Surgical instruments comprising a biased shifting mechanism
A surgical instrument comprising a shiftable transmission is disclosed. The transmission comprises a mechanism for assuring that the transmission is in one of a plurality of predefined configurations.
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
a shaft assembly attachable to said handle, wherein said shaft assembly comprises a proximal portion;
an end effector extending from said shaft assembly;
an input shaft;
a first output shaft configured to drive a first function of said surgical instrument;
a second output shaft configured to drive a second function of said surgical instrument; and
a clutch configured to selectively couple said input shaft with said first output shaft when said clutch is in a first configuration and said second output shaft when said clutch is in a second configuration, wherein said clutch is positioned in said proximal portion of said shaft assembly, and wherein said clutch comprises a bi-stable compliant mechanism configured to assure that said clutch is always in one of said first configuration and said second configuration.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said clutch comprises a translatable clutch element slideable between a proximal position in said first configuration and a distal position in said second configuration.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein said bi-stable compliant mechanism comprises at least one spring configured to position said translatable clutch element in said proximal position or said distal position.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein said translatable clutch element is movable proximally and distally by a linear clutch drive.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a lock configured to releasably hold said clutch in said first configuration.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a lock configured to releasably hold said clutch in said second configuration.
7. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
a shaft assembly attachable to said handle, wherein said shaft assembly comprises a proximal portion;
an end effector extending from said shaft assembly;
an input shaft;
a first output shaft configured to drive a first function of said surgical instrument;
a second output shaft configured to drive a second function of said surgical instrument; and
a clutch configured to selectively couple said input shaft with said first output shaft when said clutch is in a first configuration and said second output shaft when said clutch is in a second configuration, wherein said clutch is positioned in said proximal portion of said shaft assembly, and wherein said clutch comprises a biasing member configured to assure that said clutch is always in one of said first configuration and said second configuration.
8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein said clutch comprises a translatable clutch element slideable between a proximal position in said first configuration and a distal position in said second configuration.
9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein said biasing member comprises at least one spring configured to position said translatable clutch element in said proximal position or said distal position.
10. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein said translatable clutch element is movable proximally and distally by a linear clutch drive.
11. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , further comprising a lock configured to releasably hold said clutch in said first configuration.
12. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , further comprising a lock configured to releasably hold said clutch in said second configuration.
13. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
a shaft assembly attachable to said handle, wherein said shaft assembly comprises a proximal portion;
an end effector extending from said shaft assembly;
an input shaft;
a first output shaft configured to drive a first function of said surgical instrument;
a second output shaft configured to drive a second function of said surgical instrument; and
a clutch configured to selectively couple said input shaft with said first output shaft when said clutch is in a first configuration and said second output shaft when said clutch is in a second configuration, wherein said clutch is positioned in said proximal portion of said shaft assembly, and wherein said clutch comprises a biasing member configured to bias said clutch into said first configuration unless said clutch is in said second configuration.
14. The surgical instrument of claim 13 , wherein said clutch comprises a translatable clutch element slideable between a proximal position in said first configuration and a distal position in said second configuration.
15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 , wherein said biasing member comprises at least one spring configured to position said translatable clutch element in said proximal position or said distal position.
16. The surgical instrument of claim 14 , wherein said translatable clutch element is movable proximally and distally by a linear clutch drive.
17. The surgical instrument of claim 13 , further comprising a lock configured to releasably hold said clutch in said first configuration.
18. The surgical instrument of claim 13 , further comprising a lock configured to releasably hold said clutch in said second configuration.
19. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
a shaft assembly configured to be attached to said handle;
an end effector extending from said shaft assembly;
an input shaft;
a plurality of output shafts, wherein each of said plurality of output shafts is configured to drive a different end effector function; and
a clutch, wherein said clutch is configurable in a plurality of clutch positions, wherein said clutch selectively couples said input shaft with a said output shaft in each of said plurality of clutch positions, wherein said clutch is positioned in said shaft assembly, and wherein said clutch comprises a biasing member configured to bias said clutch into the closest said clutch position when said clutch is not positioned in a said clutch position.