Surgical apparatus having an increased range of operability

Claim 2

A surgical apparatus comprising: a) a handle assembly; b) a body portion extending from said handle assembly, defining a first longitudinal axis and including a resilient articulation portion; c) a tool assembly including a tool base portion defining a second longitudinal axis and a tool configured to rotate relative to, said tool base portion about said second longitudinal axis; d) said resilient articulation portion having a distal end portion which is movable between a first position wherein said second longitudinal axis of said tool base portion is substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis of said body portion and a second position wherein said second longitudinal axis is substantially angularly disposed with respect to said first longitudinal axis to articulate said tool assembly, a proximal end portion of said tool base portion being fixedly and circumferentially mounted within said distal end portion of said resilient articulation portion; e) means for effectuating remote rotation of said tool assembly about the longitudinal axis of said body portion relative to said handle assembly; f) means for effectuating remote rotation of said tool relative to said tool base portion about said second longitudinal axis; and g) an axial drive screw assembly operatively associated with the handle assembly including a rotatable member and a longitudinally advancable member for effectuating movement of the distal end portion of the resilient articulation portion between said first position and said second position.

Claim 3

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said tool comprises a pair of cooperating jaw members configured and adapted for use in remote suturing of tissue.

Claim 4

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising actuation means extending from said handle assembly to said tool assembly for remotely moving said cooperating jaw members between an open position and a closed position.

Claim 5

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said resilient articulation portion includes a resilient articulator tube having a preformed angular configuration and wherein said longitudinally advancable member comprises, an elongated cam tube axially movable with respect to said articulator tube, and wherein said axial drive screw assembly is configured to effectuate progressive movement of said cam tube relative to said articulator tube.

Claim 6

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said resilient articulator tube is formed of a shape memory alloy.

Claim 7

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said preformed angular configuration of said articulator tube is disposed at an angle of about 90° relative to said longitudinal axis of said body portion.

Claim 8

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for rotating said tool assembly relative to said handle assembly comprises a rotation assembly including an axially rotatable dial member associated with said handle assembly, and an elongated rotation tube extending from said dial member, through said body portion, to said tool base portion.

Claim 9

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for rotating said tool relative to said tool base portion comprises a rotator mechanism including an axially rotatable knob member associated with said handle assembly, and an elongated rotator rod extending from said knob member, through said body portion, to said tool.

Claim 10

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said knob member is operatively disposed on a proximal end of said handle assembly.

Claim 11

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said body portion is dimensioned and configured for endoscopic utilization.

Claim 12

A surgical apparatus comprising: a) a handle assembly; b) an elongated tubular body portion extending from said handle assembly, defining a first longitudinal axis and including a resilient articulation portion; c) a tool assembly including a clevis member housing a pair of cooperating jaw members and a tool base portion defining a second longitudinal axis, said clevis member configured to rotate relative to said tool base portion about said second longitudinal axis; d) actuation means for moving said cooperating jaw members between an open position and a closed position; e) said resilient articulation portion having a distal end portion which is movable between a first position wherein said second longitudinal axis of said tool base portion is substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis of said tubular body portion and a second position wherein said second longitudinal axis is angularly disposed with respect to said first longitudinal axis to articulate said tool assembly, a proximal end portion of said tool base portion being fixedly and circumferentially mounted within said distal end portion of said resilient articulation portion; f) means for effectuating remote rotation of said tool assembly about said longitudinal axis of said tubular body portion relative to said handle assembly; g) means for effectuating remote rotation of said clevis member relative to said tool base portion about said second longitudinal axis; and h) an axial drive screw assembly operatively associated with the; handle assembly including a rotatable member and a longitudinally advancable member for effectuating movement of the distal end portion of the resilient articulation portion between said first position and said second position.

Claim 13

A surgical apparatus comprising: a) a handle assembly; b) an elongated tubular body portion extending from said handle assembly, defining a first longitudinal axis and including a resilient articulation portion; c) a tool assembly including a clevis member housing a pair of cooperating jaw members and a tool base portion defining a second longitudinal axis, said clevis member configured to rotate relative to said tool base portion about said second longitudinal axis; d) actuation means for moving said cooperating jaw members between an open position and a closed position; e) said resilient articulation portion having a distal end portion which is movable between a first position wherein said second longitudinal axis of said tool base portion is substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis of said tubular body portion and a second position wherein said second longitudinal axis is angularly disposed with respect to said first longitudinal axis to articulate said tool assembly, a proximal end portion of said tool base portion being fixedly and circumferentially mounted within said distal end portion of said resilient articulation portion; f) means for effectuating remote rotation of said tool assembly about said longitudinal axis of said tubular body portion relative to said handle assembly; g) means for effectuating remote rotation of said clevis member relative to said tool base portion about said second longitudinal axis; and h) an axial drive screw assembly operatively associated with the; handle assembly including a rotatable member and a longitudinally advancable member for effectuating movement of the distal end portion of the resilient articulation portion between said first position and said second position.

