US 12,185,966 B2
Ultrasonic surgical instrument with articulation joint having plurality of locking positions
Barry C. Worrell, Centerville, OH (US); Disha V. Estera, Cincinnati, OH (US); Benjamin D. Dickerson, San Francisco, CA (US); Michael R. Lamping, Cincinnati, OH (US); Daniel J. Mumaw, Liberty Township, OH (US); and David T. Martin, Milford, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/508,063.
Application 17/508,063 is a continuation of application No. 16/276,705, filed on Feb. 15, 2019, granted, now 11,272,951, issued on Mar. 15, 2022.
Application 16/276,705 is a continuation of application No. 14/688,234, filed on Apr. 16, 2015, granted, now 10,226,274, issued on Mar. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0133344 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61N 7/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/320092 (2013.01) [A61N 7/00 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00327 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2925 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2946 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320094 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320095 (2017.08); A61B 2018/00607 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a body assembly;
(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft assembly includes a first member;
(c) an articulation section coupled with the shaft assembly;
(d) an end effector coupled with the articulation section, wherein the end effector has a working element configured to engage tissue; and
(e) an articulation control assembly configured to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis, wherein the articulation control assembly includes:
(i) a cam member including a first cam channel and configured to selectively rotate relative to the body assembly,
(ii) a first pin received within the first cam channel and operatively connected to the first member such that the first member is configured to translate to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis in response to rotation of the cam member relative to the body assembly, and
(iii) a first collar at least partially surrounding the longitudinal axis,
wherein the first cam channel frictionally engages the first pin to prevent inadvertent articulation of the articulation section unless the cam member is selectively rotated such that the articulation control assembly is self-locking,
wherein the first pin extends from the first collar and into the first cam channel, and wherein the first collar is secured to the first member such that the first member of the shaft assembly is configured to translate with the first collar and further configured to rotate relative to the first collar about the longitudinal axis.