US 12,186,038 B2
Reusable surgical instrument with single-use tip and integrated tip cover
William J. Park, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed by Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/186,279.
Application 17/186,279 is a continuation of application No. 14/911,233, granted, now 10,932,867, previously published as PCT/US2014/051098, filed on Aug. 14, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/866,127, filed on Aug. 15, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0177534 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 34/30 (2016.02) [A61B 17/00 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0023 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00473 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00178 (2013.01); A61B 2018/146 (2013.01); A61B 2034/301 (2016.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument tip assembly, comprising:
an end effector body configured to support an end effector, the end effector body defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a protrusion extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
a tip cover movably mounted onto the end effector body, the tip cover comprising:
an external cover portion and a locking device;
the locking device being mounted inside the external cover portion;
the locking device comprising a first shoulder portion, a second shoulder portion, and a circumferential interior surface;
the circumferential interior surface extending from the first shoulder portion to the second shoulder portion, the circumferential interior surface defining a first diameter, at least one of the first shoulder portion and the second shoulder portion defining a second diameter, and the first diameter being larger than the second diameter; and
the locking device being movably mounted on the end effector body to move relative to the end effector body along the longitudinal axis, such that the protrusion contacts the circumferential interior surface between the first shoulder portion and the second shoulder portion between a distal travel limit and a proximal travel limit.