IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,096,707
Granted Patent B2
US 11,096,707 · App. 16/709,544 · Granted Aug 24, 2021

Actuation handle

Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt (Winterthur, CH); Reto Grueebler (Greifensee, CH); Timo Jung (Winterthur, CH); Niccolo Maschio (Winterthur, CH)
Assignee: Alcon Inc.
A61B17/2909A61B2017/2918A61B2017/305
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,096,707
App. No.
16/709,544
Granted
Aug 24, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Certain embodiments provide a surgical instrument comprising surgical instrument comprising an device having a functional end and a main handle comprising a distal end coupled to the device. The surgical instrument further comprises an actuation handle insert comprising a number of first rolling components and an actuation tube coupled to the actuation handle insert, wherein the functional end of the device at least partially extends outside of the actuation tube when the device is deactivated. The surgical instrument further comprises levers comprising second rolling components. The surgical instrument further comprises a plurality of rolling elements, wherein each of the rolling elements is placed between one of the second rolling components and one of the first rolling components and pressing one or more of the levers pushes the actuation handle insert forward relative to the device, causing the actuation tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to an activated state.

Claims (60)

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a device comprising a functional end configured to be inserted into a body part;

a main handle comprising a distal end coupled to a proximal end of the device;

an actuation handle insert comprising a proximal end that is movably coupled to the main handle, the actuation handle insert comprising a number of first rolling components;

an actuation tube coupled to a distal end of the actuation handle insert, wherein the functional end of the device at least partially extends outside of a distal end of the actuation tube when the device is in a deactivated state;

a plurality of levers comprising proximal ends configured to be coupled to the main handle, wherein the plurality of levers comprise a corresponding number of second rolling components; and

a plurality of rolling elements, wherein:

each of the rolling elements is placed between one of the number of second rolling components and one of the number of first rolling components; and

pressing one or more levers of the plurality of levers causes the rolling elements to roll down on at least one of the corresponding number of first rolling components or second rolling components and push the actuation handle insert forward relative to the device, causing the actuation tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to an activated state;

each of the first rolling components comprises a ramp, on which one of the plurality of rolling elements is configured to roll;

each of the second rolling components comprises a rolling element housing; and

the rolling element housing comprises a groove, within which the one of the plurality of rolling elements is configured to roll;

wherein the ramp comprises side walls, which are configured to confine the one of the plurality of rolling elements.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein:

the functional end of the device comprises jaws or arms; and

causing the actuation tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to the activated state further comprises closing the jaws or arms.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements are cylindrical.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the groove is u-shaped or shaped as a half-circle.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the rolling element housing prohibits a radial movement of the one of the plurality of rolling elements.

6. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a device comprising a functional end configured to be inserted into a body part;

a main handle comprising a distal end coupled to a proximal end of the device:

an actuation handle insert comprising a proximal end that is movably coupled to the main handle, the actuation handle insert comprising a number of first rolling components;

an actuation tube coupled to a distal end of the actuation handle insert, wherein the functional end of the device at least partially extends outside of a distal end of the actuation tube when the device is in a deactivated state;

a plurality of levers comprising proximal ends configured to be coupled to the main handle, wherein the plurality of levers comprise a corresponding number of second rolling components; and

a plurality of rolling elements, wherein:

each of the rolling elements is placed between one of the number of second rolling components and one of the number of first rolling components; and

pressing one or more levers of the plurality of levers causes the rolling elements to roll down on at least one of the corresponding number of first rolling components or second rolling components and push the actuation handle insert forward relative to the device, causing the actuation tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to an activated state;

each of the first rolling components comprises a ramp, on which one of the plurality of rolling elements is configured to roll;

each of the second rolling components comprises a rolling element housing; and

the rolling element housing comprises a groove, within which the one of the plurality of rolling elements is configured to roll;

wherein the ramp comprises a protrusion at its bottom for limiting a movement of the one of the plurality of rolling elements.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein:

the functional end of the device comprises jaws or arms; and

causing the actuation tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to the activated state further comprises closing the jaws or arms.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements are cylindrical.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the groove is u-shaped or shaped as a half-circle.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the rolling element housing prohibits a radial movement of the one of the plurality of rolling elements.

11. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a device comprising a functional end configured to be inserted into a body part;

a main handle comprising a distal end coupled to a proximal end of the device:

an actuation handle insert comprising a proximal end that is movably coupled to the main handle, the actuation handle insert comprising a number of first rolling components;

an actuation tube coupled to a distal end of the actuation handle insert, wherein the functional end of the device at least partially extends outside of a distal end of the actuation tube when the device is in a deactivated state;

a plurality of levers comprising proximal ends configured to be coupled to the main handle, wherein the plurality of levers comprise a corresponding number of second rolling components; and

a plurality of rolling elements, wherein:

each of the rolling elements is placed between one of the number of second rolling components and one of the number of first rolling components; and

pressing one or more levers of the plurality of levers causes the rolling elements to roll down on at least one of the corresponding number of first rolling components or second rolling components and push the actuation handle insert forward relative to the device, causing the actuation tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to an activated state;

wherein:

each of the first rolling components comprises a first ramp, on which one of the plurality of rolling elements is configured to roll; and

each of the second rolling components comprises a second ramp, on which the one of the plurality of rolling elements is configured to roll.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein:

the first ramp comprises a first groove that is shaped as a channel with a first starting point and a first ending point; and

the second ramp comprises a second groove that is shaped as a channel with a second starting point and a second ending point.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the first starting point, the first ending point, the second starting point, and the second ending point limit longitudinal movements of the one of the plurality of rolling elements.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein:

the functional end of the device comprises jaws or arms; and

causing the actuation tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to the activated state further comprises closing the jaws or arms.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements are cylindrical.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the groove is u-shaped or shaped as a half-circle.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein a rolling element housing prohibits a radial movement of the one of the plurality of rolling elements.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2021
From: ABT, NIELS ALEXANDER; GRUEEBLER, RETO; JUNG, TIMO; MASCHIO, NICCOLO
To: ALCON GRIESHABER AG
Reel/Frame 055532/0490 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2021
From: ALCON GRIESHABER AG
To: ALCON INC.
Reel/Frame 055532/0524 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62778444 · Dec 12, 2018
Related Publication 20200187970A1 · Jun 18, 2020