Surgical Instrument with Articulating Assembly

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a housing having an elongated member assembly extending from the housing. The elongated member has a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is movably coupled to the first portion by a cable that facilitates the relative movement of the first portion and the second portion.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 an elongated member having a first portion and a second portion; and   a cable movably coupled to the first and second portions to facilitate relative movement between the first and second portions, the cable being unitary and crossing itself to define first and second loops, the first loop associated with the first portion and the second loop associated with the second portion.   
     
     
         21 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 20 , further including a housing, the first portion extending distally from the housing, the second portion extending distally from the first portion. 
     
     
         22 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 21 , further including a support member secured to the housing, the first portion movably positioned about the support member to articulate the second portion relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 22 , further including a pivot pin secured to the second portion and the support member. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 23 , wherein the elongated member defines a longitudinal axis that extends distally therethrough, the first portion rotatable about the longitudinal axis to articulate the second portion relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 24 , wherein the pivot pin defines a pivot axis therethrough, the pivot axis disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the second portion of the elongated member movable about the pivot axis as the second portion articulates relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 23 , wherein the first loop is at least partially disposed around an outer surface of the first portion and the second loop is at least partially disposed around an outer surface of the pivot pin. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 26 , wherein rotational movement of the first portion tensions at least one of the first loop about the outer surface of the first portion and the second loop about the pivot pin, the tension being sufficient to articulate the second portion relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 23 , wherein the first loop is fixed at a first fixed point on the first portion and the second loop is fixed at a second fixed point on the pivot pin. 
     
     
         29 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 an elongated member having a first portion and a second portion, at least one of the first and second portions defining at least one loop cable channel in an outer surface thereof; and   a cable defining a pair of loops, at least one loop of the pair of loops being at least partially secured within the at least one loop cable channel, the cable being movable to facilitate relative movement between the first and second portions.   
     
     
         30 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 29 , further including a housing, the first portion extending distally from the housing, the second portion extending distally from the first portion. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 30 , further including a support member secured to the housing, the first portion movably positioned about the support member to articulate the second portion relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 31 , further including a pivot pin secured to the second portion and the support member. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 32 , wherein the elongated member defines a longitudinal axis that extends distally therethrough, the first portion rotatable about the longitudinal axis to articulate the second portion relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 33 , wherein the pivot pin defines a pivot axis therethrough, the pivot axis disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the second portion of the elongated member movable about the pivot axis as the second portion articulates relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 32 , wherein the first loop is at least partially disposed around an outer surface of the first portion and the second loop is at least partially disposed around an outer surface of the pivot pin. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 35 , wherein rotational movement of the first portion tensions at least one of the first loop about the outer surface of the first portion and the second loop about the pivot pin, the tension being sufficient to articulate the second portion relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 32 , wherein the first loop is fixed at a first fixed point on the first portion and the second loop is fixed at a second fixed point on the pivot pin. 
     
     
         38 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis and having a first portion and a second portion;   a cable including first and second ends and an intermediate section, the intermediate section being secured to one of the first and second portions, the first and second ends being secured to the other of the first and second portions, the cable being movable to articulate the second portion relative to the first portion as the first portion rotates about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         39 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 38 , further including a housing, the first portion extending distally from the housing, the second portion extending distally from the first portion.