Surgical instruments having improved wear resistance, and methods of making the same

US9687302B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC. · US

Inventors

• Samuel T. Crews · Palomar Park, US
• Andrew Crews · San Jose, US
• Edward P. Donlon · San Jose, US
• Craig Gerbi · Mountain View, US
• Kenneth L. Gong · San Jose, US
• Karnarnadakala D. Krishnanand · San Jose, US
• Peling G. Lee · Palo Alto, US
• Theodore W. Rogers · Alameda, US
• John Ryan Steger · Sunnyvale, US
• Charles E. Swinehart · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 7, 2014
• Grant date: Jun 27, 2017
• Expiry date: Feb 5, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49826
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical apparatus includes a cannula and a surgical instrument. The cannula includes a curved longitudinal axis along at least a portion of its length. The surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, and an end effector coupled to the distal end of the elongated shaft. At least a portion of the end effector is configured to contact an inner surface of the cannula during insertion of the surgical instrument into the curved cannula. A threshold galling stress between the portion of the end effector and an inner surface of the curved cannula is at least 10,000 pounds per square inch.