Patent ID: 8961542
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A shaft assembly effector for operative connection to an actuation assembly including an axially reciprocatable drive assembly having a flexible drive cable, the shaft assembly comprising: a proximal housing portion defining a longitudinal axis; a distal housing portion defining a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis; a knuckle portion pivotally interconnecting the proximal housing portion and the distal housing portion, the distal housing portion being rotatably mounted to the knuckle portion to allow the distal housing portion to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereof with respect to the knuckle portion, wherein the knuckle portion is bifurcated into a first gear segment and a second gear segment that are integrally formed therewith and that extend proximally from the knuckle portion; a jaw assembly supported on the distal housing portion, the jaw assembly including a first jaw and a second jaw extending distally from a base portion and being movable between a spaced apart position and an approximated position; a plurality of surgical clips loaded in the distal housing portion in a partially stacked fashion; and a jaw closure mechanism disposed in the distal housing portion and operatively associated with the jaw assembly and the plurality of surgical clips, wherein a distal end of the flexible drive cable extends across the knuckle portion and is connected to the jaw closure mechanism so as to transmit an operative force to the jaw closure mechanism when the longitudinal axis of the distal housing portion is either axially aligned or angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of a surgical handle; and wherein the jaw closure mechanism feeds a single clip of the plurality of clips into the jaw assembly and forms the fed clip upon a single complete stroke of the flexible drive cable.