Surgical instruments

Abstract

The present application provides a surgical instrument comprising a handle portion, an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle portion, an end effector, a joint assembly, an articulation mechanism, and a lockout assembly. The lockout assembly comprises a first locking member and a second locking member. The first locking member is operable to selectively lock a bending motion of the articulation mechanism, the first locking member configured to selectively lock a bending motion of the articulation mechanism under actuation of the articulation mechanism. The second locking member is configured to selectively lock a position of the joint assembly under actuation of the handle portion.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210088344.7, filed with the Patent Office of the State Intellectual Property Administration of China on January 25, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD This application relates to the field of medical instruments, and more particularly to surgical instruments. [Background technology]

[0003] In the related art, surgical instruments such as surgical staplers are commonly used on soft tissue to reduce or eliminate bleeding from the soft tissue during the tissue cutting process. The surgical stapler includes an end effector and an articulation steering mechanism for articulating the end effector. The end effector includes a staple cartridge assembly and a staple anvil, where staples are positioned within the staple cartridge assembly, and the staple anvil and staple cartridge assembly are closed to clamp the soft tissue and staple the soft tissue together.

[0004] The articulation steering mechanism includes a joint assembly, an articulation mechanism, and two articulation bands for transmitting the motion provided by the articulation mechanism (articulation knob) to the joint assembly. One end of each articulation band is hinged to the articulation mechanism, and the other end of each articulation band is hinged to a joint member, thereby forming a link mechanism. The articulation mechanism is configured to drive one of the two articulation bands to move forward and drive the other of the articulation bands to move backward, thereby articulating the joint members. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The surgical instrument provided by the present invention may provide for locking the joint assembly in the closed state to avoid the problem of the end effector swinging freely in the closed state.

[0006] The present invention provides a surgical instrument comprising: an end effector configured to perform a procedure on tissue, the end effector having an open state for receiving tissue and a closed state for stapling the tissue; a handle portion configured to operatively provide an opening drive force to open the end effector or a closing drive force to close the end effector; an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle portion and having a longitudinal axis, the elongate shaft configured to transmit drive force from the handle portion to the end effector; a joint assembly coupled to the end effector and the elongate shaft, an articulation mechanism configured to operably provide an articulation drive force to the joint assembly to articulate the end effector relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft; 1. A lockout assembly comprising: a first locking member configured to selectively lock the articulation mechanism against articulation; and a second locking member configured to selectively lock the position of the joint assembly upon manipulation of the handle portion. a lockout assembly comprising: Equipped with.

[0007] In some embodiments of the present application, the second locking member is configured to lock the joint assembly when the handle portion is actuated to apply a closing driving force to the end effector and to release the joint assembly when the handle portion is actuated to apply an opening driving force to the end effector.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present application, the elongate shaft comprises an outer tube and the second locking member is engaged to the outer tube such that the second locking member moves synchronously or substantially synchronously with the outer tube.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present application, a support is disposed within a distal portion of the outer tube, a slider is slidably coupled to the support, the slider is coupled to the outer tube via an insert fitting portion, and a second locking member is coupled to the slider directly or via a first biasing member.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present application, the insert fitting comprises a recess or protrusion disposed on the inner wall of the outer tube and a correspondingly disposed protrusion or recess on the slider.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present application, the joint assembly comprises a joint member, a locking groove disposed on the joint member, and the locking groove is operated to be engaged with a second locking member to lock the position of the joint assembly.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present application, the outer tube is operated to move distally along the longitudinal axis under the action of a closing mechanism, and to move proximally along the longitudinal axis under the action of an opening mechanism.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present application, the closure mechanism comprises: a closure trigger disposed to be operatively rotated about a pivot pin and having a closed position and an unlocked position, the closure trigger having a plurality of first transmission teeth disposed thereon; a close transmission member including a plurality of second transmission teeth engaged with the first transmission teeth, the close transmission member being slidably received within a frame extending along a longitudinal axis; a coupling member configured to couple a closed transmission member to the outer tube; Equipped with When the closure trigger is actuated, the closure transmission member is actuated to move distally along the frame, thereby actuating the outer tube to move distally.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present application, the opening mechanism comprises: an opening button configured to operatively rotate about a pivot pin, the opening button including an opening lock portion configured to be engaged with a closure trigger; a second biasing member disposed between the close transmission member and the frame, the second biasing member configured to bias the close transmission member at a proximal end thereof; Equipped with When the release button is triggered, the release lock portion releases the closure trigger from the closed position and is biased by the second biasing member to move in a proximal direction, thereby actuating the outer tube to move in a proximal direction.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present application, the first locking member comprises a first bar portion and a second locking tooth each engaged with the articulation mechanism, and the first bar portion is operably engaged with the articulation mechanism to release the articulation mechanism from a state in which the articulation mechanism is locked by the second locking tooth.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present application, the articulation mechanism includes a first cam disc, a second cam disc, and an articulation knob for actuating and rotating the first cam disc and the second cam disc, wherein the first cam disc is operably engaged to a first bar portion of the first locking member and the second cam disc is operably engaged to a second locking tooth of the first locking member, and the first cam disc is operated by the articulation knob to actuate the first bar portion of the first locking member to disengage the second locking tooth of the first locking member from the second cam disc.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present application, the first cam disc includes a plurality of first locking notches configured to be engaged with the first bar portion of the first locking member, and the second cam disc includes a plurality of second locking notches configured to be engaged with the second locking teeth of the first locking member.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present application, the first cam disc is stacked on top of the second cam disc and can be rotated through an angle relative to the second cam disc, and the first bar portion and the second locking tooth are positioned on the first locking member such that they are aligned with the first cam disc and the second cam disc, respectively.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present application, the articulation mechanism further comprises a first member engaged with the articulation knob and the first cam disc, respectively, to operatively drive and rotate the first cam disc.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present application, the articulation mechanism further comprises a transmission device coaxially and fixedly engaged to the second cam disc, the transmission device being operably engaged to the articulation transmission assembly for articulating the joint assembly.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present application, the articulation transmission assembly comprises a rack and an articulation band engaged to the articulation mechanism, a proximal end of the articulation band being engaged to the rack and a distal end of the articulation band being hinged to a joint member of the joint assembly.

