Ergonomic handle and articulating laparoscopic tool

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laparoscopic apparatus. The apparatus comprises a handle having a body portion, a top surface, opposite bottom surface, a proximal and distal end. The top surface of the base is contoured to compliment the natural curve of the palm. The apparatus further includes a shaft projecting from the distal end of the handle. The shaft has a proximal and distal end. A control sphere is located on the handle. The control sphere can be moved by one or more of a user's fingers to indicate direction. An end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft. The end effector is connected to the control sphere such that movements made to the control sphere control cause movement (articulation) of the end effector.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An article of manufacture, comprising:
 an ergonomic handle comprising a plurality of controls, the handle comprising a body portion having a top surface, an opposite bottom surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, the top surface contoured to complement the natural curve of a user's palm; the plurality of controls comprising a squeeze grip, a control sphere, and a collet mechanism; and   a plurality of shafts, each shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of each shaft is interchangeably connectable with the distal end of the handle; wherein the distal end of each shaft comprises an end effector, wherein the end effector of each shaft comprises a different tool, wherein the tool is selected from the group consisting of graspers, cutting forceps, jaws, and an cauterizer;   wherein, upon operably connection of the proximal end of one of the plurality of shafts to the distal end of the handle, the squeeze grip on the handle actuates the tool on the end effector; the control sphere actuates the pitch and yaw of the end effector; and the collet mechanism turns the end effector about the axis of the shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the handle is about 150-165 mm in length, about 30-40 mm in height, and about 40-50 mm in width. 
     
     
         4 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the handle is about 155 mm in length, about 35 mm in height, and about 45 mm in width. 
     
     
         5 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the handle has a circumference of about 4 to 6.5 cm. 
     
     
         6 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the handle has a circumference of about 5 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the distal end of the handle is curved such that the shaft, when operably connected to the handle, is angled at about 135 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle. 
     
     
         8 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the handle further comprises a slip lock, wherein the slip lock locks the squeeze grip in a closed position to prevent it from opening. 
     
     
         9 . The article of manufacture of  claim 8 , wherein the handle further comprises a slip lock trigger to disengage the slip lock. 
     
     
         10 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the handle further comprises a rotatable knob. 
     
     
         11 . The article of manufacture of  claim 10 , wherein the rotatable knob drives rotation of the shaft relative to the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the handle further comprises a control sphere lock, wherein the control sphere lock locks the control sphere into place, preventing articulation of the end effector. 
     
     
         13 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is about 3 mm to about 10 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is about 3 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is about 5 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is about 10 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is about 35 cm to about 55 cm in length. 
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is about 40 cm in length. 
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft, when operably connected to the handle, is angled at about 135 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle. 
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the end effector is powered. 
     
     
         21 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the end effector is spherically shaped. 
     
     
         22 . The article of manufacture of  claim 21 , wherein the end effector is about 10 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         23 . The article of manufacture of  claim 21 , wherein the end effector is about 10 mm in diameter and the control sphere is about 30 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         24 . The article of manufacture of  claim 21 , wherein the diameter of the control sphere is about three times larger than the diameter of the spherical surface of the end effector. 
     
     
         25 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the control sphere comprises a tactile element. 
     
     
         26 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the tactile element aligns the control sphere with the shaft. 
     
     
         27 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the control sphere is located at or near the center of a lateral axis of the handle and substantially inline with the shaft. 
     
     
         28 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the control sphere is located in the handle at a position that is substantially inline with the end effector. 
     
     
         29 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the control sphere rotates the shaft. 
     
     
         30 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the control sphere and the end effector rotate with the shaft. 
     
     
         31 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the squeeze grip is movably arranged on the bottom surface of the handle. 
     
     
         32 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the squeeze grip has a pivot point located toward the distal end of the handle. 
     
     
         33 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the squeeze grip is open about 4 to 18 degrees from the bottom surface of the handle when it is not actuated by a user, and wherein the squeeze grip is open about 0 degrees from the bottom surface of the handle when actuated by a user. 
     
     
         34 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the control sphere is arranged along the top surface of the handle such that the control sphere is accessible to a user's thumb while the user grips the squeeze grip lever projecting from the bottom surface of the handle. 
     
     
         35 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the pitch of the end effector is moved up when the control sphere is moved up, wherein the pitch of the end effector is moved down when the control sphere is moved down, wherein the yaw of the end effector is moved left when the control sphere is moved left, wherein the yaw of the end effector is moved right when the control sphere is moved right. 
     
     
         36 . The article of manufacture of  claim 2 , wherein the pitch of the end effector is moved up when the control sphere is moved down, wherein the pitch of the end effector is moved down when the control sphere is moved up, wherein the yaw of the end effector is moved left when the control sphere is moved right, wherein the yaw of the end effector is moved right when the control sphere is moved left.