Adapter with centering mechanism for articulation joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10299790-B2
Application number	US-201715449210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2017
Priority date	Mar 3, 2017
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A joint assembly of an adapter defines a first longitudinal axis and includes first and second hinges, first and second rings, a joint cover, and a biasing mechanism. The joint cover has first and second cover portions. The first ring is pivotally coupled to the first hinge and the first cover portion is pivotally coupled to the first hinge to define a first joint center. The second ring is pivotally coupled to the second cover portion and the second hinge is pivotally coupled to the second ring to define a second joint center that is spaced from the first joint center. The first and second joint centers define a cover axis of the joint cover. The biasing mechanism is engaged with the first ring and the joint cover to bias the joint cover towards an aligned configuration in which the cover axis is aligned with the first longitudinal axis.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A joint assembly comprising:
a proximal joint housing defining a first longitudinal axis and including a first hinge positioned at a distal portion of the proximal joint housing;
a first ring pivotally coupled to the first hinge about a first pivot axis orthogonal to and intersecting the first longitudinal axis;
a joint cover having a first cover portion and a second cover portion, the first cover portion pivotally coupled to the first hinge about a second pivot axis orthogonal to and intersecting the first pivot axis and the first longitudinal axis, the first and second pivot axes intersecting the first longitudinal axis at a first joint center;
a second ring pivotally coupled to the second cover portion of the joint cover about a third pivot axis;
a second hinge pivotally coupled to the second ring about a fourth pivot axis orthogonal to the third pivot axis, the third and fourth pivot axes intersecting at a second joint center spaced from the first joint center, a cover axis of the joint cover defined between the first and second joint centers; and
a biasing mechanism engaged with the first ring and the joint cover to bias the first ring and the first cover portion in a direction parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and to bias the joint cover towards an aligned configuration in which the cover axis is aligned with the first longitudinal axis.

2. The joint assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the biasing mechanism includes a pair of inner biasing bars and a pair of outer biasing bars, the pair of inner biasing bars engaged with the first cover portion of the joint cover and the pair of outer biasing bars engaged with the first ring.

3. The joint assembly according to claim 2 , wherein each of the inner and outer biasing bars of the pairs of inner and outer biasing bars extends longitudinally and is translatable in a direction parallel to the first longitudinal axis.

4. The joint assembly according to claim 3 , wherein each of the inner and outer biasing bars of the pairs of inner and outer biasing bars is operably associated with a respective biasing member that is configured to urge the associated biasing bar through the first hinge.

5. The joint assembly according to claim 4 , wherein in an aligned configuration of the second hinge, a second longitudinal axis is aligned with the cover axis and the first longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis passing through the second joint center and extending through the center of the second hinge.

6. The joint assembly according to claim 5 , wherein in a first articulated configuration of the joint assembly, the second longitudinal axis is articulated relative to the cover axis with the joint cover in the aligned configuration and in a second articulated configuration of the joint assembly, the second longitudinal axis is articulated relative to the cover axis and the cover axis is articulated relative to the first longitudinal axis.

7. The joint assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the biasing mechanism is configured to maintain the joint assembly in the first articulated configuration until the second longitudinal axis is articulated to a maximum angle of articulation relative to the cover axis.

8. The joint assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the maximum angle of articulation is in a range of 15° to 45°.

9. The joint assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first drive shaft extending through the first hinge;
a joint body having a first body portion and a second body portion, the first body portion being rotatably disposed within the first cover portion and rotatably and pivotally coupled to the first drive shaft, the second body portion being rotatably disposed within the second cover portion; and
a second drive shaft extending through the second hinge, the second drive shaft rotatably and pivotally coupled to the second body portion.

10. The joint assembly according to claim 9 , wherein a drive ball of the first drive shaft is disposed within the first body portion.

11. The joint assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the first drive shaft is rotatably disposed along the first longitudinal axis, the drive ball defining a center channel orthogonal to the first longitudinal axis and arced slots in a plane aligned with the first longitudinal axis and bisecting the center channel.

12. The joint assembly according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a center pin disposed within the center channel and defining a pin opening orthogonal to a central longitudinal axis of the center pin; and
a shaft pin disposed within the pin opening and the arced slots to rotatably couple the joint body to the first drive shaft.

13. The joint assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the arced slots and the shaft pin cooperate to limit articulation between the first drive shaft and the joint body.

14. The joint assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the second drive shaft further includes a receiver, the receiver being rotatably disposed within the second cover portion and receiving the second body portion.

15. The joint assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the cover axis passes through the first and second joint centers, the second body portion defining a center channel orthogonal to the cover axis and arced slots in a plane aligned with the cover axis and bisecting the center channel.

16. The joint assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the joint body is rotatable along the cover axis.

17. The joint assembly according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a center pin disposed within the center channel and defining a pin opening that is orthogonal to a central longitudinal axis of the center pin; and
a shaft pin disposed within the pin opening and the arced slots to rotatably couple the joint body to the second drive shaft.

18. The joint assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the arced slots and the shaft pin cooperate to limit articulation between the joint body and the second drive shaft.

19. An adapter comprising:
a proximal portion configured to couple to a handle;
an elongate portion extending from the proximal portion and defining a first longitudinal axis; and
a distal portion supported by the elongate portion and configured to releasably couple a tool assembly to the handle, the distal portion including a joint assembly having:
a first hinge disposed along the first longitudinal axis and positioned at a distal end of the elongate portion;
a first ring pivotally coupled to the first hinge about a first pivot axis orthogonal to and intersecting the first longitudinal axis;
a joint cover having a first cover portion and a second cover portion, the first cover portion pivotally coupled to the first hinge about a second pivot axis orthogonal to and intersecting the first pivot axis and the first longitudinal axis, the first and second pivot axes intersecting the first longitudinal axis at a first joint center; a second ring pivotally coupled to the second cover portion of the joint cover about a third pivot axis;
a second hinge pivotally coupled to the second ring about a fourth pivot axis orthogonal to the third pivot axis, the third and fourth pivot axes intersecting at a second joint center spaced from the first joint center, a cover axis of the joint cover defined between the first and second joint centers; and
a biasing mechanism engaged with the first ring and the joint cover to bias the first ring and the first cover portion in a direction parallel to the first longitudinal axis, and to bias the joint cover towards an aligned con

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Beardsley John

Classifications

• A61B17/07207 Primary

  the staples being applied sequentially · CPC title

• A61B2017/07271

  characterised by its cartridge · CPC title

• F16C2316/10

  in medical appliances, e.g. in diagnosis, dentistry, instruments, prostheses, medical imaging appliances · CPC title

• A61B2017/00398

  using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids · CPC title

• F16C11/06

  Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints (universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16) · CPC title