Surgical instrument with shiftable transmission

1. A surgical tool comprising:

an elongated shaft having a proximal end and distal end;

a surgical end effector at the distal end of the elongated shaft, the surgical end effector comprising a first end effector component;

a first motor interface; and

a transmission comprising a rotatable camshaft comprising a first lobe and a second lobe, the first lobe operable to engage the first motor interface to the first end effector component to drive the first end effector component, and the second lobe operable to lock the first end effector component to prevent driving of the first end effector component.

2. The surgical tool of claim 1 ,

wherein the surgical end effector comprises a gripping device, and

wherein the surgical end effector includes a wrist, the wrist being able to pitch, yaw, and roll the gripping device with respect to a remotely controlled arm.

3. The surgical tool of claim 1 , wherein the first lobe of the rotatable camshaft is operable to control power and the second lobe of the rotatable camshaft is operable to control locking.

4. The surgical tool of claim 1 ,

further comprising a second end effector component,

wherein the transmission selectively engages the first motor interface to the first end effector component and selectively engages the first motor interface to the second end effector component,

wherein the rotatable camshaft is movable between a first position and a second position,

wherein in the first position, the first motor interface is coupled via the transmission to drive the first end effector component without driving the second end effector component, and

wherein in the second position, the first motor interface is coupled via the transmission to drive the second end effector component without driving the first end effector component.

5. The surgical tool of claim 4 , further comprising a second motor interface coupled to the rotatable camshaft to move the rotatable camshaft between the first position and the second position.

6. The surgical tool of claim 4 ,

wherein the surgical end effector comprises a third end effector component,

wherein the rotatable camshaft is movable to a third position,

wherein in the first position and in the second position, the first motor interface does not drive the third end effector component, and

wherein in the third position, the first motor interface is coupled via the transmission to drive the third end effector component without driving the first and second end effector components.

7. The surgical tool of claim 6 , further comprising a second motor interface coupled to move the rotatable camshaft between the first position, the second position, and the third position.

8. The surgical tool of claim 1 ,

further comprising a second end effector component,

wherein the first end effector component is associated with a first end effector mechanical degree of freedom, and the second end effector component is associated with a second end effector mechanical degree of freedom,

wherein the surgical tool further comprises: a second motor interface coupled to drive a third end effector mechanical degree of freedom, a third motor interface coupled to drive a fourth end effector mechanical degree of freedom, and a fourth motor interface coupled to drive a fifth end effector mechanical degree of freedom, and

wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth end effector mechanical degrees of freedom are each unique.

9. The surgical tool of claim 8 ,

further comprising a third end effector component associated with a sixth end effector mechanical degree of freedom, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth end effector mechanical degrees of freedom are each unique.

10. The surgical tool of claim 9 ,

wherein the surgical end effector comprises a gripping device,

wherein the surgical end effector includes a wrist, the wrist being able to pitch, yaw, and roll the gripping device with respect to a remotely controlled arm,

wherein the first end effector mechanical degree of freedom is configured to roll the wrist,

wherein the second end effector mechanical degree of freedom is configured to actuate the surgical tool,

wherein the third end effector mechanical degree of freedom is configured to actuate the gripping device with high force relative to the sixth end effector mechanical degree of freedom,

wherein the fourth end effector mechanical degree of freedom is configured to cause the wrist to yaw,

wherein the fifth end effector mechanical degree of freedom is configured to cause the wrist to pitch, and

wherein the sixth end effector mechanical degree of freedom is configured to actuate the gripping device with low force relative to the third end effector mechanical degree of freedom.

11. The surgical tool of claim 10 ,

wherein the first lobe and the second lobe comprise a first pair of lobes for powering the first end effector mechanical degree of freedom, and

wherein the rotatable camshaft comprises a second pair of lobes and a third pair of lobes for powering and locking, respectively, each of the second and third end effector mechanical degrees of freedom.

12. The surgical tool of claim 11 , wherein the transmission comprises a first gear train for driving the first end effector mechanical degree of freedom, a second gear train for driving the second end effector mechanical degree of freedom, and a third gear train for driving the third end effector mechanical degree of freedom.

13. The surgical tool of claim 12 ,

wherein the first gear train comprises:

a first input gear,

a first output gear operably coupled with the first input gear,

a first rocker arm moveably engaged with the rotatable camshaft to engage and disengage the first input gear with the first output gear, and

a first locker arm moveably engaged with the rotatable camshaft to lock and unlock the first output gear,

wherein the second gear train comprises:

a second input gear,

a second output gear operably coupled with the second input gear,

a second rocker arm moveably engaged with the rotatable camshaft to engage and disengage the second input gear with the second output gear, and

a second locker arm moveably engaged with the rotatable camshaft to lock and unlock the second output gear, and

wherein the third gear train comprises:

a third input gear,

a third output gear operably coupled with the third input gear,

a third rocker arm moveably engaged with the rotatable camshaft to engage and disengage the third input gear with the third output gear, and

a third locker arm moveably engaged with the rotatable camshaft to lock and unlock the third output gear.

14. A surgical tool comprising:

an elongated shaft having a proximal end and distal end;

a surgical end effector at the distal end of the elongated shaft, the surgical end effector comprising a first end effector component and a second end effector component;

a first motor interface; and

a transmission selectively engaging the first motor interface to the first end effector component and selectively engaging the first motor interface to the second end effector component, the transmission comprising shift mechanism movable between a first position and second position,

wherein in the first position, the first motor interface is coupled to the first end effector component to drive the first end effector component, and

wherein in the second position, the first end effector component is locked to prevent driving of the first end effector component.

15. The surgical tool of claim 14 , wherein the shift mechanism comprises a rotatable camshaft.

16. The surgical tool of claim 15 , wherein the rotatable camshaft comprises a first pair of lobes including:

a first lobe operable to selectively couple the first motor interface to the first end effector component to drive the first end effector component; and

a second lobe operable to selectively lock the first end effector component to prevent driving of the first end effector component.

17. The surgical tool of claim 14 , comprising a second motor interface coupled to the transmission to shift the shift mechanism between the first position and the second position.

18. The surgical tool of claim 14 , wherein the surgical end effector comprises a gripping device having a surgical tool, wherein the first end effector component or the second end effector component includes a wrist, the wrist being able to pitch, yaw, and roll the gripping device with respect to a remotely controlled arm.

19. The surgical tool of claim 14 ,

wherein the surgical end effector comprises a third end effector component; and

wherein the shift mechanism comprises:

a first lobe operable to engage the first motor interface to the third end effector component to drive the third end effector component; and

a second lobe operable to lock the third end effector component to prevent driving of the third end effector component.

20. The surgical tool of claim 19 , wherein the first motor interface is coupled via the transmission to drive the first end effector component without driving the second or third end effector components, and the first motor interface is selectively coupled via the transmission to drive the second end effector component without driving the first or third end effector components.