US 11,684,364 B2
Articulation mechanism for surgical stapling device
Justin Williams, Southbury, CT (US); Russell Pribanic, Roxbury, CT (US); John W. Beardsley, Wallingford, CT (US); and David A. Nicholas, Trumbull, CT (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on May 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/751,832.
Application 17/751,832 is a continuation of application No. 16/809,829, filed on Mar. 5, 2020, granted, now 11,344,302, issued on May 31, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2022/0280156 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/072 (2013.01) [A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00327 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07257 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical stapling device comprising:
a tool assembly defining a first longitudinal axis and having an anvil and a cartridge assembly, the anvil coupled to the cartridge assembly to facilitate movement of the tool assembly between an open position and a clamped position; and
an adapter assembly defining a second longitudinal axis and including:
an outer tube having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion of the outer tube supporting the tool assembly such that the tool assembly is movable between a non-articulated position in which the first longitudinal axis of the tool assembly is aligned with the second longitudinal axis of the adapter assembly, and an articulated position in which the first longitudinal axis of the tool assembly is misaligned with the second longitudinal axis of the adapter assembly;
a drive assembly movable in relation to the tool assembly between a retracted position and an advanced position to move the tool assembly from the open position to the clamped position and to eject staples from the cartridge assembly; and
an articulation mechanism including an adapter cam and a first articulation link, the adapter cam defining a first cam channel, and a second cam channel, the first articulation link having a distal portion coupled to the tool assembly and a proximal portion that supports a first cam member that is received within the first cam channel of the adapter cam, and the proximal portion of the outer tube supporting a second cam that is received within the second cam channel of the adapter cam, wherein movement of the adapter cam causes movement of the first articulation link to move the tool assembly between the non-articulated position and the articulated positions and causes movement of the outer tube in relation to the drive assembly to change a position of the tool assembly in relation to the drive assembly.