[0022] In some embodiments of the present application, the joint member comprises an aperture and a transmission hole, the aperture configured to receive a pivot to pivotally engage the joint member to the elongate shaft, the transmission hole engaged with an articulation transmission assembly to be actuated to articulate the joint assembly, and an axis of the transmission hole disposed distally from the axis of the aperture.

[0023] In some embodiments of the present application, the distance between the axis of the transmission hole and the axis of the aperture along the longitudinal axis is in the range of 0 to 1 mm.

[0024] In some embodiments of the present application, a distal end of the elongate shaft comprises a support, the distal end of the support being engaged with an aperture of the joint member via a pivot.

[0025] In some embodiments of the present application, the articulation band of the articulation transmission assembly is pivotally received within the transmission hole.

[0026] The present application provides a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising: The handle part, an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle portion, the elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis; a joint assembly respectively engaged to a distal end of the elongate shaft and a proximal end of the end effector operatively actuated by the articulation mechanism to pivot away from a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft; a second locking member configured to be actuated by the handle portion to operatively lock the position of the joint assembly, the second locking member being actuated to move synchronously or substantially synchronously with the outer tube of the elongate shaft; Equipped with.

[0027] In some embodiments of the present application, the second locking member is configured to operably reciprocate such that when a closing drive force is applied from the handle portion to the end effector, the second locking member is actuated to lock the position of the joint assembly and when an opening drive force is applied from the handle portion to the end effector, the second locking member is actuated to release the joint assembly.

[0028] In some embodiments of the present application, the surgical instrument comprises: an articulation mechanism configured to operably provide an articulation drive force to the joint assembly to articulate the end effector relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft; a lockout assembly including a first locking member configured to operably lock the articulation mechanism from being articulated; and It further comprises:

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings which will aid in the understanding of the present invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic structural diagram of one embodiment of a surgical instrument according to the present application; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of a handle of a surgical instrument according to the present application. [Figure 3A] 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a closure trigger moved to a closed position in a surgical instrument according to the present application; FIG. [Figure 3B] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a closure trigger unlocked by a release button in a surgical instrument according to the present application. [Figure 4A] 13 is another schematic structural diagram of a closure trigger moved to a closed position in a surgical instrument according to the present application; FIG. [Figure 4B] 13 is another schematic structural diagram of a closure trigger unlocked by a release button in a surgical instrument according to the present application; FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a partial structure of a surgical instrument according to the present application. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a rotatable knob of a surgical instrument according to the present application. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an articulation knob of a surgical instrument according to the present application; [Figure 8A] FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a first cam disc of the articulation mechanism. [Figure 8B] FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a first cam disc of the articulation mechanism. [Figure 9A] FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a second cam disk and a transmission device of the articulation mechanism. [Figure 9B] FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of a second cam disk and a transmission device of the articulation mechanism. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a rack in the flexure transmission mechanism according to the present application. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an articulation band in the flexure transmission mechanism according to the present application. [Figure 12] 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a matching distal end of an elongated shaft and a joint member. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a first locking member according to the present application. [Figure 14A] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a joint operation mechanism. [Figure 14B] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a joint operation mechanism. [Figure 14C] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a joint operation mechanism. [Figure 15A] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the bending motion system in one state during bending motion. [Figure 15B] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the bending motion system in one state during bending motion. [Figure 15C] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the bending motion system in one state during bending motion. [Figure 15D] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the bending motion system in one state during bending motion. [Figure 15E]FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the bending motion system in one state during bending motion. [Figure 16] 2 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a distal end of an outer tube of an elongate shaft according to the present application. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The present invention will be described clearly and completely below with reference to these drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part, not all, of the embodiments of the present application. Any other embodiments that a person skilled in the art can realize based on these embodiments of the present application without going through creative work shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

[0032] It should be noted that in the present description, orientations or positions indicated by terms such as "center," "top," "bottom," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inside," and "outside" are based on the orientations or positions shown in the drawings and are merely for the convenience and simplification of the present description and do not imply or suggest that the devices or elements shown must have a particular orientation and be constructed and operated in a particular orientation. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as implying or suggesting relative importance.

[0033] It should be noted that in the description of this application, the terms "installed", "connected" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense unless otherwise specified. For example, "installed", "connected" and "connection" may be a fixed connection, a removable connection or an integral connection, a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, and a connection inside two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in this application may be understood in a specific example by a person skilled in the art.

[0034] Furthermore, the technical features contained in the various embodiments of the present application described hereinafter may be combined with each other unless they are mutually inconsistent.

[0035] In the embodiments of the present application, "distal end / distal side" refers to the end of the surgical instrument that is located further from the operator during surgery, and "proximal end" refers to the end / side of the surgical instrument that is closer to the operator during surgery.

[0036] 1 is a schematic structural diagram of one particular embodiment of a surgical instrument 100. The illustrated embodiment is an endoscopic instrument, and generally speaking, the embodiment of the surgical instrument 100 described herein is an endoscopic surgical instrument for cutting and stapling. However, it should be noted that the surgical instrument may also be a non-endoscopic surgical instrument for cutting and stapling, such as, for example, an open thoracotomy instrument.

