Apparatus for performing an electrosurgical procedure
An endoscopic forceps includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom for treating tissue. A longitudinal axis is defined through the shaft. An end effector assembly is operably coupled to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. A rotating assembly operably coupled to the shaft is configured to rotate the shaft and the end effector about the longitudinal axis. A drive assembly is configured to selectively and releasably engage the rotating assembly. Engagement of the rotating assembly with the drive assembly couples the rotating assembly to the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis in a predetermined direction when the rotating assembly is rotated. And, disengagement of the rotating assembly from the drive assembly uncouples the rotating assembly from the shaft such that the shaft is non-rotatable about the longitudinal axis when the rotating assembly is rotated.
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing;
a shaft extending from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;
a handle operatively coupled to the housing and movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position; and
a rotating assembly disposed within the housing and selectively coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft about the longitudinal axis, the rotating assembly frictionally engaging the shaft when the handle is disposed in the first position such that the shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis upon rotation of the rotating assembly, and the rotating assembly being disengaged from the shaft when the handle is disposed in the second position such that the relative position of the shaft is maintained relative to the longitudinal axis upon rotation of the rotating assembly about the longitudinal axis.
2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , further including:
a drive assembly disposed within the housing and configured to selectively engage the rotating assembly when the handle is in the first position, wherein engagement of the rotating assembly with the drive assembly couples the rotating assembly to the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis when the rotating assembly is rotated, and wherein the drive assembly is configured to selectively disengage from the rotating assembly when the handle is moved towards the second position, wherein disengagement from the rotating assembly uncouples the rotating assembly from the shaft rendering the shaft unrotatable about the longitudinal axis.
3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the drive assembly includes a distal collar positioned between the rotating assembly and the handle, wherein in the first position of the handle, the distal collar of the drive assembly is biased to frictionally engage the rotating assembly such that the shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis upon rotation of the rotating assembly about the longitudinal axis, and wherein upon movement of the handle towards the second position, the handle is configured to engage the drive assembly to space apart the distal collar of the drive assembly from the rotating assembly such that the shaft is unrotatable about the longitudinal axis upon rotation of the rotating assembly.
4. The surgical instrument according to claim 3 , further including a locking feature configured to selectively lock the handle in the second position, wherein when the handle is locked in the second position, the handle is biased to frictionally engage a proximal collar of the drive assembly such that the shaft is unrotatable about the longitudinal axis upon rotation of the rotating assembly.
5. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector assembly having a first configuration and a second configuration;
an actuator configured to move between a first position and a second position to actuate the end effector assembly; and
a rotating assembly operably coupled to the end effector assembly and configured to selectively rotate the end effector assembly,
wherein when the actuator is disposed in the first position, the end effector assembly is rotatable via rotation of the rotating assembly, and
when the actuator is disposed in the second position, the relative position of the end effector assembly is maintained and unaffected by rotation of the rotating assembly.
6. The surgical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the end effector assembly includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member, at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member movable relative to the other jaw member from the first configuration, wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, towards the second configuration, wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween.