Surgical stapling apparatus with powered articulation
View Patent ↗The surgical stapling apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly, and an articulation mechanism for articulating a tool assembly. The articulation mechanism includes a first gear rotatably mounted on a transmission shaft and configured to engage a second gear, a clutch interconnecting the second gear and a main shaft; and a yoke shaft coupled to the main shaft and adapted to linearly advance a J-channel, the J-channel operatively connected to an articulation link. A motor assembly may rotate the transmission shaft of the articulation mechanism. Alternatively, the articulation mechanism may include an articulation knob. Users may manually rotate the articulation knob to articulate the tool assembly of the surgical stapling apparatus.
1. An articulation mechanism for a surgical instrument, comprising:
an articulation link;
a frame operatively connected to the articulation link;
a main shaft;
a yoke shaft coupled to the main shaft and adapted to linearly advance the frame;
an articulation knob operatively used to allow a user to manually rotate a transmission shaft; and
a clutch that disengages as the articulation knob rotates to prevent back driving from a motor assembly.
2. The articulation mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a motor assembly interconnected to a transmission shaft.
3. The articulation mechanism of claim 2 , further comprising a first gear rotatably mounted on the transmission shaft.
4. The articulation mechanism of claim 3 , further comprising a second gear configured to engage a portion of the first gear to reduce a rotational speed of the motor assembly.
5. The articulation mechanism of claim 4 , further comprising a clutch operatively associated with the second gear to transfer rotation of the second gear to the main shaft.
6. The articulation mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a pin configured to move within a slot in the frame.
7. The articulation mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the frame defines a J-channel, wherein movement of the pin causes linear translation of the J-channel to advance the articulation link.
8. An articulation mechanism for a surgical instrument, comprising:
a motor assembly;
a speed reducing mechanism operatively interconnected to the motor assembly;
a main shaft operatively interconnected to the speed reducing mechanism;
a yoke shaft coupled to the main shaft and adapted to linearly advance a frame, wherein the frame is operatively connected to an articulation link, wherein rotation of the main shaft results in rotation of the yolk shaft, and wherein rotation of the yolk shaft results in linear-advancement of the frame and actuation of the articulation link;
an articulation knob operatively used to allow a user to manually rotate a transmission shaft; and
a clutch that disengages as the articulation knob rotates to prevent back driving from the motor assembly.