Claim 14

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said resilient articulation portion includes a resilient articulator tube having a preformed angular configuration and wherein said longitudinally advancable member comprises, an elongated cam tube axially movable with respect to said articulator tube, and wherein said axial drive screw assembly is configured to effectuate progressive movement of said cam tube relative to said articulator tube.

Claim 15

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said resilient articulator tube is formed of a shape memory alloy.

Claim 16

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said preformed angular configuration of said articulator tube is disposed at an angle of about 90° relative to said longitudinal axis of said body portion.

Claim 17

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said means for rotating said tool assembly relative to said handle assembly comprises a rotation assembly including an axially rotatable dial member associated with said handle assembly, and an elongated rotation tube extending from said dial member, through said tubular body portion, to said tool base portion.

Claim 18

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said means for rotating said clevis member relative to said tool base portion comprises a rotator mechanism including an axially rotatable knob member associated with said handle assembly, and an elongated rotator rod extending from said knob member, through said tubular body portion, to said clevis member.

Claim 19

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said tubular body portion is dimensioned and configured for endoscopic utilization.

Claim 20

A surgical apparatus comprising: a) a handle assembly; b) a tubular body portion extending from said handle assembly, defining a first longitudinal axis and including a resilient articulation portion; c) a tool assembly associated with a distal end portion of said resilient articulation portion, said tool assembly including a clevis member housing a pair of cooperating jaws and a tool base portion defining a second longitudinal axis and adapted to permit relative rotation of said clevis member with respect thereto; d) actuation means extending from said handle assembly to said tool assembly for moving said cooperating jaws between an open position and a closed position; e) said distal end portion of said resilient articulation portion being movable between a first position wherein said second longitudinal axis of said tool base portion is substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis of said tubular body portion and a second position wherein said second longitudinal axis is substantially angularly disposed with respect to said first longitudinal axis to progressively articulate said tool assembly, a proximal end portion of said tool base portion being fixedly and circumferentially mounted within said distal end portion of said resilient articulation portion; f) means for effectuating remote rotation of said tool assembly about said longitudinal axis of said tubular body portion relative to said handle assembly; g) means for effectuating remote rotation of said clevis member and said jaws relative to said tool base portion about said second longitudinal axis; and h) an axial drive screw assembly operatively associated with handle assembly including a rotatable member and a longitudinally advancable member for effectuating movement of the distal end portion of the resilient articulation portion between said first position and said second position.

Claim 21

A surgical apparatus comprising: a) a handle assembly; b) a tubular body portion extending from said handle assembly, defining a first longitudinal axis and including a resilient articulation portion; c) a tool assembly associated with a distal end portion of said resilient articulation portion, said tool assembly including a clevis member housing a pair of cooperating jaws and a tool base portion defining a second longitudinal axis and adapted to permit relative rotation of said clevis member with respect thereto; d) actuation means extending from said handle assembly to said tool assembly for moving said cooperating jaws between an open position and a closed position; e) said distal end portion of said resilient articulation portion being movable between a first position wherein said second longitudinal axis of said tool base portion is substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis of said tubular body portion and a second position wherein said second longitudinal axis is substantially angularly disposed with respect to said first longitudinal axis to progressively articulate said tool assembly, a proximal end portion of said tool base portion being fixedly and circumferentially mounted within said distal end portion of said resilient articulation portion; f) means for effectuating remote rotation of said tool assembly about said longitudinal axis of said tubular body portion relative to said handle assembly; g) means for effectuating remote rotation of said clevis member and said jaws relative to said tool base portion about said second longitudinal axis; and h) an axial drive screw assembly operatively associated with handle assembly including a rotatable member and a longitudinally advancable member for effectuating movement of the distal end portion of the resilient articulation portion between said first position and said second position.

Claim 22

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said resilient articulation portion includes a resilient articulator tube having a preformed angular configuration and wherein said longitudinally advancable member comprises, an elongated cam tube axially movable with respect to said articulator tube, and wherein said axial drive screw assembly is configured to effectuate progressive movement of said cam tube relative to said articulator tube.

Claim 23

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said resilient articulator tube is formed of a shape memory alloy.

Claim 24

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein said preformed angular configuration of said articulator tube is disposed at an angle of about 90° relative to said longitudinal axis of said body portion.

Claim 25

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said means for rotating said tool assembly relative to said handle assembly comprises a rotation assembly including an axially rotatable dial member associated with said handle assembly, and an elongated rotation tube extending from said dial member, through said tubular body portion, to said tool base portion.

Claim 26

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said means for rotating said clevis member relative to said tool base portion comprises a rotator mechanism including an axially rotatable knob member associated with said handle assembly, and an elongated rotator rod extending from said knob member, through said tubular body portion, to said clevis member.

Claim 27

A surgical apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said tubular body portion is dimensioned and configured for endoscopic utilization.