ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH OPPOSING THREAD DRIVE FOR END EFFECTOR ARTICULATION

摘要

An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, an articulation section, and an articulation control assembly. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly and comprises an ultrasonic blade. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft assembly and is operable to articulate to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly comprises first and second threaded members and an articulation control. The first and second threaded members have respective first and second pitch orientations. The articulation control is rotatable to thereby drive articulation of the articulation section by causing translation of the first and second threaded members along a path that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The axis of rotation of the articulation control is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly.

主权项

1. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a body assembly; (b) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly extends distally from the body assembly, wherein the shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis; (c) an end effector, wherein the end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade; (d) an articulation section, wherein the articulation section is coupled with the shaft assembly, wherein the articulation section is operable to articulate to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis; and (e) an articulation control assembly, wherein the articulation control assembly comprises:
(i) a first threaded member having a first pitch orientation,(ii) a second threaded member having a second pitch orientation, and(iii) an articulation control,wherein the articulation control is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation to thereby drive articulation of the articulation section by causing translation of the first and second threaded members along a path that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly,wherein the axis of rotation of the articulation control is oriented obliquely or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly.