US 11,896,217 B2
Surgical instrument comprising an articulation lock
John Kevin Bruce, Morrow, OH (US); Richard L. Leimbach, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Brett E. Swensgard, Wet Chester, OH (US)
Assigned to CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL, Zug (CH)
Filed by CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL, Zug (CH)
Filed on Oct. 29, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/084,206.
Prior Publication US 2022/0133302 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/28 (2006.01); A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0686 (2013.01) [A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/072 (2013.01); A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 17/2833 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00017 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2923 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2929 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
11. An articulation lock for a surgical instrument comprising a shaft and an end effector coupled to the shaft by an articulation joint for selective articulation relative to the shaft, wherein said articulation lock comprises:
a lock rail mounted to a frame of the shaft, wherein said lock rail comprises:
a flat lock surface extending along a portion of said lock rail;
another flat lock surface extending along another portion of said lock rail, wherein said another portion of said lock rail is opposite to said portion of said lock rail and coextensive therewith;
an arcuate surface extending between said flat lock surface and said another flat lock surface; and
another arcuate lock surface extending between said flat lock surface and said another flat lock surface;
an axially translatable proximal articulation rod, wherein said axially translatable proximal articulation rod comprises a first cam, a second cam, and a drive space defined between said first cam and said second cam;
an axially translatable distal articulation rod engaged with the end effector, wherein said axially translatable distal articulation rod comprises a drive portion positioned in said drive space;
a set of first lock members rotatably mounted to said axially translatable distal articulation rod, wherein said first lock members are positioned in said drive space, wherein each said first lock member is rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position by said proximal articulation rod when said proximal articulation rod is translated relative to said lock rail, wherein each said first lock member comprises a pair of first flat sidewalls and a first aperture extending between said first flat sidewalls, wherein said lock rail extends through said first apertures of said first lock members, and wherein said first flat sidewalls are lockingly engaged with a corresponding one of said flat lock surface and said other flat lock surface of said lock rail when said first lock members are in their locked positions;
a set of second lock members rotatably mounted to said distal articulation rod, wherein said second lock members are positioned in said drive space, wherein each said second lock member is rotatable between another locked position and another unlocked position by said proximal articulation rod when said proximal articulation rod is translated, wherein each said second lock member comprises another pair of second flat sidewalls and a second aperture extending between said second flat sidewalls, wherein said lock rail extends through said second apertures of said second lock members, and wherein said second flat sidewalls are lockingly engaged with another corresponding one of said flat lock surface and said other flat lock surface of said lock rail when said second lock members are in their another locked position; and
a spring positioned intermediate said set of first lock members and said set of second lock members, wherein said spring is configured to bias said set of first lock members into their locked positions and said set of second lock members into their another locked positions.