Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/408,800 filed on Nov. 1, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to articulating and rotating surgical instruments. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a coupling that allows articulation and rotation of an endoscopic portion of a surgical instrument, such as a clip applier, a surgical stapler and the like. 
         [0004]    2. Background of Related Art 
         [0005]    Endoscopic staplers and clip appliers are known in the art and are used for a number of distinct and useful surgical procedures. In the case of a laparoscopic surgical procedure, access to the interior of an abdomen is achieved through narrow tubes or cannulas inserted through a small entrance incision in the skin. Minimally invasive procedures performed elsewhere in the body are often generally referred to as endoscopic procedures. Typically, a tube or cannula device is extended into the patient&#39;s body through the entrance incision to provide an access port. The port allows the surgeon to insert a number of different surgical instruments therethrough using a trocar and for performing surgical procedures far removed from the incision. 
         [0006]    During a majority of these procedures, the surgeon must often terminate the flow of blood or another fluid through one or more vessels. The surgeon will often apply a surgical clip to a blood vessel or another duct to prevent the flow of body fluids therethrough during the procedure. An endoscopic clip applier is known in the art for applying surgical clips during an entry to the body cavity. Such surgical clip appliers are typically fabricated from a biocompatible material and are usually compressed over a vessel. Once applied to the vessel, the compressed clip terminates the flow of fluid therethrough. 
         [0007]    Endoscopic clip appliers that are able to apply multiple clips in endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures during a single entry into the body cavity are described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,084,057 and 5,100,420 to Green et al., which are both incorporated by reference in their entirety. Another multiple endoscopic clip applier is disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,436 to Pratt et al., the contents of which is also hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. These devices are typically, though not necessarily, used during a single surgical procedure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,502 to Pier et al., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses are sterilizable surgical clip applier. The clip applier advances and forms multiple clips during a single insertion into the body cavity. 
         [0008]    Surgical fastening devices wherein tissue is first grasped or clamped between opposing jaw structure and then joined by surgical fasteners are also well known in the art. The fasteners are typically in the form of surgical staples, but two-part polymeric fasteners can also be utilized. 
         [0009]    Instruments for this purpose can include a tool assembly with two elongated members which are respectively used to capture or clamp tissue. Typically, one of the members carries a staple cartridge which houses a plurality of staples arranged, for example, in at least two lateral rows while the other member has an anvil that defines a surface for forming the staple legs as the staples are driven from the staple cartridge. In some staplers, the stapling operation is effected by cam bars that travel longitudinally through the staple cartridge, with the cam bars acting upon staple pushers for sequentially ejecting the staples from the staple cartridge. 
         [0010]    Endoscopic or laparoscopic procedures are often performed remotely from the incision. Consequently, application of clips or fasteners may be complicated by a reduced field of view or reduced tactile feedback for the user at the proximal end of the device. It is therefore desirable to improve the operation of the instrument by providing an instrument that is capable of articulating and rotating for better application of the surgical clips. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    A surgical apparatus for performance of a surgical procedure on body tissue is provided and includes a housing, an elongate tubular member, a drive assembly, an electrical coupling component, and an electrical wire. The elongate tubular member is at least partially supported by the housing and defines a center lumen and a longitudinal axis. The drive assembly extends from the housing into the center lumen of the elongate tubular member. The electrical coupling component is located about the drive assembly. The electrical wire extends from within the housing into the elongate tubular member. The electrical wire is wrapped about the electrical coupling component, which allows the elongate tubular member to rotate about the longitudinal axis while allowing the electrical wire to be fixed within the housing and the elongate tubular member. 
         [0012]    The surgical apparatus may include an electrical component connected with the elongate tubular member. 
         [0013]    The surgical apparatus may include a limiting mechanism to restrict rotational movement of the elongate tubular member. The limiting mechanism includes an inner band and an outer collar and a ball bearing. The inner band defines a spiral cam slot and the outer collar defines a longitudinal cam slot. The ball bearing is located within both the spiral cam slot and the longitudinal cam slot. The spiral cam slot may traverse about the inner band about 700°. A neutral decent may be defined midway along the longitudinal cam slot to provide a tactile indication of a neutral position of the elongate tubular member. The elongate tubular member is prevented from further rotation by the ball bearing acting against either a proximal end or a distal end of the longitudinal cam slot. 