[0037] Alternatively, the surgical instrument 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a handle portion 80, an elongate shaft 101, and an end effector 70. The elongate shaft 101, defining a longitudinal axis C, extends distally from a distal portion of the handle portion 80. The end effector 70 includes an anvil assembly 71 and a staple cartridge assembly removably housed within a cartridge channel 72, and is adapted to perform a particular surgical procedure and to manipulate tissue, such as, for example, clamping, suturing / stapling, and cutting the tissue. A movable firing member for performing a particular surgical procedure is disposed within the end effector 70. In this embodiment of the surgical instrument 100 described herein, an end effector 70 is provided for cutting and stapling tissue, however, it should be understood that in an alternative embodiment, end effectors of other techniques for cutting and stapling tissue may be used. For example, an end effector for stapling tissue by using radio frequency (RF) energy or an adhesive may be used. In one embodiment, the handle portion 80 is configured to operably supply an opening drive force to open the end effector 70 or a closing drive force to close the end effector 70, and the long shaft 101 extends distally from the handle portion 80 defining a longitudinal axis, and the long shaft 101 is configured to transmit the drive force of the handle portion 80 to the end effector 70.

[0038] 2 and 4A-4B, the handle portion 80 includes a handle housing 83 and a closing mechanism and an opening mechanism mounted within the handle housing 83. The closing mechanism is configured to control the anvil assembly 71 of the end effector 70 to pivot toward the cartridge channel 72 until the end effector 70 is closed. The opening mechanism is configured to control the anvil assembly 71 of the end effector 70 to pivot away from the cartridge channel 72 until the end effector 70 reaches a set position where it is open.

[0039] 1 and 2, the handle housing 83 is comprised of a first half 83a and a second half 83b, which may be removably connected by a buckle, fastener or the like, and may form an overall T-shape. The portion of the handle housing 83 extending along the longitudinal axis C forms the housing for the closing and opening mechanisms, and the portion of the handle housing 83 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis C or inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis C forms the grip portion 82.

[0040] 2, the closure mechanism includes a closure trigger 81, a closure transmission member 84, and a coupling member 85 configured to couple the closure transmission member 84 to the outer tube 101a of the elongate shaft 101. The closure trigger 81 is operatively pivoted about a pivot pin and has a closed position and an unlocked position. The closure trigger 81 includes a plurality of first transmission teeth 811 configured to engage with second transmission teeth 841 disposed on the closure transmission member 84 (as shown in FIGS. 3A-3B). The closure transmission member 84 is slidably received within a frame 86 extending along a longitudinal axis C. During operation, as the closure trigger 81 is moved toward the grip portion 82, as shown in FIG. 4A, the closure transmission member 84 is actuated by the closure trigger 81 to move distally along the frame 86, further driving the outer tube 101a to move distally, thereby actuating the anvil assembly 71 to pivot toward the cartridge channel 72 until the jaws of the end effector 70 are closed.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A-FIG. 3B, the opening mechanism includes an opening button 87 operably rotated about a pivot pin and a second biasing member 88 located between the closed transmission member 84 and the frame 86, and the second biasing member 88 applies a biasing force at a proximal end of the closed transmission member 84. The opening button 87 includes an opening lock portion 871 operably engaged with the closure trigger 81, and the opening lock portion 871 locks the closure trigger 81 when the closure trigger 81 reaches a set position by being moved toward the grip portion 82 as shown in FIG. 3A. When the opening button 87 is triggered as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 4B, the opening lock portion 871 releases the closure trigger 81 from its closed position, and the closed transmission member 84 is actuated to move proximally under the actuation of the second biasing member 88, and acts to move the outer tube 101a proximally. Thus, the anvil assembly 71 is pivoted away from the cartridge channel 72 under the action of the biasing member until the end effector 70 is opened.

[0042] 1 to 5, the long shaft 101 is disposed to transmit various driving forces (e.g., driving forces for opening and closing the end effector 70, and driving forces for driving and moving the firing member) supplied by the handle portion 80 to the end effector 70. The long shaft 101 includes an outer tube 101a, the proximal end of which is engaged with the closed transmission member 84 of the handle portion 80, and the distal end of the outer tube 101a is rotatably engaged with the proximal end of the outer tube section 73 via the pivot member 31 at the proximal end of the end effector 70.

[0043] The surgical instrument 100 provided in this embodiment of the present application further comprises a rotatable knob 1 disposed distally of the handle portion 80 and fixedly engaged to a proximal end of the elongate shaft 101. When the rotatable knob 1 is actuated to rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of the surgical instrument 100 (see longitudinal axis C in FIG. 1 ), the elongate shaft 101 and the end effector 70 can be driven to rotate together.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5, to articulate the end effector 70 to a target angle relative to the longitudinal axis C of the elongated shaft 101, the elongated shaft 101 and the end effector 70 are engaged via a joint assembly 30 comprising a joint member 32. A distal end of the joint member 32 is fixedly engaged to the end effector 70, and a proximal end of the joint member 32 is pivotally engaged to the elongated shaft 101 via a pivot 33. Alternatively, a distal end of a frame 101b of the elongated shaft 101 comprises a support 101c, and a distal end of the support 101c is pivotally engaged to the joint member 32 via the pivot 33. An aperture 324 (as shown in FIG. 12) is provided in the joint member 32, which is configured to receive the pivot 33 such that the joint member 32 is pivotally engaged to the frame 101b of the elongated shaft 101. Further, the joint assembly 30 is surrounded by a protective cover 34.

