Gear assembly and surgical instrument with a gear assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10905450-B2
Application number	US-201816026225-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2018
Priority date	Jul 4, 2017
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A gear arrangement including two drive units ( 210, 220, 310, 320, 410 ), and two translatory transmission elements ( 151, 152, 251, 252, 351, 352 ), to each of which a rotationally movable function unit ( 141, 142 ) of a distally arranged two-part end effector ( 140 ) can be coupled. The first drive unit ( 210, 310, 410 ) has at least one proximally arranged rotation element ( 311, 411 ) or a thrust element ( 210 ) for opening or closing the end effector ( 140 ) by rotation of at least one function unit ( 141, 142 ). The second drive unit ( 220, 320 ), with which the translatory transmission elements ( 151, 152, 251, 252, 351, 352 ) are movable in opposite directions, has at least one proximally arranged rotation element ( 224, 320, 421 ) for simultaneous and unidirectional pivoting of the function units ( 141, 142 ) of the end effector ( 140 ). A surgical instrument includes the gear arrangement ( 200, 300, 400 ) in the handle ( 180 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gear arrangement for a surgical instrument, the gear arrangement comprising:
two drive units;
two translatory transmission elements, wherein a distally arranged two-part end effector comprises a plurality of function units, each of the function units being configured to be coupled to one of the two translatory transmission elements, wherein a first drive unit of the two drive units has a linearly displaceable thrust element for opening or closing the two-part end effector by rotation of at least one of the plurality of function units, wherein a second drive unit of the two drive units has at least one proximally arranged rotation element for simultaneous and unidirectional pivoting of the plurality of function units of the two-part end effector, wherein the translatory transmission elements are movable in opposite directions via the second drive unit; and
a whiffletree connected to each of the two translatory transmission elements in a region of a proximal end of a respective translatory transmission element of the two translatory transmission elements, wherein the linearly displaceable thrust element for opening or closing the two-part end effector is arranged centrally on the whiffletree in order to produce a unidirectional linear movement of the two translatory transmission elements and a contradirectional rotary movement of the function units relative to each other.

2. A gear arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the translatory transmission elements between the two-part end effector and the two drive units are arranged in an elongated shaft, wherein a handle is arranged at a proximal end of the elongated shaft, the handle comprising at least one control element assigned to one of the two drive units.

3. A gear arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one control element has a securing device for securing the at least one control element in at least one of at least one end position and one or more intermediate positions.

4. A gear arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one control element is configured as one of a lever, a joystick and an actuation button.

5. A gear arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the function units of the two-part end effector is one or more of grippers, scissors, a clamp, a jaw part, an expander, applicator forceps jaw for clips or staples and combinations of grippers, scissors, a clamp, a jaw part, an expander, and applicator forceps jaw for clips or staples.

6. A gear arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein one end of the whiffletree is connected to the rotation element of the second drive unit via a connection rod in order to transmit, in accordance with a pivoting of the rotation element configured as a rod, a drive torque to the whiffletree for pivoting the two-part end effector.

7. A gear arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the whiffletree has a rigid obtuse angle at a center of the whiffletree and, together with the connection rod and an additional connection rod between free ends of the rotation element of the second drive unit and of the whiffletree, forms a polygonal pivotable grip piece as a control element for pivoting the two-part end effector by contradirectional movements of the two translatory transmission elements.

8. A gear arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the two translatory transmission elements are pulling or pushing elements comprising one or more of a pull or push rod, a press rod and a cable pull.

9. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a distally arranged two-part end effector;
a gear arrangement comprising two drive units and two translatory transmission elements, wherein the distally arranged two-part end effector comprises a plurality of function units, each of the function units being coupled to one of the two translatory transmission elements, wherein a first drive unit of the two drive units has a linearly displaceable thrust element for opening or closing the two-part end effector by rotation of at least one of the plurality of function units, wherein a second drive unit of the two drive units has at least one proximally arranged rotation element for simultaneous and unidirectional pivoting of the plurality of function units of the two-part end effector, the gear arrangement further comprising a whiffletree connected to each of the two translatory transmission elements in a region of a proximal end of a respective translatory transmission element of the two translatory transmission elements, wherein the linearly displaceable thrust element for opening or closing the two-part end effector is arranged centrally on the whiffletree in order to produce a unidirectional linear movement of the two translatory transmission elements and a contradirectional rotary movement of the function units relative to each other;
a proximally arranged handle with the gear arrangement and a grip part configured to be gripped in a hand; and
a shaft connecting the handle to the two part end effector and the shaft comprising the two translatory transmission elements in order to pivot or to open or close the two-part end effector by a respective control element arranged at the handle.

10. A surgical instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the translatory transmission elements are movable in opposite directions via the second drive unit.

Assignees

• Storz Karl Se & Co Kg

Inventors

• Forster Jonas

Classifications

• A61B2017/2919

  details of linkages or pivot points · CPC title

• A61B2017/2938

  Independently actuatable jaw members, e.g. two actuating rods · CPC title

• A61B2017/2923

  Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion · CPC title

• A61B17/29 Primary

  Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery · CPC title

• A61B17/3201

  Scissors (for biopsy A61B10/02) · CPC title