Adapter assembly with pulley system and worm gear drive for interconnecting electromechanical surgical devices and surgical end effectors
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorDavid Nicholas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adapter assembly for selective connection to a surgical device is provided. The adapter assembly includes an outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end, a housing secured to the proximal end of the outer tube, and a cable drive assembly supported by the housing. The cable drive assembly includes a worm gear drive assembly, a cable gear assembly coupled to the worm gear drive assembly, and one or more cables coupled to the cable gear assembly and axially translatable within the outer tube.
Claims20
An adapter assembly for selectively interconnecting an end effector that is configured to perform a function and a surgical device that is configured to operate the end effector, the adapter assembly comprising:
- an outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end;
- a housing secured to the proximal end of the outer tube;
- and
- a cable drive assembly supported by the housing and including:
- a worm gear;
- a cable gear coupled to the worm gear and rotatable in response to rotation of the worm gear;
- a capstan coupled to the cable gear and rotatable in response to rotation of the cable gear;
- and
- a cable coupled to the capstan, the cable axially translatable in response rotation of the capstan to actuate a function of the end effector while connected to the distal end of the outer tube.
A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:
- an end effector;
- a surgical device configured to operate the end effector;
- and
- an adapter assembly for selectively interconnecting the end effector and the surgical device, the adapter assembly including:
- an outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end;
- and
- a housing secured to the proximal end of the outer tube;
- a cable drive assembly supported by the housing and including:
- a worm gear;
- a cable gear coupled to the worm gear;
- a capstan coupled to the cable gear;
- and
- a cable coupled to the capstan, the cable axially translatable in response rotation of at least one of the worm gear, the cable gear, and the capstan.
An adapter assembly for selective connection to a surgical device, the adapter assembly comprising:
- an outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end;
- a housing secured to the proximal end of the outer tube;
- a cable drive assembly supported by the housing and including:
- a worm gear drive assembly;
- a cable gear assembly coupled to the worm gear drive assembly;
- and
- at least one cable coupled to the cable gear assembly and axially translatable within the outer tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.