Surgical apparatus with force limiting clutch
US8372082B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 2009 |
| Grant date | Feb 12, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 21, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2/441
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A force-limiting clutch for a surgical instrument includes a drive element and a transmission element. An actuator is coupled to the drive element, and a drive shaft is coupled to the transmission element for providing an output force. If the force input from the actuator to the clutch reaches a predetermined threshold, the force-limiting clutch “slips” and does not transfer the actuator force to the drive shaft to prevent excessive force/pressure output. Normally, drive features on the drive element engage with transmission features on the transmission element to transfer forces from the actuator to the drive shaft. When a threshold force is reached, the drive features slip past the transmission features. This clutch “breakpoint” determines the maximum loading that the surgical instrument can provide at its output. In various embodiments, multiple transmission features can be arranged in a serial manner, such that the force-limiting clutch provides multiple breakpoints.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.