Surgical Instrument With End Effector Assembly

摘要

An endoscopic instrument includes an elongate hollow member, an actuator that moves axially through the hollow member, and first and second end effectors with respective tissue engaging edges. At least one of the end effectors is rotatably coupled to the hollow member adjacent its distal end. At least one of the end effectors includes a base supporting a resilient leaf-spring portion that includes a respective cutting edge. The resilient leaf-spring portion extends from the base in a cantilevered arrangement and generates a spring force acting on the respective cutting edge such that in a loaded state there is an automatic preload force imparted between the cutting edges of the end effectors to maintain a consistent and continuous mating force between the two opposed tissue engaging edges preferably over the complete range of rotational movement of the end effectors.

主权项

1. An end effector assembly, comprising:
a first end effector including a first feature with a first tissue engaging edge; and a second end effector coupled relative to said first end effector such that said first and second end effectors are moved relative to each other between open and closed positions,
said second end effector including,
a longitudinally extending rigid supporting base having a midline and a longitudinally extending lateral side offset relative to said midline, anda resilient leaf-spring substantially thinner than said base and having a portion with a deflectable second tissue engaging edge that extends along a length of said portion of said leaf-spring, said portion of said leaf-spring extending from said lateral side of said base in a laterally cantilevered arrangement such that said portion of said leaf-spring is laterally offset from said midline of said base,wherein as said at least one of said first and second end effectors is moved relative to the other between open and closed positions,(i) said first and second tissue engaging edges are brought into contact with each other at a contact point, said contact point moving along said length of said portion of said leaf spring portion as said first and second scissors blades are moved relative to each, and said second cutting edge resiliently deflects against said first cutting edge at said contact point,(ii) said portion of said leaf-spring extends from said base at both a relief angle and a longitudinal angle relative to a rotational plane through which said base moves, such that said portion of said leaf spring generates a lateral spring force in a direction transverse to a plane through which one of said first and second scissors blades is moved relative to the other when said first and second blades are moved relative to each other between said open and closed positions and against said first feature of said first blade, and(iii) said portion of said leaf-spring is flat when not subject to deflection.