Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10492811-B2
Publication Date
2019-12-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
An endoscopic includes a handle, a tubular member, a control member, and an end effector assembly. The handle has a stationary member and a movable member. The movable member includes a constrained curved path for passage of the control member. The tubular member has an end coupled to the stationary member and a distal end rotatably coupled to the end effector assembly. The control member extends through the curved path, the tubular member, and is coupled to the end effector assembly. A knob is attached to the movable member and control member. Displacement of the movable member relative to the stationary member causes actuation of the end effector assembly, and rotation of the knob on the movable member causes the control member to rotate within both the constrained curved path and the tubular member, and results in rotation of the end effector assembly.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an endoscopic instrument for manipulation of tissue in a patient. The instrument includes a proximal handle having a stationary member and a movable member movable relative to the stationary member, where the movable member provides a non-straight constrained curved path. A flexible tubular member is longitudinally fixed at its proximal end relative to the stationary member and is coupled at its distal end to an end effector assembly rotatably coupled for tissue manipulation by first and second members movable relative to each other.
A flexible control member extends through the constrained curved path in the movable member and through the tubular member, and is coupled to the end effector assembly. The control member is held within an elastic bend through the constrained curved path, such that the bend is within an elastic limit of the control member and is not subject to plastic deformation by the bend. A rotational input attached to the proximal end of the control member is mounted on the movable member, where the rotational input is rotatable about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis.
Movement of the movable member relative to the stationary member actuates the end effector assembly, while rotation of the rotational input relative to the movable member causes the control member to rotate within the constrained curved path and the tubular member. This rotation results in rotation of the end effector assembly about the longitudinal axis with the control member rotating within the constrained curved path while remaining within the elastic limit. In additional embodiments, the instrument includes a rotatable ferrule at the distal end of the stationary member that integrates a cautery connector with an electrode and is configured to radially reorient the cautery connector.
In the ferrule embodiments, rotation of the ferrule relative to the stationary member radially reorients the cautery connector, while rotation of the rotational input relative to the movable member causes the control member to rotate and results in rotation of the end effector assembly about the longitudinal axis. The described structure further includes a metal sleeve fixed at a proximal end of the tubular member and a bracket retaining the sleeve relative to the ferrule, so that the ferrule, bracket, sleeve, and flexible tubular member have a second rotational action distinct and separate from a first rotational action among the rotational input, control member, and end effector assembly. The rotational input rotates about a second axis transverse to a first axis extending along the tubular member.
Claims Coverage
The provided material includes three independent claims, each defining an endoscopic instrument architecture with a constrained curved path control member, a flexible tubular member coupled to a rotatable end effector, and a rotational input that rotates the control member and end effector about a longitudinal axis; additional claim scope is added for elastic-limit bending and for rotatable ferrule cautery connector reorientation with distinct rotational actions. Inventive features below reflect the main inventive structures and relationships stated in each independent claim.
Non-straight constrained curved path for flexible control member
The movable member of the proximal handle provides a non-straight constrained curved path, and the flexible control member extends through the constrained curved path while being held within an elastic bend through the constrained curved path.
Longitudinally fixed flexible tubular member coupled to rotatably actuated end effector
A flexible tubular member has a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal axis, with the proximal end longitudinally fixed relative to the stationary member and the distal end rotatably coupled to an end effector assembly that manipulates tissue via first and second members movable relative to each other.
Rotational input transverse to longitudinal axis drives end effector rotation about longitudinal axis
A rotational input attached to the proximal end of the control member is mounted on the movable member and is rotatable about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, where movement of the movable member relative to the stationary member actuates the end effector assembly and rotation of the rotational input relative to the movable member causes the control member to rotate within the constrained curved path and the tubular member, resulting in rotation of the end effector assembly about the longitudinal axis.
Elastic-limit bend of flexible control member within constrained curved path
The flexible control member extends through the constrained curved path and the tubular member to the end effector assembly, and assumes a bend through the constrained curved path within an elastic limit such that the control member is not subject to plastic deformation by the bend.
Longitudinal displacement and transverse-axis rotation relative to handle
Actuation of the handle assembly longitudinally displaces the control member relative to the tubular member to operate the end effector assembly, and rotation of the rotational input about an input axis transverse to the longitudinal axis relative to the movable member causes the control member to rotate around the longitudinal axis and within the constrained curved path within the elastic limit, resulting in rotation of the end effector assembly relative to the tubular member.
Rotatable ferrule with integrated cautery connector and radial reorientation
A ferrule rotatably positioned at the distal end of the stationary member has an integrated cautery connector with an electrode and defining a throughbore, where rotation of the ferrule relative to the stationary member radially reorients the cautery connector, and rotation of the rotational input relative to the movable member causes the control member to rotate and results in rotation of the end effector assembly about the longitudinal axis.
Distinct first and second rotational actions with ferrule-related components
The rotational input, the control member, and the end effector assembly have a first rotational action, while the ferrule, bracket, sleeve, and flexible tubular member have a second rotational action distinct and separate from the first rotational action, and the flexible tubular member extends along a first axis while the rotational input rotates about a second axis transverse to the first axis.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive coverage is directed to manipulating tissue with a handle-driven flexible control member constrained in a non-straight curved path and coupled to a rotatably coupled end effector, using an elastic-limit bend to maintain control-member behavior during rotation about the longitudinal axis, and optionally adding a rotatable ferrule that radially reorients an integrated cautery connector with a separate rotational action coordinated with rotation of the end effector.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?