[0045] The surgical instrument 100 provided in this embodiment of the present application further includes an articulation mechanism 20 for articulating the joint assembly 30, and an articulation transmission assembly 40. The articulation mechanism 20 is configured to articulate the end effector 70 relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft 101 by providing an articulation driving force to the joint assembly 30. As shown in FIG. 5 , the articulation mechanism 20 includes an articulation knob 2 rotatably mounted on a rotatable knob 1, and when the articulation knob 2 is actuated to rotate, the end effector 70 is correspondingly articulated. The articulation transmission assembly 40 articulates the end effector 70 away from the longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft 101 by transmitting the articulation driving force provided by the articulation mechanism 20 to the joint assembly 30, thereby performing the articulation of the end effector 70.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 6, the articulation mechanism 20 in this embodiment of the present application comprises a first cam disc 22 axially fixed to a bottom portion of the articulation knob 2. In this embodiment, the first cam disc 22 is axially fixed to the bottom portion of the articulation knob 2 via a first member 21. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a bar 211 is disposed on an inner wall of the first member 21. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, a ridge 221 is provided extending upwardly on an upper surface of the first cam disc 22 and configured to engage with the first member 21 via a pair of holes 222 symmetrically provided in the ridge 221. The bar 211 of the first member 21 is clamped to the first cam disc 22 by being received in the holes 222 of the first cam disc 22, thereby realizing a circumferentially fixed connection between the articulation knob 2 and the first cam disc 22. When the articulation knob 2 is operated to rotate, the first member 21 and the first cam disc 22 rotate correspondingly. In an alternative embodiment, the articulation knob 2 and the first cam disc 22 may be engaged and secured in other ways, such as by being locked and engaged by a fastener, which may be a screw or bolt, or the bottom portion of the articulation knob 2 is welded and secured onto the top surface of the first cam disc 22.

[0047] 8A and 8B, in one embodiment, at least two first cutouts 224 are disposed in the circumferential outer wall of the first cam disc 22, and each two adjacent first cutouts 224 defines a first protrusion 223. Alternatively, seven, or two, three, four, five, six, eight, or more first cutouts 224 may be provided on the first cam disc 22. For example, the number of the first cutouts 224 may be set to an odd number, and the first cutout 224 located in the middle is defined as the initial position (non-articulated position) cutout.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 6, the articulation mechanism 20 further includes a second cam disk 23 coaxially stacked on the first cam disk 22. For example, the first cam disk 22 may be stacked on the first cam disk 22 by rotating the first cam disk 22 by a certain angle relative to the second cam disk 23. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, a protruding portion 225 extends axially downward from a lower surface of the first cam disk 22, and a pair of recesses 226 are symmetrically arranged on an outer circumferential wall of the protruding portion 225. Thus, as shown in FIG. 9A, the second cam disk 23 includes an inner opening 233, which has a protruding portion 234 extending radially inward. In one embodiment, the pair of protruding portions 234 may be provided, for example, symmetrically arranged within the inner opening 233, to be engaged with the respective recesses 226 on the protruding portion 225 of the first cam disk 22. The protruding portion 225 of the first cam disc 22 fits into an inner opening 233 of the second cam disc 23, and this protrusion 234 engages with a recess 226 on the protruding portion 225 of the first cam disc 22, so that when the first cam disc 22 is operated to rotate, the second cam disc 23 can be actuated to rotate therewith.

[0049] 9A, in one embodiment, similar to the first cam disc 22, at least two second notches 232 are disposed on the circumferential outer wall of the second cam disc 23, and each of two adjacent second notches 232 defines a second tooth 231. The number of the second notches 232 of the second cam disc 23 is set to correspond to the number of the first notches 224 of the first cam disc 22. For example, the number of the second notches 232 of the second cam disc 23 can be set as seven, or alternatively, two, three, four, five, six, eight, or more. For example, the number of the second notches 232 can be set as an odd number, and the second notches 232 located in the middle are defined as initial position (non-articulated position) notches.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 9B, in one embodiment, the transmission 24 is coaxially and fixedly mounted on the second cam disc 23 such that rotation of the second cam disc 23 drives and rotates the transmission 24 synchronously or substantially synchronously.

[0051] 5, the articulation transmission assembly 40 is configured to transmit the articulation driving force provided by the articulation mechanism 20 to the joint assembly 30. For example, the articulation transmission assembly 40 includes a rack 41 and an articulation band 42. With reference to FIGS. 5, 9B, and 9A, a portion of the rack 41 including teeth 411 engages with the transmission device 24 of the articulation mechanism 20, and another portion of the rack 41 is fixedly connected to a proximal end of the articulation band 42. A distal end of the articulation band 42 engages with the joint assembly 30 to transmit the articulation driving force to the joint assembly 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a transmission hole 322 is disposed on each of two sides of an aperture 324 in the joint member 32, and the transmission hole 322 is configured to be hingedly connected to the distal end of the articulation band 42. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, the second hook portion 422 is disposed at the distal end of the articulation band 42 and hinged to the transmission hole 322. When the transmission 24 of the articulation mechanism 20 is operated and rotated, the two racks 41 of the articulation transmission assembly 40 are driven to reciprocate longitudinally (along the longitudinal axis C), and the articulation band 42 is further driven to reciprocate. Here, one articulation band 42 moves distally and the other articulation band 42 moves proximally. Thereby, the joint member 32 pivotally rotates about the pivot 33 to finally realize the articulation relative to the end effector 70. In an alternative embodiment, the articulation band 42 and the joint member 32 may be hinged in other ways. Furthermore, in an alternative embodiment, the articulation band 42 may be configured as a tube-like or rod-like structure.

[0052] FIG. 10 shows the structure of the rack 41. In this embodiment, a mounting base 412 is disposed on the bottom portion of the rack 41, and the mounting base 412 further includes a groove 413 disposed thereon. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, a first hook portion 421 is disposed on the proximal end of the articulation band 42. The first hook portion 421 is received in the groove 413 of the rack 41, thereby providing a fixed engagement between the articulation band and the rack. Alternatively, the first hook portion 421 of the articulation band 42 may be directly welded to the groove 413 of the rack 41 to provide a fixed connection. Alternatively, as an alternative embodiment, the rack 41 and the articulation band 42 may be fixedly connected by fasteners, such as screws or bolts, or may be fixedly connected by welding.

