Surgical instrument comprising a pivotable distal head
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Sarah A. Worthington, Mark S. Zeiner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical instrument comprising a shaft and a distal head extending from the shaft is disclosed. The distal head comprises a tissue drive configured to engage the tissue of a patient and move the distal head relative to the patient tissue. The tissue drive comprises, among other things, a tiltable or pivotable portion which adapts to changes in tissue thickness.
Claims33
A surgical instrument configured to treat the tissue of a patient, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a distal head;
- and
- a drive system configured to engage the patient tissue and move said distal head relative to the patient tissue, wherein said drive system comprises a traction member configured to engage the patient tissue.
A surgical instrument configured to treat the tissue of a patient, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a distal head;
- a drive system configured to engage the patient tissue and move said distal head relative to the patient tissue;
- and
- a tissue cutting system configured to cut the patient tissue, wherein said drive system is configured to adapt to changes in the thickness of the patient tissue as said tissue cutting system cuts the patient tissue along a path.
A surgical instrument configured to treat the tissue of a patient, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a distal head comprising a tissue cutting system configured to cut the patient tissue;
- a drive system configured to engage the patient tissue and move said distal head relative to the patient tissue along a path;
- and
- means for adapting to changes in the thickness of the patient tissue as said distal head cuts the patient tissue along said path.
A surgical stapling instrument configured to staple the tissue of a patient, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a distal head;
- a drive system configured to engage the patient tissue and move said distal head relative to the patient tissue;
- and
- a tissue stapling system configured to staple the patient tissue, wherein said drive system is configured to adapt to changes in the thickness of the patient tissue as said tissue cutting system staples the patient tissue along a path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.