Control of jaw compression in surgical instrument having end effector with opposing jaw members
US8715277B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 8, 2010 |
| Grant date | May 6, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 18, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/320097
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A surgical instrument comprising a surgical instrument with opposing jaw members for clamping tissue therebetween. The surgical instrument may comprise a latch at a distal end of the end effector. The latch latches the distal end of the first jaw member to the distal end of the second jaw when the jaw members are in the closed position. Also, one of the jaw members may comprise a moveable tissue-contacting portion and a thermally-controlled spring adjacent to the tissue-contacting portion. The thermally-controlled spring is transitionable between a contracted state and an expanded state. The thermally-controlled spring may comprise a temperature-dependent, two-way memory effect, shape memory material. In the expanded state, the thermally-controlled spring urges the moveable tissue-contacting portion in a direction toward the other jaw member when the jaw members are in the closed position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.