         [0014]    The electrical coupling component includes a fixed member and a rotatable member. The fixed member is prevented from both longitudinal and rotational movement by the housing. The rotatable member is rotatable with respect to both the fixed member and the housing. The rotatable member includes a tubular spool. The tubular spool may define a helical groove to provide the electrical wire with a predefined path along the tubular spool. 
         [0015]    The fixed member may define a first passageway providing a path for the electrical wire through the fixed member. The rotatable member may define a second passageway providing a path for the electrical wire through the rotatable member. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, a surgical apparatus for performance of a surgical procedure on body tissue is provided and includes a housing, an elongate member, an electrical coupling interface, and a wire. The elongate member is rotationally connected with the housing. The electrical coupling interface has a fixed member and a rotatable member. One of the fixed member and the rotatable member has a spool extending therefrom. The spool is in connection with the other of the fixed and rotatable member. The wire has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion of the wire is in a fixed position with respect to the housing. The second portion of the wire is wrapped about the spool. The third portion of the wire is restrained with respect to the elongate member. 
         [0017]    The fixed member is prevented from both longitudinal and rotational movement by the housing. The rotatable member is rotatable with respect to both the fixed member and the housing. 
         [0018]    The surgical apparatus may include a drive assembly at least partially supported by the housing. The drive assembly is at least partially positioned within the electrical coupling interface. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, a rotational interface assembly for interconnecting an operating end of a device and a working end of the device is provided and includes a spool, a retaining member and a wire. The retaining member is able to restrict axial movement of the spool while allowing rotational movement of the spool. The wire has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion of the wire is in a fixed position with respect to the operating end of the device. The second portion of the wire is wrapped about the spool. The third portion of the wire is restrained with respect to the working end of the device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The present clip applier will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the following drawings, in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front, perspective view of a surgical instrument according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 1A  is a front, perspective view of a surgical instrument according to an embodiment of the present disclosure with a variety of end effectors; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the indicated area of detail of  FIG. 1  with the articulation dial cover portions removed for clarity; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the indicated area of detail of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a bottom, perspective view of the top articulation dial cover of an articulating neck assembly of the surgical instrument of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a bottom, perspective view of the top articulation dial cover of  FIG. 4  with a ball bearing separated therefrom; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the proximal portion of the articulation dial, shown in an neutral position; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the longitudinal recess area of the articulation dial, shown in an first extreme position; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the longitudinal recess area of the articulation dial, shown in a second extreme position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a front, perspective view of a wire spool coupling according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the wire spool coupling of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view as taken through  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 , illustrating a neutral state of the wire spool coupling; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view as taken through  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 , illustrating a first extreme state of the wire spool coupling; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view as taken through  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 , illustrating a second extreme state of the wire spool coupling. 
       
    
    
       [0035]    Other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the present disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    Embodiments of surgical instruments in accordance with the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals identify similar or identical structural elements. As shown in the drawings and described throughout the following description, as is traditional when referring to relative positioning on a surgical instrument, the term “proximal” refers to the end of the apparatus which is closer to the user and the term “distal” refers to the end of the apparatus which is further away from the user. 
         [0037]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify identical or similar structural elements of the subject device through out the several views, there is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-13 , a surgical instrument, designated generally by reference numeral  10 . U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/786,933, filed on Apr. 13, 2007, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes in detail the structure and operation of an exemplary surgical instrument that may incorporate or be used with the presently disclosed adapter assembly. 
         [0038]    As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 1A , a rotational interface  100  is shown connected with or otherwise supported on surgical instrument  10 . Surgical instrument  10  includes a housing  12 , at least one drive assembly  14  and at least one energy source for powering the at least one drive motor (not shown for clarity). 
         [0039]    As seen in  FIG. 1A , rotational interface  100  is configured and adapted to operatively interconnect and couple any one of a number of end effectors to surgical instrument  10 . For example, rotational interface  100  is configured and adapted to operatively interconnect and couple an endo-gastrointestinal anastomosis end effector  90 , an end-to-end anastomosis end effector  91 , or a transverse anastomosis end effector  92  to surgical instrument  10 . 
         [0040]    Reference may be made to U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0145947, filed Jan. 14, 2009, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference for a detailed discussion of the construction and operation of the endo-gastrointestinal anastomosis end effector  90 . 
