Rotation control systems for surgical instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongate member, and a motor assembly. The elongate member extends from the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis of the surgical instrument. The motor assembly is disposed within the handle assembly and is configured to rotate the elongate member about the longitudinal axis relative to that handle assembly in response to sensed movement of the handle assembly about the longitudinal axis.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 a handle assembly;   an elongate member extending from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis of the surgical instrument;   a rotation control disposed on the handle assembly; and   a motor assembly disposed within the handle assembly and configured to affect rotation of the elongate member about the longitudinal axis relative to the handle assembly in response to rotation of the rotation control.   
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the rotation control is a potentiometer. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 16 , wherein the rotation control is a return-to-center potentiometer. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the motor assembly rotates the elongate member about the longitudinal axis relative to the handle assembly at a radial speed in proportion to rotation of the rotation control about a control axis parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , further comprising an end effector extending distally from the elongate member, the end effector including at least one jaw movable between an open condition and a clamping condition for clamping tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 19 , wherein the handle assembly includes a clamp trigger operably coupled to the at least one jaw and configured, in response to actuation of the clamp trigger, to move the at least one jaw from the open condition to the clamping condition. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 20 , wherein the clamp trigger is operably coupled to the at least one jaw via a manual drive mechanism for manually moving the at least one jaw from the open condition to the clamping condition. 
     
     
         22 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 20 , wherein the clamp trigger is operably coupled to the at least one jaw via another motor for powered movement of the at least one jaw from the open condition to the clamping condition. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 19 , further comprising a generator supported by the handle assembly, the generator configured to supply energy to the end effector to treat clamped tissue. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 23 , further comprising a battery assembly supported by the handle assembly, the battery assembly configured to power at least one of the motor or the generator. 
     
     
         25 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 a handle assembly;   an elongate member extending from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;   an end effector extending distally from the elongate member, the end effector configured to treat tissue;   a rotation control disposed on the handle assembly; and   a motor assembly disposed within the handle assembly and configured to affect rotation of the end effector about the longitudinal axis relative to the handle assembly in response to actuation of the rotation control.   
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 25 , wherein the rotation control is a potentiometer. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 25 , wherein the motor assembly is configured to rotate the end effector about the longitudinal axis relative to the handle assembly at a radial speed proportional to an amount of actuation of the rotation control. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 25 , wherein the rotation control is rotatable relative to the handle assembly to actuate the rotation control. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 25 , wherein the end effector includes at least one jaw movable between an open condition and a clamping condition for clamping tissue. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 29 , wherein the handle assembly includes a clamp trigger operably coupled to the at least one jaw and configured, in response to actuation of the clamp trigger, to move the at least one jaw from the open condition to the clamping condition. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 30 , wherein the clamp trigger is operably coupled to the at least one jaw via a manual drive mechanism for manually moving the at least one jaw from the open condition to the clamping condition. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 25 , further comprising a generator supported by the handle assembly, the generator configured to supply energy to the end effector to treat tissue. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 32 , further comprising a battery assembly supported by the handle assembly, the battery assembly configured to power at least one of the motor or the generator. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 25 , further comprising a torque limiter configured to limit a torque applied by the motor to rotate the end effector.