Articulation joint features for articulating surgical device

摘要

An electrosurgical device comprises a body, an end effector, a cutting member, and a shaft extending between the body and the end effector. The end effector includes a pair of jaws and at least one electrode 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 articulation section may include beads, segments, asymmetric features, preformedly bent features, an integral hinge, a helical cutout or spring, clevis features, an angled joint, a beaded actuation linkage, and/or an offset pivot, among other things. The device may also include a crimped cutting member, a retroacting cutting member, dual pivoting jaws, and/or a wire tensioning assembly.

主权项

1. An electrosurgical device, comprising:
(a) a body; (b) an end effector comprising:
(i) a first jaw, and(ii) a second jaw,wherein the first jaw is movable toward the second jaw to clamp tissue between the first and second jaw,wherein at least one of the jaws comprises at least one electrode,wherein the at least one electrode is operable to deliver RF energy to tissue clamped between the first and second jaw; (c) a cutting member operable to cut tissue clamped between the first jaw and the second jaw; and (d) a shaft extending between the body and the end effector, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft includes an articulation section, wherein the articulation section is operable to selective position the end effector at non-parallel positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; wherein the articulation section is formed by a plurality of segments, wherein the segments include electrical contacts configured to provide electrical communication through the articulation section, wherein the articulation section further comprises one or more resilient members biased to urge the contacts apart from each other.