End effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument

1. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(b) a clevis coupled to the distal end of the hollow shaft;

(c) at least one deflection member integral with the clevis;

(d) a procedural member assembly rotatably coupled to the clevis;

(e) at least one actuation means attached to the procedural member assembly at an actuating hole and slidable relative to the hollow shaft for rotationally moving the procedural member assembly about a pivot point between a closed and an open position wherein the at least one deflection member integral with the clevis deflects inwards at least one actuation means changing the distribution of the loading force in the end effector assembly resulting in increased clamping force; the clamping force being defined as a force acting on the procedural member assembly at the actuating hole and perpendicular to a line defined by the centers of actuation and pivoting of the procedural member assembly, the value of the clamping force described by function:

F c (β)=F 1 *[A*cos(β)+B*sin(β)]/(A 2 +B 2 ) −2 wherein A is the horizontal offset between the pivot point and the actuating hole, B is the vertical offset between the pivot point and the actuating hole, F 1 is the loading force applied to the end effector, this function reaching its maximum value for β max with given design constraints, where β is the deflection angle, and not considering any friction losses due to engagement of the surgical instrument.

2. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deflection member is an integral shoulder for engaging at least one actuation means.

3. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 2 wherein the integral shoulder further comprises a lubricious material for reducing friction.

4. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(b) a clevis coupled to the distal end of the hollow shaft;

(c) a flat support coupled to the clevis;

(d) at least one deflection member coupled to the clevis and the flat support;

(e) a procedural member assembly rotatably coupled to the flat support;

(f) at least one actuation means attached to the procedural member assembly at an actuating hole and slidable relative to the hollow shaft for rotationally moving the procedural member assembly about a pivot point between a closed and an open position wherein the at least one deflection member integral with the clevis deflects inwards at least one actuation means changing the distribution of the loading force in the end effector assembly resulting in increased clamping force; the clamping force being defined as a force acting on the procedural member assembly at the actuating hole and perpendicular to a line defined by the centers of actuation and pivoting of the procedural member assembly, the value of the clamping force described by function:

F c (β)=F 1 *[A*cos(β)+B*sin(β)]/(A 2 +B 2 ) −2 wherein A is the horizontal offset between the pivot point and the actuating hole, B is the vertical offset between the pivot point and the actuating hole, F 1 is the loading force applied to the end effector, this function reaching its maximum value for β max with given design constraints, where β is the deflection angle, and not considering any friction losses due to engagement of the surgical instrument.

5. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 4 wherein the deflection member is at least one pin coupled to the clevis and the flat support through a series of apertures in the clevis and the flat support.

6. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 5 wherein the deflection member further comprises a lubricious material for reducing friction.

7. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 5 wherein the deflection member is rotatable within the apertures.

8. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(b) a flat support;

(c) at least one deflection member coupled to the flat support;

(d) a procedural member assembly rotatably coupled to the flat support;

(e) at least one actuation means attached to the procedural member assembly at an actuating hole and slidable relative to the hollow shaft for rotationally moving the procedural member assembly about a pivot point between a dosed and an open position wherein the at least one deflection member integral with the clevis deflects inwards at least one actuation means changing the distribution of the loading force in the end effector assembly resulting in increased clamping force; the clamping force being defined as a force acting on the procedural member assembly at the actuating hole and perpendicular to a line defined by the centers of actuation and pivoting of the procedural member assembly, the value of the clamping force described by function:

F c (β)=F 1 *[A*cos(β)+B*sin(β)]/(A 2 +B 2 ) −2 wherein A is the horizontal offset between the pivot point and the actuating hole, B is the vertical offset between the pivot saint and the actuating hole, F 1 is the loading force applied the end effector, this function reaching its maximum value for β max with given design constraints, where β is the deflection angle, and not considering any friction losses due to engagement of the surgical instrument.

9. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 8 wherein the deflection member is at least one pin coupled to the flat support.

10. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein the deflection member further comprises a lubricious material for reducing friction.

11. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein the deflection member is rotatable within the aperture of the flat support.

12. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(b) a flat support having a slot;

(c) at least one deflection member moveably coupled within the slot of the flat support;

(d) a procedural member assembly rotatably coupled to the flat support;

(e) at least one actuation means attached to the procedural member assembly at an actuating hole and slidable relative to the hollow shaft for rotationally moving the procedural member assembly about a pivot point between a closed and an open position wherein the at least one deflection member integral with the clevis deflects inwards at least one actuation means changing the distribution of the loading force in the end effector assembly resulting in increased clamping force; the clamping force being defined as a force acting on the procedural member assembly at the actuating hole and perpendicular to a line defined by the centers of actuation and pivoting of the procedural member assembly, the value of the clamping force described by function:

F c (β)=F 1 *[A*cos(β)+B*sin(β)]/(A 2 +B 2 ) −2 wherein A is the horizontal offset between the pivot point and the actuating hole, B is the vertical offset between the pivot point and the actuating hole, F 1 is the loading force applied to the end effector, this function reaching its maximum value for β max with given design constraints, where β is the deflection angle, and not considering any friction losses due to engagement of the surgical instrument.

13. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 12 wherein the deflection member is at least one pin movably coupled to slot in the flat support.

14. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 13 wherein the deflection member further comprises a lubricious material for reducing friction.

15. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 12 wherein the deflection member is rotatable within the slot of the flat member.

16. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(b) at least one deflection member coupled to the hollow shaft;

(c) a rotatable procedural member assembly;

(d) at least one actuation means attached to the procedural member assembly at an actuating hole and slidable relative to the hollow shaft for rotationally moving the procedural member assembly about a pivot point between a closed and an open position wherein the at least one deflection member integral with the clevis deflects inwards at least one actuation means changing the distribution of the loading force in the end effector assembly resulting in increased clamping force; the clamping force being defined as a force acting on the procedural member assembly at the actuating hole and perpendicular to a line defined by the centers of actuation and pivoting of the procedural member assembly, the value of the clamping force described by function:

F c (β)=F 1 *[A*cos(β)+B*sin(β)]/(A 2 +B 2 ) −2 wherein A is the horizontal offset between the pivot point and the actuating hole, B is the vertical offset between the pivot point and the actuating hole, F 1 is the loading force applied to the end effector, this function reaching its maximum value for β max with given design constraints, where β is the deflection angle, and not considering any friction losses due to engagement of the surgical instrument.

17. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 16 wherein the deflection member is at least one shoulder coupled to the hollow shaft or at least one shoulder being an integral part of the hollow shaft.

18. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 17 wherein the deflection member further comprises a lubricious material for reducing friction.

19. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 1 , 4 , 8 , 12 or 16 wherein the actuation means compromises of at least one filament.

20. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 1 , 4 , 8 , 12 or 16 wherein design constrains A and B can be dynamically changed and dynamically change the clamping force F c .

21. An end effector assembly with increased clamping force for a surgical instrument as claimed in claim 1 , 4 , 8 , 12 or 16 wherein the position of the deflection member can vary changing the deflection angle β and the value of the function F c (β).