Patent ID: 11911089
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 14:
15. An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly defining a longitudinal axis;
(b) an end effector;
(c) an articulation section configured to deflect the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis; and
(d) an articulation drive assembly, comprising:
(i) an elongated drive member disposed within the shaft assembly, wherein the elongated drive member is configured to translate relative to the shaft assembly to drive deflection of the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis, and
(ii) a connector coupling slidably coupled with the shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly and the elongated drive member are configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis relative to the connector coupling, wherein the connector coupling is configured to drive translation of the elongated drive member relative to the shaft assembly, wherein the connector coupling comprises:
(A) a first body comprising a first coupling feature, wherein the first body defines a first semi-annular recessed channel, and
(B) a second body comprising a complementary coupling feature configured to engage the first coupling feature to couple the second body with the first body such that the first body and the second body are fixed relative to each other, wherein the second body defines a second semi-annular recessed channel, and

(iii) a coupling body comprising a pair of protrusions configured to selectively affix the coupling body to the elongated drive member,
wherein the first semi-annular recessed channel and the second semi-annular recessed channel together form a continuous annular recessed channel dimensioned to rotationally house the coupling body while the first body and the second body are coupled to each other such that the pair of protrusions radially inwardly from the continuous annular recessed channel,
wherein the first body and the second body, while coupled with each other, are configured to operatively couple with the elongated drive member.