Ergonomic handpiece for laparoscopic and open surgery

Abstract

A surgical tool having an elongate shaft, with a directional operative element at its distal end, is provided with a mechanism to rotate the shaft and the operative element about a longitudinal axis shaft. This allows the operative element to be aligned with an element of tissue without excessive hand movement by the user. In a preferred version, the mechanism is electrically powered and is regulated to produce smooth, controlled, accurate motion between selected rotational positions. The mechanism may include a linear magnetic motor drive to move a drive element longitudinally along the tool. This drive element is engaged with a helical formation on a drive shaft, such that longitudinal motion of the drive element is converted to rotational motion of the drive shaft, and of the shaft and operative element, to which the shaft is mounted.

1 . A surgical tool comprising an elongate member having a distal end and a proximal end, the elongate member being provided adjacent the distal end with an effector defining a plane of operation, a manipulable handpiece disposed adjacent the proximal end of the elongate member, and a rotation mechanism adapted controllably to rotate the elongate member and the effector together about a longitudinal axis of the elongate member so as to align said plane of operation of the effector in a desired orientation, wherein the rotation mechanism comprises at least two elements co-operably moveable relative to one another. 
     
     
         2 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a geared transmission mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism comprises an electromagnetic drive mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a powered rotation mechanism provided with a hand-operable activation member. 
     
     
         5 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said hand-operable activation member is operable by a finger of a hand holding the handpiece. 
     
     
         6 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said hand-operable activation member is operable by finger-tip pressure. 
     
     
         7 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a first hand-operable activation member and a second hand-operable activation member, operation of which causes rotation in opposite directions, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member comprises an elongate energy transmission member, through which energy is transmissible to activate the effector. 
     
     
         9 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the tool is adapted to be activated by ultrasonic vibrations, and said elongate energy transmission member comprises an elongate waveguide adapted to transmit ultrasound. 
     
     
         10 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 9 , also comprising a source of ultrasonic vibrations. 
     
     
         11 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member comprises an elongate support member for a mechanically-operable or electrically-operable effector. 
     
     
         12 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member comprises an elongate optical transmission element, the effector thereof comprising a directional viewing element. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising an operating mechanism for the effector, said operating mechanism extending between the handpiece and the effector. 
     
     
         14 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a longitudinally-displaceable driving element operatively engaged with a rotatable driven element through helically-symmetrical engagement means. 
     
     
         15 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the helically-symmetrical engagement means comprises a body protruding from a first of the driving and driven elements and received within a helically-extending groove of a second of the driving and driven elements. 
     
     
         16 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a linear drive adapted controllably to displace the longitudinally-displaceable driving element. 
     
     
         17 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said linear drive comprises a linear electromagnetic motor. 
     
     
         18 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said linear electromagnetic motor comprises an electromagnet fixedly mounted to the handpiece of the surgical tool and a permanent magnet so mounted to the driving element that activation of the electromagnet urges the driving element to move longitudinally of the tool. 
     
     
         19 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a permanent magnet and a selectively energisable electromagnet, so mounted that energising the electromagnet urges the permanent magnet and the electromagnet means to rotate with respect to one another. 
     
     
         20 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a driveable first gear operatively engaged with a driven second gear. 
     
     
         21 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism comprises a longitudinally manually displaceable first connecting element engaged with a helical second connecting element on a rotatable body. 
     
     
         22 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the rotation mechanism acts on an energy generation means or an energy conversion means of the surgical tool, to which said elongate energy transmission member is mounted. 
     
     
         23 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surgical tool comprises a detector to detect a rotational position of the elongate member and the effector. 
     
     
         24 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said detector to detect a rotational position of the elongate member and the effector comprises a potentiometer arrangement producing an electrical signal proportional to said rotational position. 
     
     
         25 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the surgical tool comprises a controller to govern rotational movement of the elongate member and the effector. 
     
     
         26 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the controller to govern the rotational movement of the elongate member and the effector includes or is operatively connected to the detector to detect a rotational position of the elongate member and the effector. 
     
     
         27 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said controller to govern rotational movement is adapted to regulate a rotational velocity of the elongate member and the effector on the basis of at least a current rotational position thereof and a target rotational position selected by a user. 
     
     
         28 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein said controller regulates said rotational velocity on a continuous basis. 
     
     
         29 . A surgical tool as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said controller to govern rotational movement provides power to the rotation mechanism by a pulse width modulated signal.