Coupling mechanisms for surgical instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a shaft defining a longitudinal axis therethrough and having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The shaft includes first and second shaft components that are releasably engageable with one another. A drive sleeve is disposed within the shaft and is longitudinally translatable relative to the shaft to transition the end effector assembly between a first state and a second state. The drive sleeve includes first and second drive sleeve components that are releasably engageable with one another. A coupling mechanism includes one or more shaft cantilever springs configured to releasably engage the first and second shaft components to one another and one or more drive sleeve cantilever springs configured to releasably engage the first and second drive sleeve components to one another.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A shaft of a surgical instrument, the shaft comprising:
 a first shaft component defining a coupling slot in a surface of the first shaft component, the coupling slot including a retaining segment disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first shaft component;   a second shaft component having a coupling portion; and   a shaft coupling mechanism including a tab and a biasing member, the tab extending orthogonally away from a longitudinal axis of the coupling portion of the second shaft component and configured to translate through the coupling slot, the biasing member configured to urge the first and second shaft components away from one another in a direction along the longitudinal axes thereof such that when the tab is received within the retaining segment of the coupling slot, the first and second shaft components are releasably coupled and coaxially aligned with one another.   
     
     
         17 . The shaft according to  claim 16 , wherein the first shaft component defines a lumen therethrough, the lumen disposed along the longitudinal axis, the coupling portion of the second shaft component configured to be received within the lumen of the first shaft component. 
     
     
         18 . The shaft according to  claim 17 , wherein the tab extends from an outer periphery of the coupling portion of the second shaft component. 
     
     
         19 . The shaft according to  claim 17 , wherein the coupling slot is defined in an inner surface defining the lumen of the first shaft component. 
     
     
         20 . The shaft according to  claim 17 , wherein the coupling slot is defined in an outer periphery of the first shaft component. 
     
     
         21 . The shaft according to  claim 17 , wherein the coupling slot extends entirely through an outer periphery of the first shaft component. 
     
     
         22 . The shaft according to  claim 17 , wherein the biasing member is disposed within the lumen of the first shaft component and configured to engage the coupling portion of the second shaft component to urge the coupling portion out of the lumen of the first shaft component. 
     
     
         23 . The shaft according to  claim 22 , wherein the biasing member is a compression spring. 
     
     
         24 . The shaft according to  claim 22 , wherein the biasing member is a coil spring. 
     
     
         25 . The shaft according to  claim 16 , wherein the coupling portion of the second shaft component defines a lumen therethrough and the first shaft component includes a hub portion that is configured to be received within the coupling portion of the second shaft component. 
     
     
         26 . The shaft according to  claim 25 , wherein the coupling portion of the second shaft component has an increased diameter relative to the remainder to the second shaft component. 
     
     
         27 . The shaft according to  claim 25 , wherein the tab extends from an inner surface of the coupling portion of the second shaft component. 
     
     
         28 . The shaft according to  claim 25 , wherein the hub portion has a reduced diameter relative to the remainder of the first shaft component such that the hub portion defines a shoulder. 
     
     
         29 . The shaft according to  claim 25 , wherein the biasing member is disposed about an outer periphery of the hub portion. 
     
     
         30 . The shaft according to  claim 29 , wherein the biasing member is a resilient O-ring. 
     
     
         31 . The shaft according to  claim 16 , wherein the coupling slot further includes a longitudinal segment and a transverse segment, the longitudinal segment extending from a first open end in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft component to a second end, the transverse segment extending from the second end of the longitudinal segment to the retaining segment in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft component. 
     
     
         32 . The shaft according to  claim 16 , wherein the coupling slot further includes a curved segment that extends from a first open end in a curved path to a second end that is in communication with the retaining segment, the curved segment extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft component adjacent the first open end and extending in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft component adjacent the second end. 
     
     
         33 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 a handle;   an end effector; and   a shaft extending distally from the handle, the end effector supported by a distal portion of the shaft, the shaft including:
 a first shaft component defining a coupling slot in a surface of the first shaft component, the coupling slot including a retaining segment disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first shaft component; 
 a second shaft component having a coupling portion; and 
 a shaft coupling mechanism including a tab and a biasing member, the tab extending orthogonally away from a longitudinal axis of the coupling portion of the second shaft component and configured to translate through the coupling slot, the biasing member configured to urge the first and second shaft components away from one another in a direction along the longitudinal axes thereof such that when the tab is received within the retaining segment of the coupling slot, the first and second shaft components are releasably coupled and coaxially aligned with one another. 
   
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 33 , wherein the first shaft component is positioned distal of the second shaft component. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 33 , wherein the second shaft component is positioned distal of the first shaft component.