Instrument for selectively grabbing and cutting tissue
Inventors
Brasset, Damien • Maghini, Stefano • Pozzato, Riccardo
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11883050-B2
Publication Date
2024-01-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
A surgical instrument configured for both grasping and cutting operations has a shaft with a push rod extending through it. An end effector on the shaft has a grasping jaw, a cutting jaw, and an intermediate jaw. The grasping jaw forms a grasping device with the intermediate jaw, and the cutting jaw forming a cutting device with the intermediate member. A segment of the shaft proximal to the end effector is axially rotatable between a first position, in which the push rod can advance through the segment to actuate the cutting device, and a second position in which the push rod can advance through the segment to actuate the grasping device
Core Innovation
The invention provides a method of using a surgical instrument in which an elongate shaft carries a push rod and an axially rotatable shaft tip. The shaft tip has first and second through-holes, and the end effector includes a grasping jaw, a cutting jaw, and at least one intermediate jaw. The grasping jaw forms a grasping device defining a grasping jaw opening with at least one of the intermediate jaw, while the cutting jaw forms a cutting device defining a cutting jaw opening with at least one of the intermediate jaw.
The method positions the shaft tip in a first axial position relative to the shaft so that the first through-hole is in longitudinal alignment with the push rod. An actuator is moved relative to the shaft to longitudinally advance the push rod into the first through-hole to move the grasping jaw from an open position to a closed position without moving the cutting jaw between open and closed positions.
The method then axially rotates the shaft tip to a second axial position relative to the shaft so that the second through-hole is in longitudinal alignment with the push rod. The actuator is moved again to longitudinally advance the push rod into the second through-hole to move the cutting jaw from the open position to the closed position without moving the grasping jaw between open and closed positions.
From the background, the invention addresses robotic surgical systems and instrument exchange delays, where multi-function operation reduces exchange time by enabling selective operation of grasping and cutting using the same instrument architecture.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 covers a multi-function surgical instrument usage method with two independent jaw actuation modes selected by axially rotating a shaft tip to align a push rod with one of two through-holes, totaling two main selectable inventive features (grasping-only actuation and cutting-only actuation).
Dual through-hole shaft-tip selection for isolated grasping actuation
Position the shaft tip in a first axial position relative to the shaft to align the first through-hole with the push rod, then longitudinally advance the push rod into the first through-hole using an actuator to move the grasping jaw from an open position to a closed position without moving the cutting jaw between open and closed positions.
Axial rotation to isolate cutting actuation through the second through-hole
Axially rotate the shaft tip to a second axial position relative to the shaft to align the second through-hole with the push rod, then longitudinally advance the push rod into the second through-hole using an actuator to move the cutting jaw from the open position to the closed position without moving the grasping jaw between open and closed positions.
The claim coverage focuses on selectively closing either the grasping jaw or the cutting jaw by aligning a push rod with one of two through-holes in an axially rotatable shaft tip, while keeping the other jaw device unchanged with respect to its open/closed state.
Stated Advantages
Multi-function operation reduces exchange time.
Documented Applications
Robotic surgical systems usage where instrument exchange delays are reduced by enabling selective grasping and cutting using a single instrument architecture.
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