US 11,925,351 B2
Surgical stapler having articulation mechanism
Joshua M. Schober, Temecula, CA (US); Andrew J. McCarthy, Trabuco Canyon, CA (US); and Babak D. Jasemian, Trabuco Canyon, CA (US)
Assigned to Applied Medical Resources Corporation, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US)
Filed by Applied Medical Resources Corporation, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/675,965.
Application 17/675,965 is a continuation of application No. 16/693,128, filed on Nov. 22, 2019, granted, now 11,272,933.
Application 16/693,128 is a continuation of application No. 15/485,620, filed on Apr. 12, 2017, granted, now 10,517,597, issued on Dec. 31, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/321,643, filed on Apr. 12, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0167986 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00367 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0046 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A handle assembly for a surgical stapler having an end effector, the handle assembly comprising:
a handle body having a proximal end and a distal end, the handle body comprising a stationary handle and a movable handle pivotably coupled to the handle body;
an actuation mechanism comprising an actuation shaft having a longitudinal axis, the actuation shaft longitudinally slidable along the longitudinal axis relative to the stationary handle to actuate the end effector and selectively rotatable about the longitudinal axis between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein each of the first orientation and the second orientation defines a longitudinal advancement direction of the actuation shaft;
a rotation mechanism configured to discretely orient the actuation shaft in one of the first orientation and the second orientation; and
an articulation mechanism positioned at the proximal end of the handle body, the articulation mechanism configured to articulate the end effector;
wherein the articulation mechanism comprises an articulation knob positioned at the proximal end of the handle body and rotatable with respect to the handle body;
wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises:
a ball screw having a thread formed therein;
a ball sleeve positioned radially outwardly of the ball screw, and having an aperture formed therein, the ball sleeve rotatable by rotation of the articulation knob; and
a ball bearing positioned in the aperture of the ball sleeve and engaged in the thread of the ball screw such that rotation of the ball sleeve longitudinally translates the ball screw;
wherein the articulation mechanism further comprises an articulation link having a proximal end and a distal end and wherein the proximal end of the articulation link is coupled to the ball screw.