[0053] 10, the mounting base 412 of the rack 41 is designed as an inverted L-shape, with the end portion of the horizontal part of the L-shape fixed on the bottom part of the rack 41, and the groove 413 is disposed in the inner wall surface of the vertical part of the L-shape, so that the articulation band 42 is mounted behind the groove 413 and disposed on the inner side of the rack 41, making the structure of the articulation transmission assembly 40 more compact.

[0054] In some operations, the surgeon's operating space is very limited (e.g., low rectal resection / anastomosis, or thoracoscopic lung and bronchial resection / anastomosis), and the instrument is expected to be able to achieve a larger articulation angle in many cases, and the articulation radius of the instrument should be as small as possible. The joint member 32 articulates the end effector 70 of the instrument to a target angle by being actuated by the articulation band 42, and in many cases, the partial area where the support 101c is engaged with the joint member 32 limits the interference with the movement trajectory of the articulation band 42.

[0055] Thus, referring to FIG. 12, in an alternative embodiment, the axis of the transmission hole 322 is located distally from the axis of the aperture 324. For example, the distance along the longitudinal axis between the axis of the transmission hole 322 and the axis of the aperture 324 is represented as "a" and ranges from 0 to 1 mm. Alternatively, "a" may range from 0 to 0.2 mm. In this embodiment, when the end effector 70 is articulated to a limit articulation position, which may also be referred to as a maximum angular position, the articulation band 42 on one side abuts against a distal partial edge of the support 101c, while the gap formed by the articulation band 42 on the other side and the distal partial edge of the support 101c is reduced or eliminated. And vice versa. In this way, the distribution of the gap between the articulation band 42 and the distal part of the support 101c is optimized when the instrument is articulated to the limit position, thereby enabling the end effector 70 to achieve a larger articulation angle. The angle α that the end effector 70 makes with respect to the longitudinal axis C of the long shaft is defined as the articulation angle, which can reach 0°-70° in this embodiment. Alternatively, the articulation angle α can range from 0°-65°. Based on the above embodiment, the surgical instrument 100 according to the embodiment of the present application further comprises a lockout assembly 50 having a first locking member 51 for operably locking the articulation mechanism 20 from articulating. For example, when the surgical instrument 100 is operated to articulate, the articulation mechanism 20 is first released from the locked state by the first locking member 51, and after the end effector 70 is articulated to a certain position, the articulation mechanism 20 is further locked by the first locking member 51. The end effector 70 is articulated to a certain position where the end effector 70 is articulated by a certain angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

[0056] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first locking member 51 is disposed within the rotatable knob 1 via a third biasing member 53, which may be specifically configured as a compression spring or an elastic sheet. Referring to Figure 13, the first locking member 51 comprises a first bar portion 511 and a second locking tooth 512 stacked on the first bar portion 511, the first bar portion 511 configured to be engaged with the first locking notch 224 of the first cam disc 22, the second locking tooth 512 configured to be engaged with the second locking notch 232 of the second cam disc 23, and a distal end of the second locking tooth 512 protruding from a distal end of the first bar portion 511.

[0057] In one embodiment, the first cam disc 22 can be rotated a certain stroke relative to the second cam disc 23 for unlocking, which stroke is hereinafter referred to as the "unlock stroke". This stroke is an angle "a2" through which the first cam disc 22 can rotate relative to the second cam disc 23 (see FIG. 14B, the internal structure is shown in dotted lines). For example, there is a gap "a1" between the side wall of each protrusion 234 of the second cam disc 23 and the side wall of each recess 226 of the first cam disc 22 (see FIG. 14A, the internal structure is shown in dotted lines), which allows the first cam disc 22 to be rotated to achieve the angle "a2".

[0058] As shown in FIG. 14C , in one embodiment, in the articulation mechanism 20, when the first cam disc 22 and the second cam disc 23 are in their initial positions, an angle "b1" formed by the first locking notch 224 / second locking notch 232 of the first cam disc 22 / second cam disc 23 in the initial state and an adjacent first locking notch 224 / second locking notch 232 is greater than an angle "b2" formed by the other adjacent first locking notch 224 / second locking notch 232.

[0059] The transmission 24 is engaged with the rack 41, the articulation band 42 is pivotally coupled to the joint assembly 30, the bar 211 of the articulation knob 2 is coupled to the first cam disc 22, and the articulation band 42 is engaged with the rack 41, so that there is an unavoidable assembly clearance in the transmission matching between the adjacent components. In the unlocked state, when displaced from the initial position to the first articulation position, the first cam disc 22 is operated to rotate through an angle "b1" which is greater than the angle "b2" by which the first cam disc 22 is rotated from the first articulation gear to the second articulation position and is also the angle by which the first cam disc is further rotated to displace to the next position, thereby offsetting the assembly clearance of the engagement between the above-mentioned components and keeping them in a tight state, thereby ensuring that the first articulation position of the articulation mechanism 20 and the first articulation position of the joint assembly 30 achieve a predetermined angle synchronously or substantially synchronously.

[0060] In the articulation mechanism of the surgical instrument 100 of this embodiment of the present application, the second cam disc 23 of the articulation mechanism 20 is switched between a locked state and an unlocked state by the reciprocating movement of the first locking member 51 of the lockout assembly 50.

[0061] Next, a number of states of articulation of the articulation mechanism will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 15A to 15E.

[0062] First, FIG. 15A shows the surgical instrument 100 of this embodiment of the present application in a locked state when in an initial position (non-articulated operating position). The first locking member 51 is biased by the third biasing member 53 to be engaged with the first cam disc 22 and the second cam disc 23 of the articulation mechanism 20. Specifically, the first bar portion 511 of the first locking member 51 is engaged with the first locking notch 224 of the first cam disc 22 corresponding to the initial position (non-articulated operating position), and the second locking tooth 512 of the first locking member 51 is engaged with the second locking notch 232 of the second cam disc 23 corresponding to the initial position (non-articulated operating position). The surgical instrument 100 is in the initial locked state.

