Articulating surgical device

摘要

An articulation mechanism for a surgical instrument includes an articulation assembly, a plurality of cables, and a trigger. The cables are coupled to the articulation assembly at a proximal end thereof and extend distally therefrom. The cables are configured to engage an end effector assembly of the surgical instrument at a distal end thereof. The trigger is coupled to the articulation assembly and is selectively moveable from a shipping position to a use position. In the shipping position, the cables are substantially un-tensioned. In the use position, the cables are disposed in an initial tensioned position. In the use position, the trigger is moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the cables are selectively tensionable to articulate the end effector assembly. In the locked position, the tensions on the cables are maintained to lock the end effector assembly in position.

主权项

1. An articulation mechanism configured for use with a surgical instrument defining a longitudinal axis, the articulation mechanism comprising:
an articulation assembly; a plurality of cables coupled to the articulation assembly at a proximal end thereof and extending distally therefrom, the plurality of cables configured to engage an end effector assembly of the surgical instrument at a distal end thereof; and a trigger coupled to the articulation assembly, the trigger irreversibly moveable from a first position, wherein the cables are substantially un-tensioned, to a second position, wherein each of the cables is disposed in an initial tensioned position, the trigger, when in the second position, configured to move between:
an unlocked position, wherein each of the cables is selectively tensionable from the initial tensioned position to a further tensioned position to articulate the end effector assembly relative to the longitudinal axis of the surgical instrument, anda locked position, wherein the tensions on the cables are maintained to lock the end effector assembly in an articulated position.