US 12,121,287 B2
Drive shaft for a surgical instrument
Daniel Thomas, St Mellons (GB); Marno Nagtegaal, St Mellons (GB); and Nafiseh Ahanchian, St Mellons (GB)
Assigned to GYRUS ACMI, INC, Bartlett, TN (US)
Filed by GYRUS MEDICAL LIMITED, Cardiff (GB)
Filed on Apr. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/240,668.
Claims priority of application No. 2006039 (GB), filed on Apr. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0330376 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1447 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/2938 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00589 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drive shaft for a surgical instrument, comprising:
a pair of opposing first and second elongate drive members configured to extend between an end effector and a handle of the surgical instrument, a distal end of the first and second elongate drive members being configured to actuate the end effector, and the first elongate drive member having a first proximal end and the second elongate drive member having a second proximal end, the first proximal end and the second proximal end being configured to be received within the handle,
wherein:
the first elongate drive member comprises at least a first flange extending from its distal end in a first direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the drive shaft;
the second elongate drive member comprises at least a second flange extending from its distal end in a second direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft; and
wherein each of the first flange and the second flange is configured to receive a retention means,
wherein the drive shaft is configured such that, in the absence of the retention means and upon exertion of a force on the respective flange, the distal end of the first elongate drive member and the distal end of the second elongate drive member are movable in a lateral direction relative to each other to permit the distal end of the drive shaft to pass through a retention molding for anchoring a proximal end of the drive shaft within the handle of the surgical instrument, and
wherein in the presence of the retention means, the first flange and the second flange are held in a fixed configuration.