US 12,029,389 B2
Two-position actuation with backlash compensation for surgical devices
Gregory W. Fischvogt, Reno, NV (US); Kevin S. Sniffin, Roxbury, 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 Jan. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/153,457.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/000,645, filed on Mar. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0298576 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/313 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/00133 (2013.01) [A61B 1/3132 (2013.01); A61B 17/00234 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00296 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00367 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An articulation assembly for use with a surgical instrument comprising:
a first portion;
an articulation joint coupled to the first portion;
a second portion pivotably coupled to the articulation joint such that the second portion is transitionable between a surgical instrument straight configuration in which the second portion is axially aligned with the first portion, and a surgical instrument articulated configuration in which the second portion is axially offset from the first portion; and
an articulation assembly including:
a body portion;
an articulation lever assembly operatively coupled with the second portion, the articulation lever assembly including:
a camming pin;
a housing defining a cavity and lateral bores receiving the camming pin such that the camming pin extends laterally outward from the housing;
a slider extending from the housing; and
a lever pivotably coupled to the body portion about a first pivot, the lever at least partially received in the cavity of the housing;
a camming support defining a camming groove cammingly engaging the camming pin, the camming groove including a transition portion, a distal portion, and a proximal portion, the transition portion interposed between the distal portion and the proximal portion, the distal portion and the proximal portion defining respective angles with respect to the transition portion, wherein:
the distal portion of the camming groove includes:
a first distal portion defining a first angle with respect to the transition portion, and
a second distal portion defining a second angle with respect to the transition portion, the first distal portion interposed between the transition portion and the second distal portion, the first angle different from the second angle; and
the proximal portion of the camming groove includes:
a first proximal portion defining a third angle with respect to the transition portion, and
a second proximal portion defining a fourth angle with respect to the transition portion, the first proximal portion interposed between the transition portion and the second proximal portion, the third angle different from the fourth angle;
wherein the slider of the articulation lever assembly is transitionable between:
a distal position, in which, the camming pin is in the distal portion of the camming groove and the second portion is in the surgical instrument straight configuration, and
a proximal position, in which, the camming pin is in the proximal portion of the camming groove and the second portion is in the surgical instrument articulated configuration.