SURGICAL INSTRUMENT END EFFECTOR ARTICULATION DRIVE WITH PINION AND OPPOSING RACKS

摘要

FIELD: medicine.;SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to medical equipment, specifically to surgical staplers. Surgical stapler includes a body and a shaft assembly connected to the body. Shaft assembly comprises an end effector, first cam gear, second cam gear, and a lock bar. End effector has an articulation joint. First cam gear is rotatably positioned within the shaft assembly. Second cam gear is in communication with the end effector at the articulation joint. Lock bar is distally biased to lock against the second cam gear. First cam gear is rotatable through a first range of motion to unlock the lock bar relative to the second cam gear. First cam gear is rotatable through a second range of motion to rotate the end effector at the articulation joint. In a second embodiment, said surgical instrument comprises a shaft assembly connected to the body, wherein the shaft assembly includes an end effector, articulation joint, a first cam gear, a second cam gear and a lock bar. End effector is located at the distal end of the shaft assembly. Articulation joint is located at the proximal end of the end effector. First cam gear is located at the distal end of the shaft assembly, the first cam gear is rotatable. Second cam gear is connected to the end effector via an articulation joint, wherein the second cam gear is adapted to pivot the end effector in the articulation joint. Lock bar is selectively connected to the first cam gear and the second cam gear. Lock bar is movable between a distal position and a proximal position. Lock bar is configured to prevent the rotation of the second cam gear when the lock bar is in the distal position. Lock bar is configured to rotate the second cam gear when the lock bar is in the proximal position, wherein the first cam gear is configured to move the lock bar from the distal position to the proximal position by rotating the first cam gear. Also disclosed is a method for pivoting the end effector using a shaft assembly, comprising a first cam gear, a second cam gear, a first arm, a second arm and a lock bar, wherein the second cam gear is associated with the first cam gear, where the first arm and the second arm are connected to the first cam gear, wherein the lock bar is selectively connected to the first cam gear and the second cam gear, wherein the second cam gear is rotatably connected to the end effector. Method comprises steps of: actuating the first arm and the second arm to rotate the first cam gear; rotating the first cam gear; moving the lock bar in the proximal direction such that the lock bar moves along the first cam gear and the second cam gear in a sequential manner; rotating the second cam gear thereby articulating the end effector; and moving the lock bar in the distal direction.;EFFECT: use of the group of inventions will facilitate the positioning of the end effector in the patient's body so as to perform direct or perpendicular clamping close to the vessel or other tissue.;20 cl, 19 dwg