Patent ID: 7549998
Filing Date: 2009-06-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical instrument comprising an instrument handle linked to a proximal end portion of a tube shaft, and at a distal end portion of the tube shaft, an instrument head linked so as to be bendable, the instrument head having an effector including at least one pivotal engaging element that is rotatably supported, wherein said instrument handle has a number of at least one selected from the group consisting of manipulators and operating mechanisms for operating at least one selected from the group consisting of said instrument head and said effector via gear trains, wherein a clutch which permits an individual zero point adjustment at least over a predetermined pivoting range of said instrument handle is interposed in a gear train effecting the bending motion of said instrument head, wherein the zero point is a relative position of said instrument handle with respect to said tube shaft in which said instrument head adopts a predetermined bending position with respect to said tube shaft, said clutch being arranged in the linking area between said instrument handle and said tube shaft, and said clutch comprising a connecting piece fixedly arranged at said instrument handle and a rotary shaft rotatably held at the tube shaft for the transmission of a bending motion to said instrument head, said rotary shaft being connected to said connecting piece via frictional engagement.