Systems to apply preload tension for surgical instruments and related methods

US11160625B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Matthew A. Wixey · Rancho Santa Margarita, US
• William A. Burbank · Sandy Hook, US
• Thomas G. Cooper · Menlo Park, US
• Patrick Flanagan · San Diego, US
• Nicholas Ragosta · San Jose, US
• Donald F. Wilson, Jr. · Santa Clara, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 13, 2017
• Grant date: Nov 2, 2021
• Expiry date: Feb 22, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2034/715
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical system includes a dynamic preload tension feature for a tensioning element that actuates a distal end component of a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a chassis at a proximal end of the surgical instrument, drive components mounted in the chassis, a distal end component at a distal end of the surgical instrument, a flexible tensioning element coupled between a first of the drive components and the distal end component, and a dynamic preload tensioner mounted in the chassis and coupled to a second of the drive components. The flexible tensioning element extends along a path. The dynamic preload tensioner is configured to be driven by the second of the drive components to be moved relative to the chassis and is positioned to change the path of the flexible tensioning element as the dynamic preload tensioner moves relative to the chassis.