ERGONOMIC HANDPIECE FOR LAPAROSCOPIC AND OPEN SURGERY

摘要

A surgical tool having an elongate shaft (3), with a directional operative element (3e) at its distal end, is provided with a mechanism (88) to rotate the shaft (3) and the operative element (3e) about a longitudinal axis of the shaft (3). This allows the operative element (3e) to be aligned with an element of tissue without excessive hand movement by a user. In a preferred version, the mechanism (88) is electrically powered and is regulated to produce smooth, controlled, accurate motion between selected rotational positions. The mechanism (88) may include a linear magnetic motor drive (65,85) to move a drive element (63,83) longitudinally along the tool. This drive element (63,83) is engaged with a helical formation (67, 87) on a drive shaft (60,80), such that longitudinal motion of the drive element (63,83) is converted to rotational motion of the drive shaft (60,80) and of the shaft (3) and operative element (3e) to which the drive shaft (60,80) is mounted.