first flexible portion with a first spine;
- a second tubular member including a second flexible portion with a second spine and a third spine, wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member are coaxially located, wherein the first tubular member and the second tubular member are axially fixed relative to one another at a position distal from the first flexible portion and the second flexible portion, and wherein the second tubular member is rotatable relative to the first tubular member.
A method of operating a surgical instrument, the method comprising:
- providing:
- a handle;
- an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle, wherein the elongated shaft assembly includes an articulable portion with an articulation direction, and wherein the elongated shaft assembly includes a tubular member with a flexible portion with a preferential bending direction and a direction of bending resistance;
- and
- displacing the tubular member to selectively align the preferential bending direction of the tubular member with the articulation direction of the elongated shaft assembly to permit articulation of the elongated shaft assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.