The disclosure relates to surgical instruments including an adapter assembly. More specifically, the disclosure relates to surgical instruments having an adapter assembly for allowing a handle assembly to be used with end effectors of different lengths.
Surgical instruments often include a handle assembly that is configured to control a function of an end effector assembly that is directly or indirectly engaged therewith. End effectors are typically available in different lengths depending on the desired surgical function. When a particular handle assembly does not include a reliable way to limit the longitudinal travel of a drive rod, for instance, it may be suitable to provide end effectors having one length to be used with such a handle assembly to avoid damaging portions of the surgical instrument, for instance.
The disclosure relates to a surgical kit including a handle assembly, an adapter assembly, and a first end effector. The handle assembly includes a handle portion, an elongated portion extending distally from the handle portion, an actuation switch, and a firing rod. At least a portion of the firing rod extends through the elongated portion. Actuation of the actuation switch causes the firing rod to move distally relative to the handle portion. The adapter assembly is configured to selectively engage the handle assembly and includes a connector, an adapter drive rod, and a biasing element. A proximal portion of the connector is configured to engage a distal portion of the firing rod of the handle assembly. A proximal portion of the adapter drive rod is coupled to a distal portion of the connector. The biasing element is disposed between a distal end of the connector and a portion of the adapter drive rod. The first end effector defines a first length, is configured to selectively engage the adapter assembly, and includes a drive assembly and a jaw member. A proximal portion of the drive assembly is configured to engage a distal portion of the adapter drive rod.
In disclosed embodiments, the adapter assembly and the handle assembly are configured such that when the adapter assembly is engaged with the handle assembly and with the first end effector, actuation of the actuation switch causes a first distal movement of the firing rod, a corresponding first distal movement of the adapter drive rod, and a corresponding first distal movement of the drive assembly of the first end effector to a distal-most position relative to the jaw member. It is also disclosed that the handle assembly is configured such that the actuation of the actuation switch causes a corresponding first distal movement of the connector of the adapter assembly. In embodiments, the handle assembly is configured such that the actuation of the actuation switch causes a second distal movement of the firing rod, a corresponding second distal movement of the connector of the adapter assembly, and results in the drive assembly of the first end effector remaining in its longitudinal position. It is further disclosed the adapter assembly is configured such that that the adapter drive rod remains in its longitudinal position in response to the second distal movement of the firing rod, and that the adapter assembly and the handle assembly are configured such that the second distal movement of the firing rod causes the biasing element to compress the amount of the second distal movement of the firing rod.
Additionally, it is disclosed that the biasing element of the adapter assembly is disposed between the distal end of the connector and a proximal-facing shoulder of the adapter drive rod.
In embodiments, the surgical kit also includes a second end effector defining a second length and configured to selectively engage the adapter assembly. The second length is different from the first length.
It is also disclosed that the adapter assembly is configured such that the connector of the adapter assembly is longitudinally translatable relative to the drive assembly of the first end effector.
In disclosed embodiments, the adapter assembly and the handle assembly are configured such that when the adapter assembly is engaged with the handle assembly, the connector is longitudinally fixed relative to the firing rod.
It is disclosed that the biasing element of the adapter assembly is a compression spring.
The disclosure also relates to a surgical instrument comprising a handle assembly, an adapter assembly, and an end effector. The handle assembly includes an actuation switch and a firing rod. The adapter assembly is configured to selectively engage the firing rod, and includes a connector, an adapter drive rod, and a biasing element. The connector is configured to engage a distal portion of the firing rod of the handle assembly. The biasing element is configured to bias the adapter drive rod distally relative to the connector. The end effector is configured to selectively engage the adapter assembly, and includes a drive assembly and a jaw member. The drive assembly is configured to engage a distal portion of the adapter drive rod. Actuation of the actuation switch causes the firing rod and the connector to move distally.
In disclosed embodiments, initial actuation of the actuation switch causes the drive assembly of the end effector to move distally.
It is also disclosed that the connector of the adapter assembly is longitudinally translatable relative to the drive assembly of the end effector.
In embodiments, the biasing element is disposed between a distal end of the connector and a proximal-facing shoulder of the adapter drive rod.
It is further disclosed that when the adapter assembly is engaged with the handle assembly, the connector is longitudinally fixed relative to the firing rod.
The disclosure also relates to an adapter assembly for interconnecting a handle assembly of a surgical instrument and an end effector of a surgical instrument. The adapter assembly includes a connector, an adapter drive rod, and a biasing element. The connector is configured to engage a distal portion of a firing rod of the handle assembly. The adapter drive rod is disposed in mechanical cooperation with a distal portion of the connector. The biasing element is disposed between a distal-most end of the connector and a portion of the adapter drive rod.
