초록 ▼

A surgical instrument in which a surgical tool is carried distally of a bend region in a stationary support member by an assembly that transmits proximally applied forces through the bend region to both operate the surgical tool and selectively change the rotational orientation of the surgical tool

A surgical instrument in which a surgical tool is carried distally of a bend region in a stationary support member by an assembly that transmits proximally applied forces through the bend region to both operate the surgical tool and selectively change the rotational orientation of the surgical tool with respect to the stationary member. In another aspect, in which the stationary member does not include a bend region, a rotatable member supported by the stationary member transmits rotational force to the surgical tool to selectively change the rotational orientation of the tool, and a driver member supported by the stationary member transmits axial force to the surgical tool to operate it. In still another aspect in which the stationary member includes the bend region but the surgical tool is not rotatable, a movable member supported by the stationary member is constructed to transmit a proximally applied axial force through the bend region to operate a surgical tool disposed in a distal region of the instrument.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A surgical instrument comprisinga stationary member disposed generally along an axis and including a bend region that angularly offsets a distal region of said stationary member from said axis,an assembly including a driver member and a generally rigid movable member that

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A surgical instrument comprisinga stationary member disposed generally along an axis and including a bend region that angularly offsets a distal region of said stationary member from said axis,an assembly including a driver member and a generally rigid movable member that extend along said stationary member and are movable with respect to each other,said driver member having a distal end coupled to a surgical tool and being relieved with a first opening pattern to render it at least partially flexible for transmitting a first force applied at a proximal region of said instrument through said bend region of said stationary member to operate said surgical tool, andsaid generally rigid movable member having a distal end coupled to said surgical tool and being relieved with a second opening pattern different from said first opening pattern to provide a relatively flexible region axially aligned with said bend region proximally of said surgical tool for transmitting a second, different force applied at said proximal region through said bend region to selectively change a rotational orientation of said surgical tool with respect to said stationary member, at least a portion of said first opening pattern being axially aligned along said axis with at least a portion of said second opening pattern.