Surgical instrument with modular end effector

US8998939B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Daniel W. Price · Loveland, US
• Richard W. Timm · Cincinnati, US
• Kyle P. Moore · Alpharetta, US
• Gregory W. Johnson · Milford, US
• John B. Schulte · Sharonville, US
• Daniel J. Mumaw · Milford, US
• Kevin L. Houser · Springboro, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 17, 2011
• Grant date: Apr 7, 2015
• Expiry date: Oct 17, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/53913
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument may include a reusable body assembly, a reusable transducer and blade assembly, and a disposable end effector. The transducer and blade assembly may be latched into the body assembly. One version may include an electrical connector on the latch member to electrically couple the body assembly to the transducer. The end effector may include an outer sheath portion coupleable to an outer sheath of the body assembly via a bayonet connection and a clamp arm pivotably coupled to the outer sheath portion. In some versions, an inner tubular member of the body assembly may also couple to an inner tube portion via a bayonet connection. The inner tubular member may include a key to align with a slot on the transducer and blade assembly to align the clamp arm with the blade. The end effector may alternatively couple via threading or ratcheting teeth having a slip feature.