US 12,390,267 B2
Bipolar sealing instrument with partly automated actuating mechanism
Thomas Maser, Zimmern ob Rottweil (DE); Eugen Herner, Villingen-Schwenningen (DE); and Erik Walberg, Tuttlingen (DE)
Assigned to Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen (DE)
Appl. No. 17/293,937
Filed by Aesculap AG, Tuttlingen (DE)
PCT Filed Nov. 15, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/081482
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 14, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/099633, PCT Pub. Date May 22, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2018 128 870.0 (DE), filed on Nov. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0008119 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/28 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1445 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2845 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00589 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0063 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00958 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An instrument for use with a bipolar sealing instrument, the instrument having a pistol-like structure with an instrument housing, which has a holding portion comprising:
a first actuating mechanism configured for a manual clamping actuation of a tool provided at a distal instrument tip, the first actuating mechanism comprising a handle element extending outside the instrument housing adjacent to the holding portion, wherein the handle element is connected to the instrument housing and configured to move relative to the instrument housing sequentially from a resting position, through a low-load working force range, through a high-load working force range, and to a high-load working position, the handle element defining an elongated guide groove having an open end, wherein, in at least in the low-load working force range, the handle element is configured to provide direct, tactile feedback to a user regarding forces on the handle element during movement of the handle element through the low-load working force range; and
a second actuating mechanism comprising a motor, wherein the second actuating mechanism is configured to enter the open end of the elongated guide groove and advance into the handle element to mechanically couple the second actuating mechanism to the handle element upon movement of the handle element into the high-load working force range, and wherein the motor is configured to be automatically activated upon movement of the handle element into the high-load working force range to thereby move the handle element through the high-load working force range to the high-load working position in a motor-assisted or fully automatic manner, and wherein the motor is configured to hold the handle element in the high-load working force range;
wherein:
the handle element is pivotally attached to the instrument housing at a handle element pivot located at a proximal end of the handle element,
the handle element extends from the handle element pivot to a distal end of the handle element, and
the elongated guide groove is located between the handle element pivot and the distal end of the handle element.