Patent ID: 7753904
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical instrument, comprising: an end effector sized to be inserted through a trocar; an elongated shaft assembly coupled to said end effector, said elongated shaft assembly having a distal portion adjacent to said end effector for insertion into the trocar with said end effector and a proximal portion remote from said distal portion such that said proximal portion protrudes from the trocar when the end effector and distal portion are inserted therethrough; a control handle coupled to said proximal portion of said elongated shaft assembly, wherein said control handle is operable to articulate transversely with respect to said distal portion of said elongated shaft assembly, wherein said elongated shaft assembly comprises: a distal drive shaft portion operably coupled to an actuator shaft in said end effector and operably supported within said distal shaft segment; a proximal drive shaft portion operably coupled to a motor supported in said control handle and operably supported within said proximal shaft segment; a drive shaft articulation joint coupled between said distal drive shaft portion and said proximal drive shaft portion to enable said proximal drive shaft portion to articulate relative to said distal drive shaft portion when said control handle is articulated relative to said distal shaft segment, said drive shaft articulation joint located within said articulation joint assembly coupling said proximal shaft segment to said distal shaft segment; a proximal spine tube segment attached to said control handle and received in said proximal shaft segment, said proximal spine tube segment operably supporting a portion of said proximal drive shaft portion therein; a distal spine tube segment pivotally coupled to said proximal spine tube segment and supported in said distal shaft segment and attached to said end effector, said distal spine tube segment operably supporting said distal drive shaft portion therein; and a push button assembly cooperating with said elongated shaft assembly and control handle to selectively lock said control handle in a desired position relative to said distal portion of said elongated shaft assembly, wherein said push button assembly is operable by and at least partially accessible to a user; wherein said push button assembly is operably supported on said instrument and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said push button assembly communicating with said distal spine segment such that when said push button assembly is in said locked position, said proximal spine tube assembly is prevented from articulating relative to said distal spine tube assembly and when said push button assembly is in said unlocked position, said proximal spine tube segment can articulate with respect to said distal spine tube segment; wherein said push button assembly is movably supported within a housing supported on the control handle, said push button assembly comprising: