Control features for articulating surgical device

US9877720B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Barry C. Worrell · Maineville, US
• Zhifan F. Huang · Mason, US
• Jason R. Lesko · Cadiz, US
• Matthew C. Miller · Cincinnati, US
• Geoffrey S. Strobl · Williamsburg, US
• Gregory A. Trees · Loveland, US
• Charles S. Black · Cincinnati, US
• William E. Clem · Bozeman, US
• Emron J. Henry · Seattle, US
• Kevin M. Montgomery · Morrow, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 19, 2011
• Grant date: Jan 30, 2018
• Expiry date: Jul 18, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2017/2946
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An electrosurgical device includes a body, an end effector, a cutting member, and a shaft. The end effector comprises a pair of jaws and at least one electrode that is operable to deliver RF energy to tissue clamped between the jaws. The cutting member is operable to cut tissue clamped between the jaws. The shaft includes an articulation section that is operable to selectively position the end effector at non-parallel positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The body includes a controller operable to selectively actuate the articulation section. The controller may include a rotary knob, a pivoting knob, or a pivoting fin, among other things. An electrical coupling may contact a conductive moving member along at least two axes. A resiliently biased lever may assist a trigger in returning from an actuated position to a home position.