Surgical instrument

US8382742B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Aesculap AG · DE

Inventors

• Reiner Hermann · Mühlheim an der Donau, DE
• Olaf Hegemann · Lörrach, DE
• Theodor Lutze · Spaichingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 28, 2011
• Grant date: Feb 26, 2013
• Expiry date: Nov 28, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2017/320032
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument is provided having proximal and distal end sections and a central section extending therebetween. An hollow outer shaft extends from the proximal to the distal end section. A drive element is rotatably mounted in the outer shaft and a tool is coupled to the drive element at the distal end section. The drive element comprises a flexible section arranged between the proximal and distal end sections which consists of a plurality of ring segments each of which has a first and a second end region. The first end region comprises projections which protrude in the axial direction and the second end region comprises recesses for accommodating the projections. The ring segments intermesh in an articulated manner by means of the projections and recesses. The outer shaft comprises an articulation zone which connects the distal end section and the central section together in an articulated manner.