Hand instruments with shaped shafts for use in laparoscopic surgery

Abstract

A surgical instrument for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures is disclosed that includes an elongated shaped outer shaft having opposed proximal and distal end portions, and having a non-circular cross-sectional profile, an end effector operatively associated with a distal end portion of the shaped outer shaft and including a pair of cooperating jaw members configured for movement between open and closed positions, a proximal handle assembly operatively associated with a proximal end portion of the shaped outer shaft and including a pivoting actuation handle, and an elongated actuation member extending through the shaped outer shaft from the proximal handle assembly to the end effector, whereby movement of the actuation handle causes corresponding movement of the cooperating jaw members.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A surgical instrument for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures, comprising:
 a) an elongated shaped outer shaft having opposed upper wall portions that define a longitudinal gap therebetween;   b) an end effector operatively associated with a distal end portion of the elongated shaped outer shaft and including a pair of cooperating jaw members configured for movement between open and closed positions;   c) a proximal handle assembly operatively associated with a proximal end portion of the elongated shaped outer shaft and including a pivoting actuation handle; and   d) an elongated actuation ram extending through the elongated shaped outer shaft, from the proximal handle assembly to the end effector, wherein movement of the pivoting actuation handle causes corresponding axial movement of the elongated actuation ram, resulting in movement of the cooperating jaw members of the end effector.   
     
     
         24 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the shaped outer shaft has a non-circular transverse cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         25 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the shaped outer shaft has an open square transverse cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         26 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the shaped outer shaft has an open square transverse cross-sectional profile with inwardly turned free ends. 
     
     
         27 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the shaped outer shaft has an open square transverse cross-sectional profile with inwardly projecting side walls. 
     
     
         28 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the opposed upper wall portions of the shaped outer shaft are planar. 
     
     
         29 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the shaped outer shaft has planar lateral walls. 
     
     
         30 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the shaped outer shaft has a planar bottom wall. 
     
     
         31 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the actuation ram is held within the longitudinal gap defined between the opposed upper wall portions of the outer shaft. 
     
     
         32 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the opposed upper wall portions of the outer shaft are turned radially inwardly into the central bore of the outer shaft. 
     
     
         33 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the elongated shaped outer shaft has opposed lateral wall portions each having a radially inwardly projecting medial abutment forming an interior longitudinal gap therebetween. 
     
     
         34 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the actuation ram is held within the interior longitudinal gap defined between the radially inwardly projecting medial abutments.