Surgical stapler having a powered handle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11272934-B2
Application number	US-202016821830-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2020
Priority date	Apr 12, 2016
Publication date	Mar 15, 2022
Grant date	Mar 15, 2022

Abstract

A powered handle for a surgical stapler can have a drive system including an electric motor. The powered handle can include a manual articulation mechanism to articulate a jaw assembly coupled to a reload shaft connected to the handle. The manual articulation mechanism can include a ball screw mechanism that translates an articulation member responsive to rotation of an articulation knob. The articulation mechanism includes a release function that allows the jaw assembly to return to a longitudinally centered orientation. The powered handle includes a battery pack serving as a power supply for the drive system. A control system can control actuation of the motor based on user inputs and operating parameters of the stapler. The powered handle can include a manual return mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handle assembly for a surgical stapler, the handle assembly comprising:
a handle body comprising a stationary handle and a trigger pivotably coupled to the handle body;
a power system within the handle body;
an actuation shaft operatively coupled to the power system, the actuation shaft slidable within the handle body along a longitudinal axis; and
an articulation mechanism comprising:
a manually actuated articulation knob positioned at a proximal end of the handle body and rotatable about the longitudinal axis; and
an articulation adapter positioned at the distal end of the handle body, the articulation adapter operatively coupled to the articulation knob such that rotation of the articulation knob about the longitudinal axis longitudinally slides the articulation adapter.

2. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a release mechanism configured to reset the articulation adapter to a longitudinally centered position.

3. The handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises:
a ball screw having a helical thread formed therein;
a ball sleeve positioned radially outwardly of the ball screw, and having an aperture formed therein; and
a ball bearing positioned in the aperture of the ball sleeve and engaged in the helical thread of the ball screw.

4. The handle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the ball screw is longitudinally movable relative to the handle body, and wherein movement of the ball bearing within the helical thread longitudinally moves the ball screw.

5. The handle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the ball screw has a distal end, and further comprising an articulation link coupled to the distal end of the ball screw and extending distally within the handle body to the articulation adapter.

6. The handle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the ball sleeve is rotationally coupled to the articulation knob.

7. The handle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a release mechanism configured to reset the articulation adapter to a longitudinally centered position.

8. The handle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a release button operatively engaged with a release sleeve such that actuation of the release button disengages the ball bearing from the helical thread.

9. The handle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the release sleeve has an inner surface comprising an engagement surface having a first inner diameter and a release surface having a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter.

10. A handle assembly for a surgical stapler, the handle assembly comprising:
a handle body comprising a stationary handle and a trigger pivotably coupled to the handle body;
a power system within the handle body;
an actuation shaft operatively coupled to the power system, the actuation shaft slidable within the handle body along a longitudinal axis; and
an articulation mechanism comprising:
a manually actuated articulation knob positioned at a proximal end of the handle body and rotatable about the longitudinal axis; and
a ball screw operatively coupled to the articulation knob and longitudinally movable by rotation of the articulation knob.

11. The handle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises at least one articulation link extending distally from the ball screw, the at least one articulation link positioned laterally offset from the actuation shaft.

12. The handle assembly of claim 11 , wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises an articulation adapter positioned at a distal end of the handle body, the articulation adapter coupled to the at least one articulation link.

13. The handle assembly of claim 12 , further comprising an actuation adapter coupled to the actuation shaft at the distal end of the handle body, wherein the articulation adapter is positioned coaxially radially outwardly of the actuation adapter.

14. The handle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the ball screw comprises at least one helical thread therein.

15. The handle assembly of claim 14 , wherein the at least one helical thread has a constant pitch.

16. A handle assembly for a surgical stapler, the handle assembly comprising:
a handle body comprising a stationary handle and a trigger pivotably coupled to the handle body;
a power system within the handle body;
an actuation shaft operatively coupled to the power system, the actuation shaft slidable within the handle body along a longitudinal axis; and

a manual articulation mechanism comprising a ball screw mechanism biased to a longitudinally centered position; and
a release mechanism configured to return the ball screw mechanism to the longitudinally centered position.

17. The handle assembly of claim 16 , wherein the ball screw mechanism comprises:
a ball screw having a helical thread formed therein;
a ball sleeve positioned radially outwardly of the ball screw, and having an aperture formed therein; and
a ball bearing positioned in the aperture of the ball sleeve and engaged in the helical thread of the ball screw.

18. The handle assembly of claim 17 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a release sleeve positioned radially outwardly of the ball sleeve.

19. The handle assembly of claim 18 , wherein the release sleeve comprises a radially inner surface comprising an engagement surface with a first inner diameter sized to maintain the ball bearing in the aperture of the ball sleeve and engaged in the helical thread.

20. The handle assembly of claim 19 , wherein the radially inner surface of the release sleeve further comprises a release surface having a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter such that with the release surface adjacent the apertures of the ball sleeve, the ball bearing is disengageable from the helical thread.

Assignees

• Applied Med Resources

Inventors

• Reed Christina N
• Becerra Matthew M
• Mccarthy Andrew J
• Zimmerman Scott
• Schober Joshua M
• Decker Steven E
• Hudson Kevin
• Pham Andy

Classifications

• A61B2017/2927

  the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft · CPC title

• A61B2017/2922

  toggle linkages · CPC title

• A61B2017/2912

  transmission of forces to actuating rod or piston · CPC title

• A61B2017/0046

  with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable · CPC title

• A61B17/2909

  Handles · CPC title