Surgical end effectors

Abstract

An end effector for use with a surgical device is provided. The end effector includes a drive assembly, a driver, a needle assembly and a biasing element. The driver is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive assembly. Rotation of the drive assembly in a first direction causes distal translation of the driver with respect to the drive assembly. The needle assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the driver. Distal translation of the driver causes a corresponding distal translation of the needle assembly. The biasing element is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the needle assembly and is configured to bias the needle assembly proximally.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a drive motor configured to connect to a source of power;   a drive assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor and defining a longitudinal axis;   a helix assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive assembly, the helix assembly including a helical thread; and   an outer tube disposed in mechanical cooperation with the helix assembly, the outer tube including a helical groove configured to engage the helical thread of the helix assembly,   wherein actuation of the drive motor causes rotation of the drive assembly about the longitudinal axis relative to the outer tube, and causes rotation of the helix assembly about the longitudinal axis relative to the outer tube.   
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 2 , wherein the helix assembly is movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the outer tube. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 2 , wherein the helix assembly includes at least one longitudinal slot configured to slidingly engage a needle assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive assembly includes a body portion, a first arm extending distally from the body portion, and a second arm extending distally from the body portion. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the first arm and the second arm of the drive assembly is configured to contact a needle assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 2 , further including a needle assembly disposed at least partially within the outer tube. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 7 , wherein the needle assembly includes a pin, and the helix assembly includes a longitudinal slot configured to slidingly engage the pin of the needle assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 8 , wherein the needle assembly is movable relative to the helix assembly from a first position where the pin is out of alignment with the longitudinal slot of the helix assembly, to a second position where the pin is aligned with the longitudinal slot of the helix assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , wherein the needle assembly is movable relative to the helix assembly from the second position to a third position where the pin has been distally translated relative to the helix assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 7 , further including a biasing element disposed in mechanical cooperation with the needle assembly, the biasing element configured to bias the needle assembly distally relative to the drive assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 7 , wherein rotation of the drive assembly about the longitudinal axis relative to the outer tube causes a corresponding rotation of the needle assembly about the longitudinal axis relative to the outer tube. 
     
     
         12 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a drive motor configured to connect to a source of power;   a drive assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor and defining a longitudinal axis;   a needle assembly including a pin, the needle assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive assembly;   a helix assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with the needle assembly, the helix assembly including a longitudinal slot configured to slidingly engage the pin of the needle assembly,   wherein actuation of the drive motor causes rotation of the drive assembly about the longitudinal axis, causes rotation of the helix assembly about the longitudinal axis, and causes the needle assembly to move relative to the helix assembly from a first position where the pin is out of alignment with the longitudinal slot of the helix assembly, to a second position where the pin is aligned with the longitudinal slot of the helix assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 12 , wherein the drive assembly includes a body portion, a first arm extending distally from the body portion, and a second arm extending distally from the body portion. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein each of the first arm and the second arm of the drive assembly is configured to contact the needle assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 12 , wherein the needle assembly is movable relative to the helix assembly from the second position to a third position where the pin has been distally translated relative to the helix assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 12 , further including a biasing element disposed in mechanical cooperation with the needle assembly, the biasing element configured to bias the needle assembly distally relative to the drive assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 12 , wherein rotation of the drive assembly about the longitudinal axis causes a corresponding rotation of the needle assembly about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . A surgical kit, comprising:
 a drive motor configured to connect to a source of power;   a first end effector assembly including a first drive assembly, an outer tube, and a needle assembly, the first drive assembly configured to selectively engage the drive motor, the needle assembly disposed at least partially within the outer tube and in mechanical cooperation with the first drive assembly, wherein when the first drive assembly is engaged with the drive motor, actuation of the drive motor is configured to move the needle assembly distally relative to the outer tube of the first end effector assembly; and   a second end effector assembly including a second drive assembly and an outer tube, the second drive assembly configured to selectively engage the drive motor, the outer tube configured to house at least one surgical tack at least partially therein, wherein when the second drive assembly is engaged with the drive motor, actuation of the drive motor is configured to move the at least one surgical tack housed at least partially within the outer tube distally relative to the outer tube of the second end effector assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The surgical kit according to  claim 18 , wherein the first end effector assembly further includes a helix assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first drive assembly and in mechanical cooperation with the needle assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical kit according to  claim 19 , wherein needle assembly of the first end effector assembly includes a pin, and the helix assembly includes a longitudinal slot configured to engage the pin of the needle assembly. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical kit according to  claim 20 , wherein the helix assembly includes a helical thread, and the outer tube includes a helical groove configured to engage the helical thread of the helix assembly.