[0063] 15B, the articulation knob 2 is operated to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow A, which correspondingly actuates and rotates the first cam disc 22. The first cam disc 22 overcomes the biasing force of the third biasing member 53 provided on the first locking member 51, and the first bar portion 511 of the first locking member 51 is biased to move in the proximal direction (direction indicated by arrow P) by the side wall portion of the first locking notch 224 of the first cam disc 22. The second locking tooth 512 of the first locking member 51 is not fully disengaged from the second locking notch 232 of the second cam disc 23, and the second cam disc 23 is still locked by the second locking tooth 512. The second locking member 52 and the first locking member 51 are configured to move synchronously or substantially synchronously, so that when the first locking member 51 is operated to move in a proximal direction, the second locking member 52 also moves in a proximal direction correspondingly, and when the first cam disc 22 is operated to rotate in the direction of arrow A, the offset angle between the first cam disc 22 and the second cam disc 23 gradually increases until it reaches "a2".

[0064] 15C, the articulation knob 2 is further operated to rotate in the direction of arrow A, and the first locking member 51 is actuated by the first cam disc 22 to move in the proximal direction (arrow P), whereby the second locking tooth 512 of the first locking member 51 is disengaged from the second locking notch 232 of the second cam disc 23. Now, the articulation mechanism is switched to an unlocked state, and the first cam disc 22 is rotated relative to the second cam disc 23 through an angle "a2", which releases the second cam disc 23 and allows the second cam disc 23 to be further rotated together with the first cam disc 22, and the transmission 24 mounted on the second cam disc 23 is also correspondingly rotated, whereby the joint member 32 is driven to articulate about the pivot 33 via the rack 41 and the articulation band 42 of the articulation transmission assembly 40. For example, the articulation knob 2 drives the first cam disc 22 to rotate, and the first cam disc 22 and the second cam disc 23 move together, thus driving the joint member 32 to articulate about the pivot 33.

[0065] 15D, the articulation knob 2 is further operated to rotate in the direction of arrow A, which further actuates the first cam disc 22 and the second cam disc 23 to rotate in the direction of arrow A. The second locking tooth 512 of the first locking member 51 then moves over the end surface of the second tooth 231 of the second cam disc 23, where the second tooth 231 corresponds to the initial position (non-articulated position). The first locking member 51 is urged by the third urging member 53 to move in the distal direction (in the direction of arrow D) and is gradually received in the second locking notch 232a of the second cam disc 23 corresponding to the first articulated position. The first locking member 51 is biased by the third biasing member 53 to be moved in the distal direction (in the direction of arrow D) so that the first bar portion 511 of the first locking member 51 is received in the first locking notch 224a of the first cam disc 22 corresponding to the first articulated position, and correspondingly, the second locking tooth 512 of the first locking member 51 is received in the second locking notch 232a of the second cam disc 23 corresponding to the first articulated position, as shown in Figure 15E. As a result, the articulation mechanism is operated to displace to the first articulated position and to lock the movement of the joint assembly 30.

[0066] Further manipulation of the articulation knob 2 to rotate in the direction of arrow A will repeat the above process, thus operating the articulation mechanism to a further articulated position. Further manipulation of the articulation knob 2 to rotate in the opposite direction to arrow A will operate the articulation mechanism to articulate to the opposite side, based on the same principles, which will not be repeated herein.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 12 , the lockout assembly 50 further includes a second locking member 52 for operably locking the position of the joint assembly 30. By operating the handle portion 80, the second locking member 52 is actuated to lock the position of the joint assembly 30, thereby improving the stability of the end effector. For example, the second locking member 52 is actuated to lock the position of the joint assembly 30 when a closing driving force is applied to the end effector 70 by the handle portion 80. The second locking member 52 is actuated to release the joint assembly 30 when an opening driving force is applied to the end effector 70 by the handle portion 80. The position of the joint assembly 30 is locked when the end effector 70 is in a closed state, thereby improving the stability of the end effector 70. Even if the surgical instrument is subjected to an external force, such as an impact and a collision, the end effector 70 will not swing, and the joint member 32 of the joint assembly 30 will also not rotate relative to the elongated shaft.

[0068] 12, the locking groove 321 is disposed in the proximal outer circumferential wall of the joint member 32 and is configured to be engaged by the second locking member 52 to lock or unlock the position of the joint assembly 30. The number of the locking grooves 321 may be set according to the articulation positions of the articulation mechanism, and when the number of the locking grooves 321 is set to an odd number, the locking groove 321 located in the middle (aligned with the longitudinal axis) corresponds to the initial position.

[0069] The support 101c includes a slider 521 disposed inside the distal portion of the outer tube 101a and slidably connected thereto. Furthermore, the slider 521 is connected to the outer tube 101a via an insertion fitting portion, and the second locking member 52 is connected to the slider 521 via a first biasing member 522. When the outer tube 101a is driven to move in the distal direction by the closing drive mechanism, the slider 521 is driven to move in the distal direction, and the second locking member 52 moves in the distal direction together with the slider 521, and finally, an end portion of the distal end of the second locking member 52 is inserted into the lock groove 321 of the joint member 32, and the joint member 32 is locked. When the outer tube 101a is driven by the opening drive mechanism to move to the proximal end, the slider 521 is driven to move to the proximal end, and the second locking member 52 moves to the proximal end together with the slider 521 at the same time under the action of the first biasing member 522. As a result, the end portion of the distal end of the second locking member 52 is separated from the lock groove 321 of the joint member 32, the joint member 32 is unlocked, and the joint member 32 can drive the end effector 70 to bend relative to the longitudinal axis. In some optional embodiments, the second locking member 52 and the slider 521 may be directly coupled to each other.