         [0041]    Reference may be made to U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0179063, filed Mar. 20, 2009, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference for a detailed discussion of the construction and operation of the end-to-end anastomosis end effector  91 . 
         [0042]    Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,508, issued Nov. 16, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference for a detailed discussion of the construction and operation of the transverse anastomosis end effector  92 . 
         [0043]    As seen in  FIG. 2 , housing  12  of surgical instrument  10  supports the drive assembly  14 . Drive assembly  14  includes a drive shaft  15  translatably, slidably, or rotatably supported between right side half-section  12   a  and left side half-section  12   b  of housing  12 , for movement of the drive shaft  15  along or about a longitudinal ‘X’ axis of surgical instrument  10 . 
         [0044]    Each of the end effectors  90 ,  91 , and  92  includes at least one axially translatable drive member therein that is connectable with the drive shaft  15 , and that is configured and adapted to at least one of open and close the jaw assemblies by approximating or separating the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly to/away from one another, and to fire the end effector to expel staples contained in the cartridge assembly for formation against the anvil assembly and possibly to actuate a knife blade along the staple line. Each of end effectors  90 ,  91 , and  92  may further include an axially translatable drive member therein that is configured and adapted to cause an articulation of end effector  90 ,  91 , and/or  92 . 
         [0045]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 1A , a detailed description of the construction and operation of rotational interface  100  is provided. Rotational interface  100  includes a knob housing  102  configured and adapted to connect to a nose portion  20  ( FIG. 2 ) of the housing  12 . Knob housing  102  includes an articulation lever  104  mounted on the forward end of housing  12  to facilitate articulation of the drive assembly  14  with respect to the longitudinal ‘X’ axis. Knob housing  102  may be formed in a pair of knob housing halves, namely an upper knob housing half  102   a  and a lower knob housing half  102   b . Rotational interface  100  further includes an outer tube  106  extending from a distal end of knob housing  102  along longitudinal ‘X’ axis. Knob housing  102  and outer tube  106  are configured and dimensioned to contain the components of rotational interface  100 . Outer tube  106  may be dimensioned such that outer tube  106  may pass through a typical trocar port, cannula or the like. Knob housing  102  is secured to outer tube  106  in such a manner that rotation of knob housing  102  results in rotation of the outer tube  106 . 
         [0046]    As seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  6 , the nose portion  20  of the housing  12  defines a cylindrical passageway  21  that contains an electrical coupling assembly  110 . The electrical coupling assembly  110  includes a spool  120  and a bushing  150  (See  FIGS. 9 and 10 ). Electrical coupling assembly  110  allows passage of a portion of the drive shaft  15  through a center passage  122  in the spool  120 . The bushing  150  is restrained by and is fixed with respect to the housing  12 . The spool  120  has an elongate tubular portion  124  that is rotatably attached within the bushing  150 . 
         [0047]    As seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a distal portion  121  of the spool  120  includes a distal flange  126  extending radially outward from the elongate tubular portion  124 . A proximal flange  128  extends about the proximal end  123  of the elongate tubular portion  124 . Proximal flange  128  abuts against distal flange  126  and has a radius  137  that is relatively smaller than a radius  138  of distal flange  128 . A helical recess  130  extends longitudinally about the elongate tubular portion  124  between the distal flange  126  and the proximal flange  128 . The distal flange  126  defines a distal, longitudinally extending passageway or channel  132  through the distal flange  126 . A distal boss  134  extends distally about the distal channel  132  from the distal flange  126 . A shoulder  136  is defined by the difference of radius  137  and radius  138  of the distal flange  126 . The radius  137  is sized to allow an inner portion  136   a  to fit inside cylindrical passageway  21  and an outer portion  136   b  to be slightly larger than the cylindrical passageway  21 . 
         [0048]    The bushing  150  has a center aperture  152  that is sized to receive the proximal portion  123  of the elongate tubular portion  124 . The aperture  152  allows the bushing  150  to be placed about the elongate tubular portion  124  and slide up to the proximal flange  128 . A proximal boss  156  extends proximally from the bushing  150 . A proximal, longitudinally extending passageway or channel  154  is defined in an outer edge  158  of the bushing  15 . A proximal boss  156  extends proximally about the proximal channel  154  of the bushing  150 . A recessed circumferential channel  160  encircles at least a portion of the outer edge  158  of the busing  150 . 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  6 , and  9 - 13 , the surgical instrument  10  includes an electrical wire  24  having a first portion extending through the proximal channel  154  of the bushing  150 , a second portion wrapped about the elongated tubular portion  124 , and a third portion that extends distally through the distal channel  132  of distal flange  126 . 
