Cilag International Gmbh

William George Saulenas

Tyler N Brehm

Mark A Davison

Christopher W Birri

Eric N Johnson

Jason Alan Hill

Austin Michael Fischer

Jalen Lee Wize

Thomas J Erb

An articulable wrist for an end effector includes a first linkage, a second linkage rotatably coupled to the first linkage at a first articulation joint, and a flexible member extending at least partially through a central channel cooperatively defined by the first and second linkages. A first pivot guide is rotatably coupled to the second linkage at the first articulation joint and rotatable about a first pivot axis extending through the first articulation joint, the first pivot guide defining a central aperture alignable with the central channel and sized to accommodate the flexible member therethrough. The first pivot guide supports an outer diameter of the flexible member at the first articulation joint and prevents the flexible member from flexing beyond the first pivot axis during articulation.

Articulable wrist with flexible member and pivot guides

An articulable wrist for an end effector includes a distal linkage provided at a distal end of the articulable wrist, a proximal linkage provided at a proximal end of the articulable wrist, a central channel cooperatively defined at least in part by the distal and proximal linkages and extending between the distal and proximal ends, and flexible member arranged within the central channel and providing one or more lobes arranged about a periphery of the flexible member. One or more stiffening members are arranged within the flexible member and extending at least partially between the distal and proximal ends, wherein at least one of the one or more stiffening members is positioned within a corresponding one of the one or more lobes.

Articulate wrist with flexible central member having stiffening members

A surgical tool includes a drive housing having an elongate shaft extending therefrom and an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft, a drive input rotatably mounted to the drive housing and having an input shaft extending therefrom, and upper and lower capstans mounted to the input shaft. First and second drive cables are coupled to the upper and lower capstans, respectively, and extend to the end effector, and a clutch feature is arranged to mate the upper capstan to the lower capstan and is movable between an engaged position, where rotation of the input shaft in either angular direction correspondingly rotates the upper and lower capstans in the same angular direction, and a disengaged position, where the upper and lower capstans are rotatable independent of each other in at least one angular direction.

Articulation capstan tension retainment using clutch mechanism

A surgical instrument and method of operating same includes an end effector and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has proximal and distal shaft portions respectively extending along proximal and distal axes, a first elongate member, and an articulation section. The articulation section extends between the proximal and distal shaft portions and is configured to articulate about a first articulation axis and about a second articulation axis to thereby respectively deflect the end effector along a first plane and a second plane. The articulation section has a first lumen radially offset from the proximal and distal axes that longitudinally intersects the first and second articulation axes. The first lumen movably supports the first elongate member such that the radial spacing of the first elongate member is maintained relative to the proximal and distal axes at each of the first and second articulation axes during deflection of the end effector.

Articulation joint with helical lumen

An articulable wrist for an end effector includes a distal linkage provided at a distal end of the articulable wrist, a proximal linkage provided at a proximal end of the articulable wrist, and a central channel cooperatively defined by the distal and proximal linkages and extending between the distal and proximal ends. A flexible member is arranged within the central channel and has a first end operatively coupled to the distal linkage and a second end axially movable relative to the proximal linkage. One or more conduits are defined in the flexible member to receive one or more central actuation members extending through the flexible member.

Articulate wrist with flexible central member

An articulable wrist for an end effector includes a distal linkage provided at a distal end of the articulable wrist, a proximal linkage provided at a proximal end of the articulable wrist, and a central channel cooperatively defined by the distal and proximal linkages and extending between the distal and proximal ends. A flexible member is arranged within the central channel, and one or more stiffening members are arranged within the flexible member and extend at least partially between the first and second ends. The stiffening members operate to increase a stiffness of the flexible member and the articulable wrist against bending.

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

William George Saulenas