Apparatus for endoscopic procedures

Claim 2

1 . A surgical device, comprising: a jaw assembly including a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw; a pivoting linkage coupled to the proximal end of the jaw assembly, the pivoting linkage comprising a distal joint member and a proximal joint member, wherein the jaw assembly and the distal joint member define a first longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the jaw assembly and a distal end of the distal joint member, and the proximal joint member defines a second longitudinal axis; and a camming assembly configured to pivot the jaw assembly relative to the proximal joint member about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal axes.

Claim 3

2 . The surgical device of claim 1 , further comprising: a handle assembly; and an elongated body configured to interconnect the handle assembly and the jaw assembly, the elongated body comprising: a flexible shaft coupled to the proximal end of the proximal joint member; and a rigid shaft portion coupled to the proximal end of the flexible shaft, wherein the rigid shaft portion defines a third longitudinal axis and the flexible shaft is configured to articulate the jaw assembly and the pivoting linkage relative to the third longitudinal axis of the rigid shaft.

Claim 4

3 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the distal joint member has a cam slot at the proximal end of the distal joint member and further comprising a cam pin disposed in the cam slot.

Claim 5

4 . The surgical device of claim 3 , wherein the cam slot has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion, second portion and third portion extending at an angle with respect to one another.

Claim 6

5 . The surgical device of claim 3 , wherein the cam slot has a Y shaped configuration.

Claim 7

6 . The surgical device of claim 3 , further comprising a movable clevis having the cam pin.

Claim 8

7 . The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein the distal joint member comprises a pair of opposing cam slots and the proximal joint member has a clevis associated therewith, the clevis having a pair of camming pins disposed within the pair of opposing cam slots such that movement of the clevis pivots the jaw assembly relative to the proximal joint member about the pivot axis.

Claim 9

8 . The surgical device of claim 7 , further comprising: a drive screw disposed within the jaw assembly; and a drive shaft disposed within the pivoting linkage, the drive shaft configured to engage the drive screw and to rotate in a first direction to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw.

Claim 10

9 . The surgical device of claim 8 , further comprising: a rotation link disposed within the proximal joint member, the rotation link defining a lumen therethrough in which the drive shaft is disposed.

Claim 11

10 . The surgical device of claim 9 , wherein the pivoting linkage further comprises: a primary gearing assembly comprising: a primary first gear coupled to the jaw assembly configured to rotate the jaw assembly about the first longitudinal axis; and a primary second gear coupled to the drive shaft.

Claim 12

11 . The surgical device of claim 10 , wherein the pivoting linkage further comprises: a secondary gearing assembly comprising: a secondary first gear coupled to the primary first gear, the secondary first gear configured to rotate the jaw assembly about the first longitudinal axis when the jaw assembly and the distal joint member are in a pivoted configuration; and a secondary second gear coupled to the primary second gear, the secondary second gear configured to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw.

Claim 13

12 . The surgical device of claim 11 , wherein the rotation link is movable in a distal direction by the clevis and is configured to engage the secondary first gear when the jaw assembly and the distal joint member are in the pivoted configuration.

Claim 14

13 . The surgical device of claim 12 , wherein the drive shaft is configured to engage the rotation link when in a proximal position and to rotate in the first direction to rotate the jaw assembly about the first longitudinal axis when the jaw assembly and the distal joint member are in the pivoted configuration.

Claim 15

14 . The surgical device of claim 13 , wherein the drive shaft is configured to engage the secondary second gear in a distal position and to rotate in the first direction to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw.

Claim 16

15 . A surgical device, comprising: a jaw assembly comprising: a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw; and a drive screw configured to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw; a pivoting linkage coupled to the proximal end of the jaw assembly, the pivoting linkage comprising a distal joint member and a proximal joint member, wherein the jaw assembly and the distal joint member define a first longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the jaw assembly and a distal end of the distal joint member, and the proximal joint member defines a second longitudinal axis; and a camming assembly coupled to the distal and proximal joint members, the camming assembly configured to pivot the jaw assembly relative to the proximal joint member about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal axes from an aligned configuration in which the first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to each other into a pivoted configuration in which the first and second longitudinal axes are substantially perpendicular to each other.

