Multiple implement operation and coordination using single actuator for medical devices

Inventors

Willard, Benjamin • Smith, Jeffrey T.

Assignees

Conmed Corp

Abstract

A system for a medical device that can operate multiple actuated implements with sophisticated and individual motion profiles using a single user actuator. The system has a handle having a pair of slots for each implement and an actuator positioned in the handle for movement between a first position and a second position that has a groove for each implement. Each implement is coupled to the handle a barrel that is captured in the pair of slots and driven by the groove of the actuator. The shape of the pair of slots and the corresponding groove combine to provide a motion profile for the implement that is independent from any other implement having its own pair of slots and groove. Multiple implements may thus be driven simultaneously and can have complex and coordinated movement based on user operation of the single actuator.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a medical device that uses a single actuator to independently control at least two implements through a coordinated architecture in a handle. The handle includes a first pair of slots and a second pair of slots, and the actuator is positioned in the handle for movement between a first position and a second position. The actuator includes a first groove and a second groove that respectively cooperate with the first and second slot pairs to drive movement of different implements.

A first implement is connected to a first barrel that extends between and is positioned in the first pair of slots of the handle and is captured in the first groove of the actuator. A second implement is connected to a second barrel that extends between and is positioned in the second pair of slots of the handle and captured in the second groove of the actuator. As the actuator moves between the first and second positions, the first groove drives the first barrel to move within the first pair of slots and the second groove drives the second barrel to move within the second pair of slots.

The architecture enables the two implements to follow distinct motion profiles by selecting groove shape and slot path geometry so that the first barrel and the first implement move according to a first motion profile while the second barrel and the second implement move according to a second motion profile. The disclosed piercing needle embodiment includes a hook connected to the first barrel and a lasso connected to the second barrel, where the hook and lasso are configured to entrap a suture using their respective motion profiles.

Claims Coverage

Independent claims are provided for a general medical device architecture with an actuator and two independently driven implements, a piercing needle embodiment using hook and lasso, and a method of independently controlling at least two implements via a single user action. Across these independent claims, the core inventive coverage is centered on the mapping of a single actuator’s two grooves to two distinct slot pairs and thus two barrel and implement motion paths and motion profiles.

The independent claim set consistently covers a handle with two slot pairs and a single actuator that has two grooves, where each groove captures a respective barrel and drives the corresponding implement through its respective slot path. The piercing needle independent claim grounds this architecture to hook and lasso, and the method independent claim recites moving an actuator via a button to independently control movement of the two implements.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found