US 12,402,932 B2
Pinion blade drive mechanism for a laparoscopic vessel dissector
Thomas J. Gerhardt, Littleton, CO (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/104,345.
Application 18/104,345 is a continuation of application No. 16/390,091, filed on Apr. 22, 2019, granted, now 11,576,715, issued on Feb. 14, 2023.
Application 16/390,091 is a continuation of application No. 12/773,644, filed on May 4, 2010, granted, now 10,265,118, issued on Apr. 23, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0165626 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/295 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1402 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1445 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2923 (2013.01); A61B 17/295 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1412 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1455 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing;
an elongate shaft extending distally from the housing;
a pair of jaw members disposed at a distal end of the elongate shaft and configured to grasp tissue;
a rack disposed within the housing and configured to move along a longitudinal axis, the rack having a plurality of teeth;
a drive rod disposed through the rack and configured to move at least one jaw member of the pair of jaw members;
a first gear disposed within the housing and out of contact with the rack; and
a second gear concentric with the first gear and having a plurality of teeth configured to engage the plurality of teeth of the rack, wherein rotation of the first gear induces rotation of the second gear to cause movement of the rack along the longitudinal axis.