Minimally invasive surgery instrument assembly with reduced cross section

US8986196B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC. · US

Inventors

• David Q. Larkin · Menlo Park, US
• Thomas G. Cooper · Menlo Park, US
• David C. Shafer · Menlo Park, US
• David J. Rosa · San Jose, US
• Matthew R. Williams · Walnut Creek, US
• Eugene F. Duval · Menlo Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 13, 2007
• Grant date: Mar 24, 2015
• Expiry date: Feb 11, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G16H40/67
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument extends through a guide tube and exits at an intermediate position of the guide tube. The instrument includes a parallel motion mechanism that changes the position of a distal end of the surgical instrument without changing the orientation of the distal end. An image capture component is at the distal end of the guide tube, and a joint allows the image capture component to move while the intermediate position remains stationary. The configuration allows a cross section of the guide tube to be oblong. In some aspects, a joint for the image capture component is placed between exit ports for surgical instruments, which allows the guide tube cross section to be further reduced.