         [0050]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , the bushing  150  is nested between the right side half section  12   a  and the left side half section  12   b  of the housing  12 . At least one protrusion  40  extends from the nose portion  20  into the radial channel  160  of the bushing  150  to rotationally secure the bushing  150  in place relative to the nose portion  20  and to prevent longitudinal movement of the bushing  150 . 
         [0051]    As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the distal flange  126  of the spool  120  is rotatably interposed between the nose portion  20  of the housing  12  and the knob housing  102 , allowing the spool  120  to rotate and preventing the spool  120  from moving along the longitudinal ‘X’ axis. The housing  12  prevents proximal movement of the spool  120  by the abutment of the shoulder  136  with the nose portion  20 . Distal movement of the spool  120  is prevented by abutment of the distal flange  126  with the knob housing  102 . 
         [0052]    As seen in  FIGS. 4-6 , the surgical instrument  10  includes a rotation limiting mechanism  50  that interacts with the outside of the nose portion  20  and the inside of the knob housing  102 . The rotation limiting mechanism  50  includes a ball bearing  52  located within both a longitudinal recess  103 , in the upper knob housing half  102   a , and a spiral cam slot or helical recess  22  (see  FIG. 2 ), defined about the nose portion  20  of housing  12 . The rotation limiting mechanism  50  allows the rotational interface  100  to rotate about the nose portion  20 . As shown, rotation limiting mechanism  50  allows the rotational interface  100  to rotate approximately 700°; however other degrees of rotation are envisioned. 
         [0053]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the longitudinal recess  103  defines a neutral detent  103   a  half way between a proximal end  103   b  and a distal end  103   c  of the longitudinal recess  103 . The neutral detent  103   a  provides a tactile indication to the user of a neutral position of the rotational interface  100 . The ball bearing  52  travels longitudinally within the longitudinal recess  103  as the knob housing  102  of rotational interface  100  is rotated about the longitudinal ‘X’ axis. The ball bearing  52  is shown in a neutral position in  FIG. 6 , a distal most extreme position in  FIG. 7 , and in a proximal most extreme position in  FIG. 8 . In use, as the rotational interface  100  is rotated about the nose portion  20 , the ball bearing  52  is also rotated about the nose portion  20 . The ball bearing  52  rides in the helical recess  22  and is prevented by further travel when ball bearing  52  reaches one of the extreme ends  13   b ,  103   c  of longitudinal recess  103  to thereby limit the degree of rotation of knob housing  102  of rotational interface  100 . At the extreme ends of the longitudinal recess  103 , the ball bearing  52  acts against the ends  103   b ,  103   c  thereof to prevent the rotational interface  100  from rotating further with respect to the housing  12 . 
         [0054]    With reference to  FIGS. 11-13 , the wire  24  is shown in various stages during the rotation process of the rotational interface  100 . The wire  24  is relatively loose about the spool  120  when the rotational interface  100  is in a neutral position and the ball bearing  52  is in the neutral detent  103   a , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The wire  24  is unwrapped and is forced radially outward about the spool  120 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , when the rotational interface  100  is rotated in a first direction and the ball bearing  52  is drawn distally. Rotating the rotational interface  100  in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, as shown in  FIG. 13 , wraps the wire  24  tighter about the spool  120  to draw the wire  24  radially inward toward the spool  120 . The helical recess  130  may provide a predefined path for the wire  24  as the wire  24  is tightened about the spool  120 . By adding or subtracting the number of loops of wire  24  wrapping around spool  120  and adjusting the length of the helical and longitudinal recesses; the rotational range of spool  120 , knob housing  102 , and/or rotational interface  100  can be increased or decreased. 
         [0055]    In order to reduce electrical noise emissions and/or susceptibility, it is contemplated that circumferential shielding may be added around wire  24  wrapped around spool  120  and/or wires may be twisted. 
         [0056]    It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present disclosure. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances. The embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing figures are presented only to demonstrate certain examples of the disclosure. Other elements, steps, methods and techniques that are insubstantially different from those described above and/or in the appended claims are also intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Technology Category: 1