Claim 17

15 . A surgical device, comprising: a jaw assembly comprising: a first jaw and a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw; and a drive screw configured to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw; a pivoting linkage coupled to the proximal end of the jaw assembly, the pivoting linkage comprising a distal joint member and a proximal joint member, wherein the jaw assembly and the distal joint member define a first longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the jaw assembly and a distal end of the distal joint member, and the proximal joint member defines a second longitudinal axis; and a camming assembly coupled to the distal and proximal joint members, the camming assembly configured to pivot the jaw assembly relative to the proximal joint member about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal axes from an aligned configuration in which the first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to each other into a pivoted configuration in which the first and second longitudinal axes are substantially perpendicular to each other.

Claim 18

16 . The surgical device of claim 15 , further comprising a drive shaft disposed within the pivoting linkage, the drive shaft configured to engage the drive screw and to rotate in a first direction to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw when the jaw assembly is in one of the aligned configuration and the pivoted configuration.

Claim 19

17 . The surgical device of claim 16 , wherein in the aligned configuration the drive shaft is configured to engage the drive screw directly.

Claim 20

18 . The surgical device of claim 16 , wherein the pivoting linkage further comprises: a primary gearing assembly comprising: a primary first gear coupled to the jaw assembly configured to rotate the jaw assembly about the first longitudinal axis; and a primary second gear coupled to the drive screw configured to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw.

Claim 21

19 . The surgical device of claim 17 , wherein the pivoting linkage further comprises: a secondary gearing assembly comprising: a secondary first gear coupled to the primary first gear, the secondary first gear configured to rotate the jaw assembly about the first longitudinal axis when the jaw assembly and the distal joint member are in a pivoted configuration; and a secondary second gear coupled to the primary second gear, the secondary second gear configured to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw.

Claim 22

20 . The surgical device of claim 19 , wherein in the pivoted configuration the drive shaft is configured to engage the drive screw through the secondary second gear.

Claim 23

21 . A surgical device, comprising: a jaw assembly including a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw; a pivoting linkage coupled to the proximal end of the jaw assembly, the pivoting linkage comprising a distal joint member and a proximal joint member, wherein the jaw assembly and the distal joint member define a first longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the jaw assembly and a distal end of the distal joint member, and the proximal joint member defines a second longitudinal axis, the jaw assembly being pivotable relative to the proximal joint member about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal axis; and a flexible shaft proximal of the pivoting linkage, the flexible portion having a plurality of openings accommodating a plurality of cables for effectuating the flexing of the flexible portion.

Claim 24

21 . A surgical device, comprising: a jaw assembly including a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw; a pivoting linkage coupled to the proximal end of the jaw assembly, the pivoting linkage comprising a distal joint member and a proximal joint member, wherein the jaw assembly and the distal joint member define a first longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end of the jaw assembly and a distal end of the distal joint member, and the proximal joint member defines a second longitudinal axis, the jaw assembly being pivotable relative to the proximal joint member about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal axis; and a flexible shaft proximal of the pivoting linkage, the flexible portion having a plurality of openings accommodating a plurality of cables for effectuating the flexing of the flexible portion.

Claim 25

22 . The surgical device of claim 21 , wherein the flexible shaft includes a plurality of segments, each segment having a ball joint at a distal end thereof, and a proximal end defining a socket.

Claim 26

23 . The surgical device of claim 22 , wherein the distal joint member has a cam slot at the proximal end of the distal joint member and further comprising a cam pin disposed in the cam slot.

Claim 27

24 . The surgical device of claim 23 , wherein the cam slot has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion, second portion and third portion extending at an angle with respect to one another.

Claim 28

25 . The surgical device of claim 23 , wherein the cam slot has a Y shaped configuration.

Claim 29

26 . The surgical device of claim 23 , further comprising a movable clevis having the cam pin.

Claim 30

27 . The surgical device of claim 21 , wherein the distal joint member comprises a pair of opposing cam slots and the proximal joint member has a clevis associated therewith, the clevis having a pair of camming pins disposed within the pair of opposing cam slots such that movement of the clevis pivots the jaw assembly relative to the proximal joint member about the pivot axis.