[54] ARTICULATING ENDOSCOPIC SURGICAL APPARATUS
[75] Inventors: H. Jonathan Tovey, Milford; Ernest Aranyi, Easton, both of Conn.
[73] Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, Conn.
[21] Appl. No.: 872,057
[22] Filed: Apr. 23,1992
[51] Int. Cl.« A61B1/00
[52] U.S. CI 128/4; 606/205;
606/206
[58] Field of Search 606/205, 206, 207, 170,
606/174; 128/751, 752, 4, 7
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,113,246 5/1937 Wappler .
2,487,502 11/1949 Willinsky 128/4
3,314,431 4/1967 Smith, Jr. .
3,620,212 11/1971 Fannon et al 128/839
3,890,977 6/1975 Wilson 604/281
4,665,906 5/1987 Jervis 606/78
4,688,555 8/1987 Wardle 128/4
4,763,669 8/1988 Jaeger 128/751
4,880,015 11/1989 Nierman 128/751
4,944,741 7/1990 Hasson : 606/206
4,945,920 8/1990 Clossick 606/205 X
5,152,279 10/1992 Wilk 128/17
5,174,300 12/1992 Bales et al 606/205 X
5,209,747 5/1993 Knoepfler 606/16
5,251,638 10/1993 Cottone, Jr. et al 606/206 X
[ii] Patent Number: 5,417,203 [45] Date of Patent: May 23,1995
5,254,130 10/1993 Poncet et al 606/205
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
0484671 5/1992 European Pat. Off. .
3704094 8/1988 Germany .
4024636 2/1992 Germany .
2151142 7/1985 United Kingdom .
990220 1/1983 U.S.S.R. .
WO9102493 3/1991 WIPO .
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
"Levy Articulating Retractor", Surgical Products, p. 33,
Jun. 1992 edition.
Primary Examiner—Richard J. Apley
Assistant Examiner—Beverly A. Meindl
[57] ABSTRACT
An endoscopic surgical instrument is provided which includes a handle portion and an elongated endoscopic portion. The endoscopic portion has a fixed inner tubular section which depends from the handle portion, and an outer tubular section mounted for coaxial reciprocating movement with respect to the fixed inner tubular section. A resilient articulating member extends from the fixed inner tubular section and is movable in response to reciprocating movements of the outer tubular section between a first unstressed position and a second stressed position. Tool means are operatively connected to the distal end of the resilient articulating member for performing surgical tasks.
35 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
