Method of operating a surgical instrument

An apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a shaft;
• (b) an end effector operatively coupled with the shaft, wherein the end effector includes:
• (i) a first jaw, and
• (ii) a second jaw configured to cooperate with the first jaw to clamp and staple tissue with a plurality of staples, wherein the second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position;
• and
• (c) a rotary driver having a cam, wherein the rotary driver with the cam is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the end effector in a first direction so the cam drives the second jaw toward the closed position, wherein the rotary driver is rotatable about the longitudinal axis in a second direction opposite the first direction to enable the second jaw to assume the open position.

An apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a shaft;
• (b) an end effector operatively coupled with the shaft, wherein the end effector includes:
• (i) a first jaw, and
• (ii) a second jaw configured to cooperate with the first jaw to clamp and staple tissue with a plurality of staples, wherein the second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position;
• and
• (c) a rotary driver, including:
• (i) a first cam, and
• (ii) a second cam longitudinally offset from the first cam,
• wherein the first cam is configured to cammingly engage and thereby drive the second jaw from the open position toward the closed position in response to rotation of the rotary driver in a first direction,
• wherein the second cam is configured to cammingly engage and thereby drive the second jaw from the closed position toward the open position in response to rotation of the rotary driver in a second direction opposite the first direction.