US 2026/0294458 A1Published application

Surgical tool

AssigneeAtriCure, Inc.

InventorsKyra K. Wesner, Michael Dugger, Edward Biehle

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Abstract

A medical instrument comprising a first joint comprising first and second members, the first member repositionable with respect to the second member in a first degree of freedom, a second joint coupled to the first joint, the second joint comprising third and fourth members, the third member repositionable with respect to the fourth member in a second degree of freedom, repositionable jaws operatively coupled to the first joint and the second joint, an enclosed exclusion clip configured to lie flat in open and closed positions, the clip detachably mounted to the jaws, and a controller coupled to the first joint, the second joint, and the pair of jaws, the controller including a first control that repositions at least one of the first and second members, and a second control that repositions at least one of the third and fourth members, and a third control that repositions the jaws.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A minimally invasive medical instrument comprising:

a first joint comprising a first member and a second member, the first member configured to be repositionable with respect to the second member in a first degree of freedom;
a second joint operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint comprising a third member and a fourth member, the third member configured to be repositionable with respect to the fourth member in a second degree of freedom;
repositionable jaws operatively coupled to the first joint and the second joint;
an enclosed exclusion clip configured to lie flat in open and closed positions, the exclusion clip detachably mounted to the repositionable jaws;
and
a controller operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint, and the pair of repositionable jaws, the controller including a first control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the first member and the second member, and a second control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the third member and the fourth member, and a third control configured to direct repositioning of the repositionable jaws, wherein at least one of the repositionable jaws includes at least one wing providing a smooth longitudinal transition between the at least one repositionable jaw and an adjacent structure to which the at least one repositionable jaw is mounted.

3 more elements

A minimally invasive medical instrument comprising:

a first joint comprising a first member and a second member, the first member configured to be repositionable with respect to the second member in a first degree of freedom;
a second joint operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint comprising a third member and a fourth member, the third member configured to be repositionable with respect to the fourth member in a second degree of freedom;
repositionable jaws operatively coupled to the first joint and the second joint;
an enclosed exclusion clip configured to lie flat in open and closed positions, the exclusion clip detachably mounted to the repositionable jaws;
and
a controller operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint, and the pair of repositionable jaws, the controller including a first control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the first member and the second member, and a second control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the third member and the fourth member, and a third control configured to direct repositioning of the repositionable jaws, wherein at least one of the repositionable jaws includes at least one relief configured to at least partially house a suture knot when the at least one repositionable jaw is detachably mounted to the exclusion clip.

3 more elements

A minimally invasive medical instrument comprising:

a first joint comprising a first member and a second member, the first member configured to be repositionable with respect to the second member in a first degree of freedom;
a second joint operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint comprising a third member and a fourth member, the third member configured to be repositionable with respect to the fourth member in a second degree of freedom;
repositionable jaws operatively coupled to the first joint and the second joint;
an enclosed exclusion clip configured to lie flat in open and closed positions, the exclusion clip detachably mounted to the repositionable jaws;
and
a controller operatively coupled to the first joint, the second joint, and the pair of repositionable jaws, the controller including a first control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the first member and the second member, and a second control configured to direct repositioning of at least one of the third member and the fourth member, and a third control configured to direct repositioning of the repositionable jaws, wherein at least one of the repositionable jaws delineates a longitudinal channel approximating a linear path and configured to receive a deployment cable when the at least one repositionable jaw is detachably mounted to the exclusion clip.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/457,281Filed 23 Jan 2026
Priority: 24 Jan 2025
Published: 1 Oct 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

A61B 17/29
Surgical forceps: forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
A61B 34/71
Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery: manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
A61B 2017/0474
Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery: knot pushers
A61B 2017/2938
Transmission of forces to jaw members: independently actuatable jaw members, e.g. two actuating rods