[0070] In one embodiment, the insert fitting comprises a recess or protrusion disposed on the inner wall of the outer tube 101 a and a correspondingly disposed protrusion or recess on the slider 521 .

[0071] 16, an opening 523 is disposed in the sleeve wall of the outer tube 101a, a protrusion 523a is formed in the opening 523, and the recess 521a is configured to engage with the protrusion 523a in a correspondingly disposed opening 523 on the slider 521 to achieve an insert fit between the outer tube 101a and the slider 521. That is, the insert fit is composed of the protrusion 523a and the recess 521a.

[0072] In an alternative embodiment, the second locking notch 232 of the second cam disc 23 of the articulation mechanism 20 and the locking groove 321 of the joint member 32 of the joint assembly 30 both have inclined surfaces on two side walls of the groove opening, so that the groove opening is gradually enlarged. Referring to FIG. 15B, when the first bar portion 511 of the first locking member 51 abuts against the first protrusion 223 of the first cam disc 22, the second locking tooth 512 of the first locking member 51 abuts against the inclined surface of the second locking notch 232 of the second cam disc 23, and then the inclined surface of the second locking notch 232 of the second cam disc 23 pushes the first bar portion 511 to move to the proximal end (arrow P), so that the first bar portion 511 moves away from the first protrusion 223 of the first cam disc 22. As shown in FIG. 15D, when the second lock tooth 512 leaves the second lock notch 232s corresponding to the initial gear of the second cam disc 23 and is positioned within the groove opening of the second lock notch 232a corresponding to the first bent gear, at the same time, the first bar portion 511 of the first lock member 51 collides and contacts the first protrusion 223 of the first cam disc 22, and a sound is generated to inform the operator that the gear has been changed.

[0073] Alternatively, to optimize the feel of the bending motion, as shown in FIG. 6 , the second locking cutout 232 of the second cam disc 23 of the articulation mechanism 20 comprises a straight section close to the groove bottom and a sloped section formed on the straight section and located in the groove opening, the sloped section configuration serving to guide the second locking tooth 512 of the first locking member 51 past the second tooth 231 of the second cam disc 23.

[0074] Similarly, the locking groove 321 of the joint member 32 of the joint assembly 30 also includes a straight section and an angled section located in the groove opening.

[0075] In a modified embodiment, the articulation band 42 and rack 41 described above may be replaced by a gear set, further gears being disposed on the joint member 32, whereby the transmission 24 is connected to the joint member 32 by a stepped meshing transmission of gears.

[0076] The surgical instrument 100 in the above embodiment of the present application includes a first locking member 51 for selectively locking the bending motion of the articulation mechanism 20 under the operation of the articulation mechanism 20, and a second locking member 52 for selectively locking the position of the joint assembly 30 under the operation of the handle portion 80, so that the surgical instrument locks the position of the joint assembly 30 when the jaws are closed, thus avoiding the rocking of the joint when the surgical instrument 100 performs a firing or resetting motion. Meanwhile, during the bending motion, the end effector 70 can be locked at a set angle by operating the articulation mechanism 20.

[0077] In the surgical instrument 100 in the above embodiment of the present application, the transmission hole 322 of the joint member 32 is positioned distally from the aperture 324, so that the end effector 70 can be articulated to achieve an articulation angle of 0° to 70°, which is much greater than the articulation angles of typical surgical instruments in the related art.

[0078] The surgical instrument provided herein is configured to lock the articulation mechanism and the joint assembly from being articulated via a lockout assembly. The joint assembly can be locked or unlocked by manipulating the handle portion, which allows the joint assembly to be locked from being articulated when closed, thereby improving the stability of the end effector in the closed state. Angle locking after the selection of various gears is achieved by manipulating the articulation mechanism to lock the bending motion of the articulation mechanism.

[0079] The surgical instrument provided by the present application has a second locking member for operably locking the position of the joint assembly under the manipulation of the handle portion. The second locking member moves synchronously or substantially synchronously with the outer tube of the elongated shaft. Thus, the joint assembly is synchronously locked after the end effector completes the closing motion, thereby avoiding the swinging of the end effector under the interference of an external force. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1 rotatable knob 2 Articulation Knob 20 Joint movement mechanism 21 First Component 22 First cam disc 23 Second cam disc 24 Transmission 30 Joint Assembly 31 Pivot member 32 Joint material 33 Pivot 34 Protective cover 40 Articulating Transmission Assembly 41 Rack 42 Joint Movement Band 50 Lockout Assembly 51 First lock member 52 Second locking member 53 third biasing member 70 End Effector 71 Anvil Assembly 72 Cartridge Channel 73 Outer tube part 80 Handle part 81 Closure Trigger 82 Grip part 83 Handle housing 83a First half 83b Second half 84 Closed transmission components 85 Connecting members 86 Frames 87 Release button 88 Second biasing member 100 Surgical instruments 101 Long shaft 211 Bar 221 Ridge 222 holes 223 First protrusion 224 first lock notch, first notch 225 Protruding part 226 Recess 231 Second Tooth 232 second lock notch, second notch 233 Inward opening 234 Protrusion 321 Lock groove 322 Transmission Hall 324 Aperture 411 Teeth 412 Mounting base 413 Groove 421 First hook part 422 Second hook part 511 First bar part 512 Second locking tooth 521 Slider 522 First biasing member 523 Aperture 811 1st transmission tooth 841 2nd transmission tooth 871 Release lock part 101a Outer tube 101b Frame 101c Support 224a first lock notch 232a Second locking notch 232s Second locking notch 521a Recess 523a Protrusion

Claims

1. 1. A surgical instrument comprising: an end effector configured to perform a procedure on tissue, the end effector having an open state for receiving the tissue and a closed state for stapling the tissue; a handle portion configured to operatively provide an opening drive force to open the end effector or a closing drive force to close the end effector; an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle portion and having a longitudinal axis, the elongate shaft configured to transmit the drive force from the handle portion to the end effector; a joint assembly coupled to the end effector and the elongate shaft, an articulation mechanism configured to operably provide an articulation drive force to the joint assembly to articulate the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft; 1. A lockout assembly comprising: a first locking member configured to selectively lock the articulation mechanism against articulation; and a second locking member configured to selectively lock the position of the joint assembly upon manipulation of the handle portion; a lockout assembly comprising: A surgical instrument comprising:

2. 2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second locking member is configured to lock the joint assembly when the handle portion is actuated to apply the closing driving force to the end effector and to release the joint assembly when the handle portion is actuated to apply the opening driving force to the end effector.

