Surgical instrument with stopper assembly

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a housing, an elongated member that extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis, an end effector assembly coupled to a distal portion of the elongated member, and a stopper assembly operably coupled to the proximal portion of the outer shaft member. The stopper assembly is disposed within one or more cavities defined within the housing. The stopper assembly is configured to prevent longitudinal movement of the outer shaft member along the longitudinal axis and to rotate within the one or more cavities upon rotation of the elongated member about the longitudinal axis.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 a housing;   an elongated shaft extending from the housing and defining a lumen therethrough;   an end effector assembly disposed at a distal portion of the elongated shaft and configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue;   a key slot including a pair of openings defined through opposing sides of an outer surface of the elongated shaft; and   a key member having a length greater than an outermost diameter of the elongated shaft, the key member received through the lumen via the key slot such that opposing ends of the key member extend outwardly from the opposing sides of the outer surface of the elongated shaft to prevent longitudinal movement of the elongated shaft.   
     
     
         22 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein the housing defines an interior cavity defined between a distal wall and a proximal wall, each of the proximal and distal walls defining an annular clearance therethrough. 
     
     
         23 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 22 , wherein a proximal portion of the elongated shaft extends through the annular clearance of each of the proximal and distal walls. 
     
     
         24 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 22 , wherein the key member is rotatable within the cavity about a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated shaft upon rotation of the elongated shaft about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         25 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 22 , further comprising a spindle disposed on a proximal portion of the elongated shaft and disposed within the annular clearance defined through the proximal wall, the spindle including a distal portion disposed within the cavity distal to the annular clearance defined by the proximal wall and a proximal portion disposed proximal to the annular clearance defined by the proximal wall. 
     
     
         26 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 25 , wherein the key member is configured to engage at least one of the distal wall of the cavity or the distal portion of the spindle to prevent longitudinal movement of the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         27 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 25 , further comprising a spring disposed on the elongated shaft and configured to compress against the proximal portion of the spindle. 
     
     
         28 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 25 , wherein a diameter of the proximal and distal portions of the spindle is greater than a diameter of the annular clearance defined by the proximal wall. 
     
     
         29 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein the key member is secured within the key slot via a friction fit between the key member and the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         30 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 21 , wherein the key member is received through the lumen via the key slot along an axis defined transverse to a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         31 . An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 a housing;   an elongated shaft having a proximal portion disposed within the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;   a pair of opposing jaw members disposed at a distal portion of the elongated shaft and configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue;   a key slot including a pair of openings defined through opposing sides of an outer surface of the proximal portion of the elongated shaft; and   a key member having a length greater than an outermost diameter of the elongated shaft, the key member received through the elongated shaft via the key slot along an axis defined transverse to a the longitudinal axis such that opposing ends of the key member extend outwardly from the opposing sides of the outer surface, the opposing ends of the key member configured to contact a portion of the housing to prevent movement of the elongated shaft along the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         32 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 31 , wherein the opposing ends of the key member are configured to contact the portion of the housing to prevent distal movement of the elongated shaft along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         33 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 31 , wherein the housing defines an interior cavity defined between a distal wall and a proximal wall, each of the proximal and distal walls defining an annular clearance therethrough. 
     
     
         34 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 33 , wherein the proximal portion of the elongated shaft extends through the annular clearance of each of the proximal and distal walls. 
     
     
         35 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 33 , wherein the key member is rotatable within the cavity about the longitudinal axis upon rotation of the elongated shaft about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         36 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 33 , further comprising a spindle disposed on a proximal portion of the elongated shaft and disposed within the annular clearance defined through the proximal wall, the spindle including a distal portion disposed within the cavity distal to the annular clearance defined by the proximal wall and a proximal portion disposed proximal to the annular clearance defined by the proximal wall. 
     
     
         37 . The electrosurgical instrument according to  claim 36 , wherein the key member is configured to engage the distal wall of the cavity to prevent distal longitudinal movement of the elongated shaft and engage the distal portion of the spindle to prevent proximal longitudinal movement of the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         38 . A stopper assembly for preventing longitudinal movement of an elongated shaft of an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
 a key slot including a pair of openings defined through opposing sides of an outer surface of an elongated shaft of an electrosurgical instrument; and   a key member received through a lumen defined through the elongated shaft via the key slot such that opposing ends of the key member extend outwardly from the opposing sides of the outer surface of the elongated shaft, the opposing ends of the key member configured to engage a portion of the electrosurgical instrument to prevent longitudinal movement of the elongated shaft.   
     
     
         39 . The stopper assembly according to  claim 38 , wherein the key member is secured within the key slot via a friction fit between the key member and the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         40 . The stopper assembly according to  claim 38 , wherein the key member is received through the lumen via the key slot along an axis defined transverse to a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated shaft.