Surgical instruments and methods of cleaning surgical instruments

Abstract

In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, a surgical instrument comprises a shaft comprising a distal end a proximal end, a wall extending from the distal end to the proximal end and having an exterior surface and an interior surface. At least a first portion of the shaft may include openings that penetrate the interior and exterior surfaces of the wall and provide flow communication from an exterior of the shaft to an interior of the shaft. At least one transverse cross-sectional plane and at least one longitudinal cross-section plane through the portion of the shaft including openings may each intersect multiple openings that penetrate the interior and exterior surfaces of the wall. The surgical instrument may include a manifold in flow communication with an interior of the shaft. The surgical instrument may include a flexible sleeve located inside the interior of the shaft.

1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a shaft comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a wall extending from the distal end to the proximal end and having an exterior surface and an interior surface;   wherein at least a first portion of the shaft includes openings that penetrate the interior and exterior surfaces of the wall and provide flow communication from an exterior of the shaft to an interior of the shaft;   wherein at least one transverse cross-sectional plane and at least one longitudinal cross-section plane through the portion of the shaft including openings each intersect multiple openings that penetrate the interior and exterior surfaces of the wall.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a second portion of the shaft that includes openings that penetrate the interior and exterior surfaces of the wall and provide flow communication from an exterior of the shaft to an interior of the shaft, wherein the openings of the first and second portions differ in at least one of size, density, and shape. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a manifold in flow communication with the interior of the shaft, the manifold comprising a port configured to be coupled to a cleaning fluid supply. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the manifold directs flow through an approximately 180° turn between the port and the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings change in density along a longitudinal direction of the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument of  claim 5 , wherein the change in density of the openings occurs at a substantially linear rate or occurs in different regions of the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are larger in size toward the distal end of the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a portion that does not include the openings. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises a camera device. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument of  claim 9 , further comprising a flexible sleeve located inside the interior of the shaft that one or more flux transmission conduits configured to collect optical data or provide light to illuminate a work site extend through. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible sleeve is fluidically sealed to a distal end of the instrument and fluidically sealed to the instrument proximal to at least one joint of the instrument. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises an end effector. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument of  claim 12 , further comprising a flexible sleeve located inside the interior of the shaft that at least one of an actuation member and flux conduit extend through. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible sleeve is connected to at least one of a disk of a wrist of the surgical instrument and a distal end piece of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical instrument of  claim 12 , further comprising a seal located in the interior of the shaft and at least one actuation member extending along a longitudinal direction of the shaft to actuate the end effector, wherein the actuation member passes through the seal in sealing engagement with the seal. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein the actuation member includes a tube that is in the sealing engagement with the seal. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument of  claim 15 , the seal further comprising a central aperture that at least one of a flux conduit and a second actuation member extends through. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument of  claim 12 , further comprising a sheath located on an exterior of the first portion of the shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument includes a layered open architecture. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical instrument of  claim 19 , further comprising a shroud extending through the interior of the shaft, wherein the shroud includes a shroud wall with an exterior surface and an interior surface and openings that penetrate the interior and exterior surfaces of the shroud wall and provide flow communication from an exterior of the shroud to an interior of the shroud,
 wherein the layered open architecture comprises the openings of the shaft and the openings of the shroud.   
     
     
         21 . The surgical instrument of  claim 20 , wherein at least one actuation member extends through the interior of the shroud. 
     
     
         22 .- 45 . (canceled)