Gear arrangement and surgical instrument with a gear arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11607237-B2
Application number	US-202017132740-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2020
Priority date	Jul 4, 2017
Publication date	Mar 21, 2023
Grant date	Mar 21, 2023

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

What is claimed is:

1. A gear arrangement for a surgical instrument, the gear arrangement comprising:
two drive units; and
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 at least one proximally arranged rotation element or a thrust element for opening and 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, wherein the translatory transmission elements are movable in the same direction via the first drive unit, wherein the at least one proximally arranged rotation element of the second drive unit is configured as a sun gear that can be driven in rotation, wherein a first planet gear and a second planet gear for taking up a drive torque is in constant toothed engagement with the sun gear and resulting movements of the first planet gear and the second planet gear can be conveyed to respective first and second planet carriers, wherein each of the two translatory transmission elements is coupled to the respective first and second planet carriers in order to be movable in opposite directions during rotation of the sun gear.

2. A gear arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the sun gear is configured to be driven in rotation directly or indirectly via a further coaxially arranged rotation element connected fixedly to the sun gear, wherein the sun gear is selectively in toothed engagement with an outer toothing of a pivotable gearwheel segment of a control element.

3. A gear arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one proximally arranged rotation element of the first drive unit comprises two rotation elements, wherein a first rotation element of the two rotation elements is configured as a first ring gear segment that can be driven in rotation, wherein the first planet gear for taking up a drive torque is in constant toothed engagement with the first ring gear segment and resulting movements of the first planet gear are conveyed to the first planet carrier, wherein an output of the first planet carrier is converted by a first transmission element of the two transmission elements, according to a chosen direction of drive rotation of the first ring gear segment, into a positive or negative thrust for opening or closing the two-part end effector by rotation of a first function unit of the plurality of function units.

4. A gear arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein a second rotation element of the two rotation elements is configured as a second ring gear segment, wherein the second planet gear for taking up a drive torque is in constant toothed engagement with the second ring gear segment, and movement of the second planet gear is conveyed to the second planet carrier, wherein a second transmission element of the two translatory transmission elements is coupled to the second planet carrier and converts an output of the second planet carrier, according to the chosen direction of drive rotation of the second ring gear segment, into the positive or negative thrust for opening or closing the two-part end effector by rotation of a second function unit of the plurality of function units.

5. A gear arrangement according to claim 4 , wherein, in a non-pivoted position of the two-part end effector, the first planet gear and the second planet gear and the associated first and second ring gear segments are configured to be arranged symmetrically with respect to a center axis of the translatory transmission elements and are movable in opposite directions by the control element engaging jointly on the first and second ring gear segments, in order to generate via the respective first and second planet carriers a unidirectional movement of one of the two translatory transmission elements for opening and closing the two-part end effector by rotation of the plurality of function units.

6. A gear arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein 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.

7. A gear arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein at least one control element is configured as one of a lever, a joystick and an actuation button.

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 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.

10. A gear arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of 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.

11. 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 at least one proximally arranged rotation element or a thrust element for opening and 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, wherein the translatory transmission elements are movable in the same direction via the first drive unit, wherein the at least one proximally arranged rotation element of the second drive unit is configured as a sun gear that can be driven in rotation, wherein a first planet gear and a second planet gear for taking up a drive torque is in constant toothed engagement with the sun gear and resulting movements of the first planet gear and the second planet gear can be conveyed to respective first and second planet carriers, wherein each of the two translatory transmission elements is coupled to the respective first and second planet carriers in order to be movable in opposite directions during rotation of the sun gear;
a proximally arranged handle with the gear arrangement and a grip part that is 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 and close the two-part end effector by a respective control element arranged at the handle.

Assignees

• Storz Karl Se & Co Kg

Inventors

• Forster Jonas

Classifications

• A61B2017/2938

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

• A61B2017/2923

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

• A61B2017/2919

  details of linkages or pivot points · CPC title

• A61B17/3201

  Scissors (for biopsy A61B10/02) · CPC title

• A61B2017/2927

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