Surgical tools and assemblies are employed for use in minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures. A handheld surgical tool assembly includes a handle assembly and a frame assembly, among other possible components. Intermediate bodies and joints are provided in certain handheld surgical tool assemblies and architectures. A yaw rotational degree of freedom is furnished between certain intermediate bodies, and a pitch rotational degree of freedom is furnished between certain intermediate bodies. Amid use, a mechanical advantage generated about the yaw rotational degree of freedom is unequal to a mechanical advantage generated about the pitch rotational degree of freedom.

The shaft-type instrument (1) has a shaft part (2), fixedly connected at one end to a shaft grip (3), and a sliding part (4). The sliding part (4) is displaceably mounted relative to the shaft part (2) and is, at one end, in operative connection with a pretensioned handgrip (5) such that by actuating the handgrip (5), the sliding part (4) is displaceable counter to the pretension. A respective lever arm (7, 7′) is articulated at two spaced apart shaft articulation points (6, 6′) on the shaft part (2) or shaft grip (3). The handgrip (5) has a coupling section (8) which connects the lever arms (7, 7′) and coupling joints (9, 9′) to one another such that same can pivot in the same direction. The coupling joints are spaced apart and a grip section (10) extends transverse to the coupling section (8) and to the shaft part (2).

A surgical assembly includes a surgical instrument and a holder. The surgical instrument includes an elongate body and an end effector. The elongate body has a proximal portion and a distal portion that defines a longitudinal axis therealong. The proximal portion is movable relative to the distal portion between a first condition and a second condition. In the first condition, the proximal portion is parallel to the longitudinal axis. In the second condition, the proximal portion is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis. The holder is configured to be coupled to the elongate body to selectively retain the proximal portion of the elongate body in the first condition.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type applications, the instrument including an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part, a distal end part and an intermediate part between proximal and distal end parts, the proximal end part having at least one actuation proximal zone. The distal end part has at least one flexible distal zone, and the elongated tubular body is configured such that a movement of an actuation proximal zone is transferred to a corresponding flexible distal zone for a corresponding movement thereof. The elongated tubular body includes an inner, outer, and intermediate cylindrical elements having longitudinal elements between the inner and outer cylindrical elements. Inner, outer and intermediate cylindrical elements are coupled so movement of an actuation proximal zone is transferred by the longitudinal elements of one of the intermediate cylindrical elements to a corresponding flexible distal zone.

A treatment instrument includes a rotating body and a housing. The rotating body includes a connecting portion including: a supported portion having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface, and an engaged portion that is adjacent to the supported surface. The housing includes a supporting portion that is configured to support the supported portion of the rotating body, the supporting portion being rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis; and an engaging portion that is configured to generate a frictional force larger than a frictional force between the supporting portion and the supported portion by coming into contact with the engaged portion.

A treatment tool includes an end effector, an elongated tubular shaft part, a first deflection part having a proximal end connected to a distal end of the tubular shaft part, a second deflection part having a proximal end connected to a distal end of the first deflection part and having a distal end connected to a proximal end of the end effector, and an operation part configured to operate the end effector, in which, when the first deflection part is deflected with respect to an axis of the tubular shaft part, the second deflection part is deflected to an opposite side with respect to the axis and a distal end of the end effector moves on the axis.

A surgical device is disclosed which includes a handle portion, a central body portion and a SULU. The SULU includes a proximal body portion, an intermediate pivot member and a tool assembly. The intermediate pivot member is pivotally secured to the proximal body portion about a first pivot axis and the tool assembly is pivotally secured to the intermediate pivot member about a second pivot axis which is orthogonal to the first pivot axis. The SULU includes a plurality of articulation links which are operably connected to the tool assembly by non-rigid links. The articulation links are adapted to releasably engage articulation links positioned in the central body portion. The body portion articulation links are connected to an articulation actuator which is supported for omni-directional movement to effect articulation of the tool assembly about the first and second axes. The handle portion includes a spindle and barrel assembly drive mechanism for advancing and retracting a drive member positioned in the tool assembly. In one embodiment, the tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples and an anvil assembly.

A surgical instrument comprising a shaft, an end effector, a housing, a drive assembly, and a manually-driven actuator is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a clamped position. The housing comprises a rotary input movable by a motor. The drive assembly is operably engaged with the rotary input. The drive assembly is movable by the motor in a motorized mode of operation to transition the second jaw toward the clamped position. The drive assembly is movable in a non-motorized mode of operation by the manually-driven actuator to permit a transition of the second jaw toward the open position to release tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw.

An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, an actuation assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The actuation assembly includes a mode selection member and an activation member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide. The end effector is configured to be activated in a first activation mode in response to actuation of the activation member when the mode selection member is in a first position. The end effector is configured to be activated in a second activation mode in response to actuation of the activation member when the mode selection member is in a second position.

Surgical tools that can be used in single port laparoscopic procedures can include a low-profile handle assembly to minimize tool interference adjacent the incision site. For example, a handle assembly for a surgical instrument can have a generally in-line configuration extending linearly along a central longitudinal axis of an elongate shaft of the instrument. A linkage mechanism including a trigger, an actuation link, and an actuation shaft can be positioned within the in-line handle. The linkage mechanism can be pivoted between an open position in which end effectors of the instrument are open and a toggle position in which the end effectors are locked closed. A locking mechanism such as a ratchet mechanism can also be used to lock the end effectors. A surgical dissector can include gripping jaws having a curved profile or an angled elongate shaft to minimize tool interference and maximize visibility within a procedure site.