In disclosed embodiments, the biasing element and the adapter drive rod are co-axial, and the biasing element is a compression spring.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a surgical kit is provided and includes a handle assembly having a handle portion; an elongated portion extending distally from the handle portion; an actuation switch; and a firing rod, at least a portion of the firing rod extending through the elongated portion. In use, actuation of the actuation switch causes the firing rod to move distally relative to the handle portion. The surgical kit further includes an adapter assembly configured to selectively engage the handle assembly. The adapter assembly includes a connector, a proximal portion of the connecter configured to engage a distal portion of the firing rod of the handle assembly; an adapter drive rod, a proximal portion of the adapter drive rod is coupled to a distal portion of the connector; and a biasing element disposed between a distal end of the connector and a portion of the adapter drive rod. The surgical kit still further includes a first end effector defining a first length and configured to selectively engage the adapter assembly. The first end effector includes a drive assembly, a proximal portion of the drive assembly configured to engage a distal portion of the adapter drive rod; and a jaw member.
The adapter assembly and the handle assembly may be configured such that when the adapter assembly is engaged with the handle assembly and with the first end effector, actuation of the actuation switch causes a first distal movement of the firing rod, a corresponding first distal movement of the adapter drive rod, and a corresponding first distal movement of the drive assembly of the first end effector to a distal-most position relative to the jaw member.
The handle assembly may be configured such that the actuation of the actuation switch causes a corresponding first distal movement of the connector of the adapter assembly.
The handle assembly may be configured such that the actuation of the actuation switch causes a second distal movement of the firing rod, a corresponding second distal movement of the connector of the adapter assembly, and results in the drive assembly of the first end effector remaining in its longitudinal position.
The adapter assembly may be configured such that the adapter drive rod remains in its longitudinal position in response to the second distal movement of the firing rod.
The adapter assembly and the handle assembly may be configured such that the second distal movement of the firing rod causes the biasing element to compress the amount of the second distal movement of the firing rod.
The biasing element of the adapter assembly may be disposed between the distal end of the connector and a proximal-facing shoulder of the adapter drive rod.
The surgical kit may further include a second end effector defining a second length and configured to selectively engage the adapter assembly, wherein the second length is different from the first length.
The adapter assembly may be configured such that the connector of the adapter assembly is longitudinally translatable relative to the drive assembly of the first end effector.
The adapter assembly and the handle assembly may be configured such that when the adapter assembly is engaged with the handle assembly, the connector is longitudinally fixed relative to the firing rod.
The biasing element of the adapter assembly may be a compression spring.
The biasing element and the adapter drive rod may be co-axial.
In use, initial actuation of the actuation switch may cause the drive assembly of the first end effector to move distally.
The biasing element may be configured to bias the adapter drive rod distally relative to the connector.
The first end effector may include a second jaw member pivotably disposed relative to the jaw member.
Further details and aspects of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are described in more detail below with reference to the appended figures.
Embodiments of the disclosure are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Embodiments of the disclosed surgical instrument with adapter assembly are described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. Non-limiting examples of surgical instruments and associated handle assemblies according to the disclosure include manual, robotic, mechanical and/or electromechanical surgical staplers, forceps, tack appliers (e.g., tackers), clip appliers, and the like. As used herein the term “distal” refers to that portion of the surgical instrument, or component thereof, farther from the user, while the term “proximal” refers to that portion of the surgical instrument, or component thereof, closer to the user.
As will be described in greater detail below, the disclosure includes a surgical kit including a handle assembly, an adapter assembly, and at least one end effector. The adapter assembly allows a handle assembly that is configured to affect a function of a relatively long end effector to be used with a relatively short end effector.
With continued reference to
As shown in
In use, the handle assembly 200 may be configured such that actuation of one actuation switch of the plurality of actuation switches 204 is configured to advance the firing rod 210 a particular distance. In embodiments, this distance is sufficient to advance a drive assembly of the longer, second end effector 600 an appropriate distance to eject all of the fasteners therein, for example. However, when the same handle assembly 200 is used with the short, first end effector 500, without the adapter assembly 400, the distance advanced by the firing rod 210 and thus a drive assembly 510 (
More particularly, the proximal portion 410 of the adapter assembly 400 includes at least one lug 420 configured to selectively engage a notch 302 (or other suitable structure) of the elongated portion 300 (
With particular reference to
Referring to
As shown in
Here, while the drive assembly 510 of the end effector 500 has already reached its distal-most position, the firing rod 210 has not yet reached its distal-most position. That is, the drive assembly 510 reaches its distal-most position before the firing rod 210 reaches its distal-most position.
As shown in
The longer, second end effector 600 can be directly engaged with the elongated portion 300 of the handle assembly 200, or can be directly engaged with the adapter assembly 400. In embodiments, when the longer, second end effector 600 is engaged with handle assembly 200 via the adapter assembly 400, the distance travelled by the firing rod 210 in response to actuation of the actuation switch 204 corresponds to the distance travelled by the drive assembly of the second end effector 600. That is, the distal end of the drive assembly of the second end effector 600 is configured to reach a distal-most end of its associated jaw member when the firing rod 210 reaches its distal-most position. Here, the biasing element 436 of the adapter assembly 430 does not significantly compress.
Accordingly, the adapter assembly 400 allows end effectors of differing lengths to be reliably used with the handle assembly 200 that is configured to advance the firing rod 210 a fixed or non-adjustable distance.
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.
The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/164,622, filed on Mar. 23, 2021, the entire content of which being hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63164622 | Mar 2021 | US |