A surgical instrument has an end-effector located on the end of a rotatable shaft, the shaft projecting from a handle. A thumbwheel is provided at the proximal end of the handle, which controls the rotation of the shaft, and hence the rotational orientation of the end-effector. The end-effector is capable of grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a switch located on the upper surface of the proximal end of the handle. The switch is oriented on the handle to be generally above the thumbwheel, in a relative position to the thumbwheel so that both the thumbwheel and the switch may be activated by the user's thumb, without the user having to alter his grip on the handle. In one embodiment of the invention the switch is therefore vertically oriented above the thumbwheel.

An arrangement where surgical instrument having shaft with end effector mounted thereon is provided with rotation wheel to allow user to rotate shaft during use into desired angular position. To allow compact and reliable mechanism the rotation wheel, outer edge of which is generally accessible at external surface of instrument, has internal space around axis of wheel within which is provided part of actuation mechanism for end effector. To allow rotation of actuation mechanism with end effector, part of actuation mechanism located within wheel rotationally mutually engages with inner surface of internal space within wheel, wherein rotation of wheel by user causes actuation mechanism to rotate, which in turn rotates shaft wherein end effector is mounted. Providing benefits allowing otherwise redundant space within rotation wheel to accommodate part of actuation mechanism for end effector, improving compactness of device, whilst still allowing rotation of end-effector and its corresponding actuation mechanism.

A surgical instrument has an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector grasps, cuts, and seals and/or coagulates tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism has an actuator, drive shaft and flanged component for transferring movement of the actuator to the drive shaft whose movement controls the end effector. The actuator has a collar portion arranged to receive and retain the component. The component is free to rotate within the collar and has a keyhole-shaped arrangement, with a wider upper portion, and narrower lower portion to provide a sliding fit to the component main body. The component can be inserted into the wider upper portion, and then the main body of the component lowered into the narrower lower portion, with the flange of the component helping the component to be retained therein axially.

An improved surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of several different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. In some embodiments, the end effector includes a blade assembly, the trigger mechanism being formed of a three pivot slider-crank mechanism arranged to drive the blade assembly longitudinally along a rotatable drive shaft contained within the elongate shaft. As such, the mechanism is configured so as to drive the blade assembly with enough force that the cutting blade is able to cut through tissue without the user needing to apply any additional force to the trigger, the me. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous when the blade is being used to cut thick tissue.

A surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. In some embodiments, the end effector includes a blade assembly, the trigger mechanism being arranged to drive the blade assembly longitudinally within the elongate shaft. Specifically, the trigger mechanism is formed of a three pivot slider-crank mechanism, wherein one of the pivot points includes a component to which the proximal end of the blade assembly is connected. In this respect, the proximal end of the blade assembly has a distinctive profile corresponding to the internal profile of the component such that the blade can be easily connected to the component without the need for any further features and subsequently retained therein.

Invention provides improved surgical instrument having end effector mounted on end of elongate shaft extending from a handle. End-effector is capable of several different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by actuating mechanism contained within handle. Mechanism includes drive shaft, actuator and component for transferring movement of actuator to drive shaft, which in turn controls end effector. Mechanism is configured wherein component and drive shaft are assembled via a snap-fit connection, thus providing a simple assembly without need for any additional features. For example, proximal end of drive shaft is provided with flexible tabs arranged to engage with a shoulder within internal cavity of component. As such, when drive shaft is inserted in to internal cavity of component, flexible tabs snap into shoulder and retain drive shaft firmly in place.

An improved surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector has different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a drive handle mechanism. The drive handle mechanism includes an actuator, a drive shaft and a spring assembly for transferring movement of the actuator to the drive shaft, which in turn controls the end effector. The drive handle mechanism limits the amount of force transferred from the drive handle mechanism to the end effector, preventing damage to the tissue. As the actuator is operated, the spring assembly transfers the movement of the actuator to the drive shaft and the end effector. At the same time, the spring assembly compresses to absorb some of the force applied. Such configuration prevents the tissue being unintentionally damaged by the end effector.

A surgical instrument has an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. In some embodiments, the end effector includes a blade assembly, the trigger mechanism being arranged to drive the blade assembly longitudinally within the elongate shaft. Specifically, the trigger mechanism is formed of a three pivot slider-crank mechanism comprising a component to which the blade assembly is connected. The component is contained within a housing, wherein the component is free to rotate concentrically within the housing, which in turn rotates the blade assembly. Therefore, the component and the blade assembly are free to rotate without interfering with the operation of the trigger mechanism. The blade assembly is able to move both rotationally and longitudinally.

A surgical instrument has an end effector disposed on an elongate shaft end, the shaft projecting from a handle. The end effector grasps, cuts, and seals and/or coagulates tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a rotatable drive shaft contained within the elongate shaft. The drive shaft moves longitudinally within the elongate shaft to move the end effector between a first and second condition. The instrument may have a further component such as a cutting blade arranged to move longitudinally within the drive shaft. The drive shaft is provided with apertures so as to reduce the surface area of the drive shaft and hence the friction between either the drive shaft and the elongate shaft and/or the drive shaft and the cutting blade, whilst at the same time providing channels through the drive shaft through which fluid can drain.

A surgical instrument has an end effector on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector has different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one operation is controlled by a switch on the handle proximal end upper surface. The switch is connected to the end-effector to deliver a current to a component in the end-effector. The electrical wire assemblies pass through respective pockets/chambers formed within the handle, an electrical connector contained within each chamber for connecting wires extending from electrodes on the end-effector to wires extending through the handle and on connecting to an electrosurgical generator. The pockets provision within which connectors are contained, one per pocket, prevents insulation damage to wires by connectors, as they are contained within the pockets. The pockets provision pockets side-by-side provides large separation between two connectors, so it is hard for liquid to short the connectors.