Reusable surgical instrument for minimally invasive procedures
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11478315-B2
Publication Date
2022-10-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed is a reusable surgical instrument (1) with an articulated end-effector (3), such as a dissector, scissor or grasper, to enhance a surgeon's performance during various surgical procedures. The longitudinal axis of the instrument is defined by a shaft (2), comprising an internal structural element (2″) covered by an external tube (2′), which may be inserted through a surgical incision into the body of a patient, optionally through a trocar. The articulated end-effector (3) is mounted on the distal extremity of the shall's internal structural element and comprises a plurality of links interconnected by a plurality of joints, whose movements are remotely actuated by the surgeon's hands. This remote actuation is accomplished via mechanical transmission (5, 6, 7), mainly composed of flexible elements, which are able to deliver motion from a set of actuation elements, placed at a proximal extremity of the shaft (2), to the instrument's articulated end-effector (3). The external tube (2) can be easily and individually detached from the shalt (2) after each procedure, so that the instrument (1) can be more effectively cleaned and sterilized.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a reusable minimally invasive surgical instrument with an articulated end-effector actuated by mechanical transmission elements incorporated with internal structural elements of a shaft. Its external tube detaches from the internal structural elements through threaded surfaces, exposing the transmission elements while the internal structural elements remain coupled to the proximal hub. The instrument can be sterilized with the tube detached and the tube re-attached for an additional surgery.
The provided content states that re-attaching the external tube avoids passage of air through the instrument and maintains insufflation of a body cavity. It also describes a sealing element and transverse supports with channels as features that help preserve airtightness. The background section itself is not included in the provided content, so its stated problem is not explicitly described.
Claims Coverage
The provided relevant claims identify one independent claim and one main inventive feature.
Detachable external tube for a reusable surgical instrument
The independent claim covers using an articulated end-effector actuated by mechanical transmission elements incorporated with internal structural elements of a shaft; detaching the external tube via threaded surfaces while the internal structural elements remain coupled to a proximal hub; sterilizing the instrument with the tube detached; and re-attaching the tube for an additional surgery while avoiding passage of air through the instrument to maintain body-cavity insufflation.
The independent claim centers on detaching and re-attaching the threaded external tube for sterilization and reuse while retaining the internal structural elements at the proximal hub and maintaining insufflation when the tube is re-attached.
Stated Advantages
Re-attaching the external tube avoids passage of air through the instrument and maintains insufflation of a body cavity.
Documented Applications
Use of the reusable surgical instrument to perform surgery with an articulated end-effector, including use for an additional surgery after the instrument is sterilized.
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