Flexible endoscopic stitching devices

Abstract

A handle assembly for operating a surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing; a trigger operatively supported on the housing; and an articulation assembly supported on the housing for effectuating an articulation of an end effector operatively connected to the housing, the articulation assembly being operable to effect articulation of the end effector in a first pair of opposed directions and a second pair of opposed direction which is substantially transverse to the first pair of opposed directions.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A control assembly for operating a surgical instrument, the control assembly comprising:
 a housing; and   an articulation assembly supported on the housing, the articulation assembly including first and second control elements, each of the first and second control elements operatively connected to a pair of articulation cables;   wherein a first movement of the first control element in a first direction results in axial translation of the respective articulation cables in opposed directions to one another, and a second movement of the first control element in a second direction results in reversed axial translation of the respective articulation cables.   
     
     
         10 . The control assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the first movement of the first control element is a rotation in the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . The control assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the second movement of the first control element is a rotation in the second direction. 
     
     
         12 . The control assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein a first movement of the second control element results in axial translation of the respective articulation cables in opposed directions to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The control assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein a second movement of the second control element results in reversed axial translation of the respective articulation cables. 
     
     
         14 . The control assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the first movement of the second control element is a rotation in a third direction, and the second movement of the second control element is a rotation in a fourth direction opposite of the third direction. 
     
     
         15 . The control assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and second control elements are co-axially supported on the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The control assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the housing defines a passage for selectively receiving a surgical device therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . A control assembly for an endoscopic stitching device comprising:
 a housing; and   an articulation assembly including first and second control elements supported on the housing, the first and second control elements configured to be operatively coupled to an end effector of the endoscopic stitching device, wherein operation of the first control element causes articulation of the end effector in a first pair of opposed directions in a first plane and operation of the second control element causes articulation of the end effector in a second pair of opposed directions in a second plane.   
     
     
         18 . The control assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the housing further includes at least one actuation cable operatively connected to the end effector in such a manner that the at least one actuation cable effects a first operation of at least a pair of operations of the end effector upon axial translation thereof and a second operation of the at least a pair of operations of the end effector upon rotation thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The control assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second control elements is operatively connected to proximal ends of a pair of articulation cables operatively coupled to the end effector. 
     
     
         20 . The control assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein a first movement of the first control element results in axial translation of the respective articulation cables in opposed directions to one another, and a second movement of the first control element results in reversed axial translation of the respective articulation cables. 
     
     
         21 . The control assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the first movement of the first control element is a rotation in a first direction, and the second movement of the first control element is a rotation in a second direction. 
     
     
         22 . The control assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein a first movement of the second control element results in axial translation of the respective articulation cables in opposed directions to one another, and wherein a second movement of the second control element results in reversed axial translation of the respective articulation cables. 
     
     
         23 . The control assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein the first movement of the second control element is a rotation in a third direction, and the second movement of the second control element is a rotation in a fourth direction opposite of the third direction. 
     
     
         24 . The control assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the second plane is substantially transverse to the first plane.