US 2015/0305803 A1 · KNIFE DEPLOYMENT MECHANISMS FOR SURGICAL FORCEPS

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly having jaw members movable between spaced-apart, first approximated, and second approximated positions. A knife is selectively movable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position, a first extended position, and a second extended position. A trigger is selectively actuatable between a un-actuated position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position for moving the knife between its respective positions. A control member prevents movement of the trigger when the jaw members are disposed in the spaced-apart position, permits movement of the trigger to the first actuated position but prevents movement beyond the first actuated position when the jaw members are disposed in the first approximated position, and permits movement of the trigger to the second actuated position but prevents movement beyond the second actuated position when the jaw members are disposed in the second approximated position.

Claims19

Dependent claims

1-19. (canceled)

A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position;
a drive assembly operably coupled to the end effector assembly and movable between a first position and a second position to move the at least one of the first or second jaw members between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position;
a knife movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the knife extends at least partially between the first and second jaw members;
a trigger assembly operably coupled to the knife and movable between an un-actuated position and an actuated position to move the knife between the retracted position and the extended position;
and
at least one control member coupled to the drive assembly and movable relative to the trigger assembly, in response to movement of the drive assembly between the first position and the second position, between a blocking position and an unblocking position, the at least one control member configured to limit a range of motion of the trigger assembly between the un-actuated position and the actuated position in accordance with a position of the at least one control member relative to the blocking position and the unblocking position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/795,290Filed 9 Jul 2015

Priority

20 Feb 2012

Published

29 Oct 2015

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

A61B 18/1445
Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps: at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
A61B 17/295
Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery: combined with cutting implements
A61B 2017/292
Details of linkages or pivot points: connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
A61B 2017/2925
Handles: pistol grips

Family

Application13/400,290Continuation · filed 20 Feb 2012

Application14/299,740Continuation · filed 9 Jun 2014

Application14/795,290Continuation

US 2013/0218198 A1Published application

US 2014/0288557 A1Published application

US 8,747,434 B2Related patent

US 9,084,608 B2Related patent

US 9,867,658 B2Related patent

US 2015/0305803 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Knife deployment mechanisms for surgical forceps

Life of this patent

Knife deployment mechanisms for surgical forceps

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19