AN IMPROVED ARTICULATING SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

摘要

A device for aiding a surgical procedure, the device having an elongated shaft with a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween. The proximal end has a handle attached thereto, and the distal end has an end effector attached thereto. The shaft has first and second spaced apart strips running along the longitudinal axis and attached to the distal end of the end effector. The end effector includes a plurality of spaced apart links disposed along the longitudinal axis between the distal end of the end effector the distal end of the shaft. The strips run through the links, and each link is attached to at least one strip. The device also includes an actuator attached to the handle. The actuator pulls the first strip proximally, causing the links and the end effector to curve in the direction of the first strip. The actuator also includes a means for preventing the first strip from moving proximally beyond a predetermined amount and thereby causing the end effector to bend only up to a predetermined angle. In addition, the predetermined angle is such that the links never make contact with one another.