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US 5,501,654 AGranted
Endoscopic instrument having articulating element
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsStephen J. Failla, Michael J. Stokes, Daniel W. Price, Charles M. Rarey, Bennie Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elastically deformable element having multiple stacked strips for articulation in an endoscopic surgical instrument. The deformable element is usable in a variable retractor and an instrument having an articulating housing. The working section of the retractor variably moves from a curved configuration when outside of a sheath to a substantially straightened configuration when inside the sheath.
Claims46
An endoscopic surgical instrument for insertion by a user through a trocar cannula, comprising:
- a sheath, said sheath having a proximal end proximal to the user of said instrument, and an opposite distal end;
- at least one elongated element positioned inside said sheath;
- said elongated element having a distal end portion which is movable between a retracted position wherein said distal end portion is inside said sheath and an extended position wherein said distal end portion is outside of said distal end of said sheath;
- said distal end portion having a working section, said sheath engaging said working section wherein said working section is elastically moved from a curved configuration when said working section is outside of said sheath to a substantially straightened configuration when said working section is inside said sheath;
- said working section including a least two flat strips which are positioned adjacent each other and individually constructed with said curved configuration so as to cause said working section to be permanently biased towards said curved configuration, said curved configuration having a predetermined radius of curvature said strips being generally parallel to each other when said working section is in said curved configuration;
- each of said strips having a distal end located in said working section and a proximal end located proximally of said distal end;
- said strips being relatively thin and being affixed to each other at said proximal ends so as to be non-slidable relative to each other at said proximal ends and longitudinally slidable relative to each other at said distal ends.
4 more elements
An endoscopic surgical instrument for insertion by a user through a trocar cannula, comprising:
- a housing, said housing having a proximal end proximal the user of said instrument and an opposite distal end;
- and at least one elongated element extending at least partially within said housing and being longitudinally movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
- and said element having a working section which is elastically bendable from a curved configuration and which includes at least two relatively thin flat strips which are positioned adjacent each other;
- each of said strips having a distal end located in said working section and a proximal end located proximally of said working section;
- said element being simultaneously bendable and longitudinally movable;
- said distal end of said housing engaging said working section wherein said element is substantially straightened from said curved configuration as said element moves longitudinally from said extended position to said retracted position;
- said strips being generally parallel to each other when said working section is in said curved configuration;
- said strips being affixed to each other at said proximal ends so as to be non-slidable relative to each other at said proximal ends and longitudinally slidable relative to each other at said distal ends and being individually constructed with said curved configuration in said working section.
5 more elements
An endoscopic surgical instrument for insertion by a user through a trocar cannula, comprising:
- a sheath, said sheath having a proximal end proximal the user of said instrument, and an opposite distal end;
- at least one elongated element positioned inside said sheath, said elongated element having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
- said elongated element being movable between a retracted position wherein said distal end portion is inside said sheath and an extended position wherein said distal end portion is outside of said sheath;
- said distal end portion having a working section, said sheath engaging said working section wherein said working section is elastically moved from a curved configuration when said working section is outside of said sheath to a substantially straightened configuration when said working section is inside said sheath by engagement of said sheath with said working section;
- said working section including at least two flat strips which are positioned adjacent each other and individually constructed with said curved configuration so as to cause said working section to be permanently biased towards said curved configuration, said curved configuration having a predetermined radius of curvature;
- said strips being generally parallel to each other when said working section is in said curved configuration;
- each of said strips having a distal end located in said working section and a proximal end located proximally of said working section;
- said strips being relatively thin and being affixed to each other at said proximal ends so as to be non-slidable relative to each other at said proximal ends and longitudinally slidable relative to each other at said distal ends.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.