Surgical stapling apparatus with powered articulation
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. A surgical stapling apparatus comprising:
a handle assembly;
an elongated body extending distally from the handle assembly;
an articulation mechanism supported on the handle assembly, the articulation mechanism including:
a motor assembly operatively coupled to a transmission shaft;
a speed reducing mechanism disposed in mechanical cooperation with the transmission shaft;
a clutch interconnecting the transmission shaft and a main shaft;
a yoke shaft coupled to the main shaft and adapted to linearly advance a frame; and
an articulation knob mounted on the handle assembly and operatively connected to the main shaft, wherein the articulation knob is configured solely for manual actuation, wherein manual rotation of the articulation knob results in manual rotation of the transmission shaft;
a battery pack positioned on the handle assembly and electrically linked to the motor assembly; and
a switch mounted on the handle assembly for activating and controlling the motor assembly.
2. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the yoke shaft includes a pin slidably secured on an elongated slot of the frame.
3. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the frame is a J-channel.
4. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the clutch is configured to disengage as the articulation knob is rotated to prevent back driving from the motor assembly.
5. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the speed reducing mechanism includes a first gear rotatably mounted on the transmission shaft and configured to engage a second gear, and wherein the clutch interconnects the second gear and the main shaft.
6. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the yoke shaft includes a pin slidably secured to an elongate slot of the frame.
7. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the frame defines a J-channel, wherein movement of the pin causes linear translation of the J-channel.
8. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the articulation mechanism includes an articulation link connected to the J-channel, wherein movement of the J-channel results in movement of the articulation link.
9. The surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the clutch is a slip clutch including a first disc having a plurality of teeth that engage with a plurality of teeth of a second disc, and further including a biasing member for biasing the first disc and the second disc into engagement with one another.