Surgical instrument with contained dual helix actuator assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9545253-B2
Application number	US-201213622735-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2012
Priority date	Sep 24, 2010
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus comprises an end effector, an elongate shaft, and a handle assembly. The shaft includes an articulation section that is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The handle assembly includes a rotary member positioned within an intermediate section of the handle assembly. The rotary member is rotatable about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The rotary member is operable to control the articulation section of the shaft. The rotary member may include opposing thread sections that simultaneously drive lead screws in opposite longitudinal directions, to thereby control the articulation section. The shaft may be rotatable relative to the handle assembly, and the apparatus may selectively lock or resist such rotation based on the articulation state of the articulation section.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) an end effector;
(b) an elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the elongate shaft comprises:
(i) a distal end, wherein the end effector is positioned at the distal end of the elongate shaft,
(ii) a proximal end,
(iii) an articulation section, wherein the articulation section is operable to deflect at least part of the end effector away from the longitudinal axis,
(iv) a first lead screw, wherein the first lead screw is operable to translate longitudinally, and
(v) a second lead screw, wherein the second lead screw is operable to translate longitudinally,
wherein the first lead screw and the second lead screw are configured to translate longitudinally in opposing directions to thereby drive articulation of the end effector at the articulation section; and

(c) a handle assembly associated with the proximal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the handle assembly comprises:
(i) a rotary member, wherein the rotary member is operable to rotate about an axis of rotation to thereby cause simultaneous translation of the first lead screw and the second lead screw relative to the handle assembly shaft in opposing longitudinal directions, wherein the axis of rotation is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises a first lead screw member, wherein the rotary member defines internal threading engaged with the first lead screw member such that the rotary member is operable to translate the first lead screw member upon rotation of the rotary member about the axis of rotation, wherein the first lead screw member is operable to drive articulation of the end effector.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises a second lead screw member, wherein the second lead screw member is engaged with the internal threading of the rotary member such that the rotary member is operable to translate the second lead screw member upon rotation of the rotary member about the axis of rotation, wherein the second lead screw member is operable to drive articulation of the end effector.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the threading of the rotary member includes a first thread region and a second thread region, wherein the first thread region and the second thread region have opposing pitch relative to each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first lead screw member is engaged with the first thread region, wherein the second lead screw member is engaged with the second thread region.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the rotary member is operable to simultaneously translate the first lead screw member distally and translate the second lead screw member proximally in response to rotation of the rotary member in a first direction about the axis of rotation;
wherein the rotary member is further operable to simultaneously translate the first lead screw member proximally and translate the second lead screw member distally in response to rotation of the rotary member in a second direction about the axis of rotation.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotary member comprises at least two parts coupled together about the axis of rotation, the handle assembly further comprising one or more containment rings secured to the rotary member, wherein the one or more containment rings are operable to secure the at least two parts of the rotary member together.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises a housing, wherein the one or more containment rings include a bearing surface engaged with the housing of the handle assembly, wherein the one or more containment rings are rotatable with the rotary member relative to the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the rotary member comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the one or more containment rings comprise a first containment ring and a second containment ring, wherein the first containment ring is secured to the distal end of the rotary member, wherein the second containment ring is secured to the proximal end of the rotary member.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises a housing, wherein the rotary member further comprises a detent feature, wherein the detent feature of the rotary member is configured to engage a complementary detent feature of the housing in response to the articulation section arriving at a substantially straight configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the shaft or the end effector is rotatable relative to the handle assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a rotation locking feature, wherein the rotation locking feature is configured to selectively permit or prevent rotation of the shaft or end effector relative to the handle assembly.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the rotation locking feature is configured to permit rotation of the shaft or end effector relative to the handle assembly in response to the articulation section being in a substantially straight configuration, wherein the rotation locking feature is configured to prevent rotation of the shaft or end effector relative to the handle assembly in response to the articulation section being in an articulated configuration.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the handle assembly further comprises a first member and a second member, wherein the first member is configured to translate in response to rotation of the rotary member to drive the second member longitudinally, to thereby drive articulation of the end effector;
wherein the second member is configured to rotate with the shaft or end effector;
wherein the first member is configured to selectively lock the rotational position of the second member, and thereby lock the rotational position of the shaft or end effector, in response to the first member being driven into engagement with the second member by rotation of the rotary member.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a rotation resistance feature, wherein the rotation resistance feature is configured to provide varied resistance to rotation of the shaft or end effector relative to the handle assembly based on an articulation state of the articulation section.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the rotation resistance feature is configured to provide a first degree of resistance in response to the articulation section being substantially straight, wherein the rotation resistance feature is configured to provide a second degree of resistance in response to the articulation section being articulated, wherein the second degree of resistance is higher than the first degree of resistance.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the rotation resistance feature comprises an elastomeric material configured to provide varied frictional resistance to rotation the shaft or end effector.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) a first jaw, and
(ii) a second jaw,
wherein the first jaw is movable toward the second jaw to clamp tissue between the first and second jaw,
wherein at least one of the jaws comprises at least one electrode,
wherein the at least one electrode is operable to deliver RF energy to tissue clamped between the first and second jaw.

19. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) an end effector;
(b) an elongate shaft, wherein the elongate shaft defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the elongate shaft comprises:
(i) a dis

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc

Inventors

• Worrell Barry C
• Lesko Jason R

Classifications

• A61B2018/1455

  having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws · CPC title

• A61B2018/00702

  Power or energy · CPC title

• A61B2017/2908

  Multiple segments connected by articulations · CPC title

• A61B18/1447

  wherein sliding surfaces cause opening/closing of the end effectors · CPC title

• A61B18/1445 Primary

  at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod · CPC title