SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATING SHAFTS

摘要

The present disclosure is directed to end effectors. An end effector includes an outer shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and an inner shaft partially located within the outer shaft. The end effector may include an ultrasonic blade. The inner shaft may include biased and unbiased portions. The inner shaft and outer shaft may be translatable relative to one another. At one translatable position, the biased portion of the inner shaft may be located within the outer shaft and the unbiased portion may be substantially straight along the longitudinal axis. At another translatable position, the biased portion of the inner shaft may be located outside of and distally positioned from the outer shaft such that the biased portion of the inner shaft is bent away from the longitudinal axis.

主权项

1. An articulatable surgical instrument comprising:
an end effector to treat tissue; an outer shaft extending along a longitudinal axis; an inner shaft at least partially within the outer shaft, the inner shaft extending proximally from the end effector, wherein the inner shaft comprises a biased portion that is biased to bend away from the longitudinal axis in a first direction; wherein the inner shaft and the outer shaft are translatable relative to one another to a first position where the biased portion of the inner shaft is within the outer shaft and the inner shaft is substantially straight along the longitudinal axis; and wherein the inner shaft and the outer shaft are translatable relative to one another to a second position where the biased portion of the inner shaft is outside of and distally positioned from the outer shaft such that the biased portion of the inner shaft is bent away from the longitudinal axis in the first direction.