Jaw member of instrument end effector and related devices, systems and methods
AssigneeIntuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
InventorsStuart Taylor, Adrit Lath, Scott E. Manzo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An instrument comprises a shaft and an end effector coupled to the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw member and a second jaw member opposing each other, each of the first and second jaw members extending distally relative to the shaft and movable relative to one another between an open configuration and a closed configuration. Each of the first and second jaw members comprises a jaw base and an electrode coupled to the jaw base. A distal portion of the electrode extend distally beyond the jaw base, and each jaw member comprises a support feature configured to support the distal portion of the electrode.
Claims21
An instrument comprising:
- a shaft comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
- and
- an end effector coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft, the end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member opposing each other, each of the first and second jaw members extending distally relative to the shaft and movable relative to one another between an open configuration and a closed configuration,
- wherein each of the first and second jaw members comprises:
- a proximal connection portion coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft,
- a jaw base extending distally from the proximal connection portion, the jaw base terminating at a distal end,
- an electrode coupled to the jaw base and comprising an exposed contact surface configured to contact an object between the first and second jaw members in a closed configuration of the first and second jaw members, the electrode having a distal portion extending distally beyond the distal end of the jaw base and terminating in a distal end, and
- a support feature configured to support the distal portion of the electrode, the support feature located distal to the distal end of the jaw base and on a side of the electrode opposite the exposed contract surface, and
- wherein a thickness of each of the first and second jaw members, measured along a height dimension perpendicular to the contact surface, is less in a region distal to the distal end of the jaw base than in a region including the jaw base.
An instrument comprising:
- a shaft comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
- and
- an end effector coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft, the end effector comprising:
- a first jaw member and a second jaw member opposing and pivotably coupled to each other by pivot pin members;
- and
- an actuation link engaged with the first and second jaw members to drive the first and second jaw members to pivotably move between open and closed states;
- wherein each of the first and second jaw members comprises a long tang and a short tang, the long tang being longer than the short tang,
- wherein each of the long and short tangs comprises a pivot aperture engaged with one of the pivot pin members, and
- wherein the long tang comprises a ramped slot engaged with the actuation link.
canceled
A method of assembling a jaw mechanism of an instrument end effector, comprising:
- providing a first jaw member comprising two first pivot apertures and a first ramped slot;
- providing a second jaw member comprising two second pivot apertures and a second ramped slot;
- coupling an actuation link to an actuation element, the actuation link comprising two
- engaging the pin members of the actuation links with the first and second ramped slots by moving the first and second jaw members laterally towards one another;
- pivoting the first and second jaw members relative to one another while the pin members of the actuation link are engaged with the first and second ramped slots so as to bring the respective first and second pivot apertures of the first and second jaw members into alignment with one another;
- and
- inserting pivot pin members through the aligned first and second pivot apertures of the first and second jaw members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.