The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 21, 2025
Filed:
Sep. 08, 2020
Covidien Lp, Mansfield, MA (US);
Zachary S. Heiliger, Nederland, CO (US);
Russell W. Holbrook, Longmont, CO (US);
William Whitney, Boulder, CO (US);
Jason G. Weihe, Longmont, CO (US);
Dylan R. Kingsley, Broomfield, CO (US);
Crystal A. Adams, Westminster, CO (US);
Curtis M. Siebenaller, Frederick, CO (US);
Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US);
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a housing, an articulating shaft, and an end effector assembly extending from the articulating shaft. Tensioning a first articulation cable and slackening a second articulation cable articulates the end effector assembly in a first direction and the opposite articulates the end effector assembly in a second, opposite direction. An articulation mechanism includes first and second capstans including proximal end portions of the first and second articulation cables at least partially wound thereabout. The first capstan is configured to rotate in a first direction to wind up the proximal end portion of the first articulation cable to tension the first articulation cable and in a second direction to unwind the proximal end portion of the first articulation cable to slacken the first articulation cable. The second capstan acts in an opposite manner to tension and slacken the second articulation cable.