3. 10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft comprises an outer tube, the second locking member engaged to the outer tube such that the second locking member moves synchronously or substantially synchronously with the outer tube.

4. 4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein a support is disposed within a distal portion of the outer tube, a slider is slidably coupled to the support, the slider is coupled to the outer tube via an insert fitting, and the second locking member is coupled to the slider directly or via a first biasing member.

5. 5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the insertion fitting comprises a recess or protrusion disposed on an inner wall of the outer tube and a correspondingly disposed protrusion or recess on the slider.

6. 10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the joint assembly comprises a joint member, a locking groove disposed on the joint member, the locking groove being operated to be engaged by the second locking member to lock a position of the joint assembly.

7. 4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the outer tube is operable to move distally along the longitudinal axis under the action of a closing mechanism and to move proximally along the longitudinal axis under the action of an opening mechanism.

8. The closing mechanism includes: a closure trigger disposed to be operatively rotated about a pivot pin and having a closed position and an unlocked position, the closure trigger having a plurality of first transmission teeth disposed thereon; a close transmission member including a plurality of second transmission teeth engaged with the first transmission teeth, the close transmission member being slidably received within a frame extending along the longitudinal axis; and a coupling member configured to couple the closure transmission member to the outer tube; Equipped with 8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein when the closure trigger is actuated, the closure transmission member is actuated to move distally along the frame to actuate the outer tube distally.

9. The opening mechanism includes: an opening button configured to operatively rotate about a pivot pin, the opening button including an opening lock portion configured to be engaged with the closure trigger; a second biasing member disposed between the close transmission member and the frame, the second biasing member configured to bias the close transmission member at a proximal end thereof; Equipped with 9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein when the release button is triggered, the release lock portion releases the closure trigger from the closed position and is biased to move in a proximal direction by the second biasing member, thereby actuating the outer tube to move in a proximal direction.

10. 2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first locking member comprises a first bar portion and a second locking tooth each engaged to the articulation mechanism, the first bar portion being operatively engaged to the articulation mechanism to release the articulation mechanism from a locked state by the second locking tooth.

11. 11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the articulation mechanism comprises a first cam disc, a second cam disc, and an articulation knob for actuating and rotating the first cam disc and the second cam disc, wherein the first cam disc is operably engaged to the first bar portion of the first locking member and the second cam disc is operably engaged to the second locking tooth of the first locking member, and the first cam disc is operated by the articulation knob to actuate the first bar portion of the first locking member to disengage the second locking tooth of the first locking member from the second cam disc.

12. 12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the first cam disc comprises a plurality of first locking notches configured to be engaged with a first bar portion of the first locking member and the second cam disc comprises a plurality of second locking notches configured to be engaged with the second locking teeth of the first locking member.

13. 12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the first cam disc is stacked on top of the second cam disc and capable of being rotated through an angle relative to the second cam disc, and the first bar portion and the second locking tooth are disposed on the first locking member such that they are aligned with the first cam disc and the second cam disc, respectively.

14. 12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a first member engaged to the articulation knob and the first cam disc, respectively, to operably drive and rotate the first cam disc.

15. 12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises a transmission coaxially and fixedly engaged to the second cam disc, the transmission operably engaged to an articulation transmission assembly for articulating the joint assembly.

16. 16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the articulation transmission assembly comprises a rack and an articulation band engaged to the articulation mechanism, a proximal end of the articulation band engaged to the rack and a distal end of the articulation band hinged to a joint member of the joint assembly.

17. 16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein a joint member of the joint assembly comprises an aperture and a transmission hole, the aperture configured to receive a pivot to pivotally engage the joint member to the elongate shaft, the transmission hole engaged to the articulation transmission assembly to be actuated to articulate the joint assembly, and an axis of the transmission hole disposed distally from an axis of the aperture.

18. 18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein a distance between the axis of the transmission hole and the axis of the aperture along the longitudinal axis ranges from 0 to 1 mm.

19. 18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein a distal end of the elongate shaft comprises a support, the distal end of the support being engaged in the aperture of the joint member via the pivot.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the articulation band of the articulation transmission assembly is pivotally received in the transmission hole.

21. 1. A surgical instrument comprising: The handle part, an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle portion, the elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis; a joint assembly respectively engaged to a distal end of the elongate shaft and a proximal end of an end effector operatively actuated by an articulation mechanism to pivot away from the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft; a second locking member configured to be actuated by the handle portion to operatively lock a position of the joint assembly, the second locking member being actuated to move synchronously or substantially synchronously with an outer tube of the elongate shaft; A surgical instrument comprising:

22. 22. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the second locking member is configured to operatively reciprocate such that when a closing drive force is applied from the handle portion to the end effector, the second locking member is actuated to lock the position of the joint assembly and when an opening drive force is applied from the handle portion to the end effector, the second locking member is actuated to release the joint assembly.

23. an articulation mechanism configured to operably provide an articulation drive force to the joint assembly to articulate the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft; a lockout assembly comprising a first locking member configured to operably lock the articulation mechanism from being articulated; and 22. The surgical instrument of claim 21, further comprising:

Images