# US 2017/0281167 A1 · Closure system arrangements for surgical cutting and stapling devices with separate and distinct firing shafts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0281167 A1 - Document ID: US20170281167A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/089,283 - Filed: 2016-04-01 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01 - Assignees: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC - Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV; Jason L. Harris; Adam D. Hensel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170281167A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments} - A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output} - A61B 2017/00367: {Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/00407: {Ratchet means} - A61B 2017/00464: {for use with different instruments} - A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2017/07278: {characterised by its sled or its staple holder} - A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter} - A61B 2017/291: {the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft} - A61B 2017/2912: {transmission of forces to actuating rod or piston} - A61B 2017/2922: {toggle linkages} - A61B 2017/2923: {Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion} - A61B 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft} - A61B 2017/293: {with means preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the actuating rod} - A61B 2017/2932: {Transmission of forces to jaw members} - A61B 2017/2933: {camming or guiding means} - A61B 2017/294: {Connection of actuating rod to jaw, e.g. releasable} - A61B 2090/034: {abutting on parts of the device itself} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical instrument. In one form, the surgical instrument comprises a first jaw and a second jaw that is movably supported relative to the first jaw for selective movement between open and closed positions relative to the first jaw. A firing drive shaft is rotatably supported in one of the first and second jaws. A firing member operably interfaces with the firing drive shaft for selective axial travel in response to rotation of the firing drive shaft. The surgical instrument further comprises a distal power shaft that is separate and distinct from the firing drive shaft and is configured for selective operable engagement with the firing drive shaft. A closure member is supported for axial travel on a proximal end portion of the first jaw and is configured for selective threaded engagement with a portion of the distal power shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument, comprising: a first jaw; a second jaw movably supported relative to said first jaw for selective movement between open and closed positions relative to said first jaw; means for applying an opening motion to said second jaw; a firing drive shaft rotatably supported in one of said first and second jaws; a firing member operably interfacing with said firing drive shaft such that rotation of said firing drive shaft causes said firing member to move between a starting position and an ending position; and an elongate shaft assembly operably interfacing with said first jaw and comprising: a rotary distal power shaft separate and distinct from said firing drive shaft and supported proximal to said first jaw, said distal power shaft configured for selective operable engagement with said firing drive shaft; and a closure member supported for axial travel relative to a proximal end portion of said first jaw, said closure member configured for selective threaded engagement with a portion of said distal power shaft to apply closing and opening motions to at least one of said first and second jaws. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said closure member comprises an internally threaded closure nut configured for threaded engagement with a closure thread segment on said distal power shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said internally threaded closure nut is moved out of threaded engagement with said closure thread segment when said closure member has moved said second jaw to a fully closed position such that further rotation of said distal power shaft will not distally advance said closure member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surgical instrument of claim 3, further comprising means for retaining said internally threaded closure nut out of threaded engagement with said closure thread segment when said second jaw is in said fully closed position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The surgical instrument of claim 4, further comprising means for urging said internally threaded closure nut into threaded engagement with said closure thread segment when said firing member has moved from said ending position to said starting position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein said means for urging comprises a portion of said firing member that is configured to apply an urging motion to said internally threaded closure nut when said firing member is in said starting position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said means for urging further comprises a biasing member interfacing with said portion of said firing member and said internally threaded closure nut. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said firing drive shaft is rotatably supported in said second jaw. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein said firing drive shaft comprises a driven firing gear configured to mesh with a distal drive gear on said distal power shaft when said second jaw is in a fully closed position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said means for applying an opening motion comprises a spring journaled on said distal power shaft. ### Claim 11 A surgical instrument, comprising: an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; an anvil movably supported relative to said elongate channel for selective movement between open and closed positions relative to said elongate channel; a firing drive shaft rotatably supported in one of said anvil and said elongate channel; a firing member operably interfacing with said firing drive shaft such that rotation of said firing drive shaft causes said firing member to move between a starting position and an ending position; and an elongate shaft assembly operably interfacing with said elongate channel and comprising: a distal power shaft separate and distinct from said firing drive shaft and supported proximal to said elongate channel and being configured for selective operable engagement with said firing drive shaft; and a closure member supported for axial travel on a proximal end portion of said elongate channel, said closure member configured for selective threaded engagement with a portion of said distal power shaft such that rotation of said distal power shaft causes said closure member to apply closing and opening motions to at least one of said elongate channel and said anvil. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein said closure member comprises an internally threaded closure nut configured for threaded engagement with a closure thread segment on said distal power shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said internally threaded closure nut is moved out of threaded engagement with said closure thread segment when said closure member has moved said anvil to a fully closed position such that further rotation of said distal power shaft in said first rotary direction will not distally advance said closure member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical instrument of claim 13, further comprising means for retaining said internally threaded closure nut out of threaded engagement with said closure thread segment when said anvil is fully closed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical instrument of claim 14, further comprising means for urging said internally threaded closure nut into threaded engagement with said closure thread segment when said firing member has moved from said ending position to said starting position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein said means for urging comprises a portion of said firing member that is configured to apply an urging motion to said internally threaded closure nut when said firing member is in said starting position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein said means for urging further comprises a biasing member interfacing with said portion of said firing member and said internally threaded closure nut. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein said firing drive shaft is rotatably supported in said anvil. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein said firing drive shaft comprises a driven firing gear configured to mesh with a distal drive gear on said distal power shaft when said anvil is in said fully closed position. ### Claim 20 A surgical instrument, comprising: an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; an anvil movably supported relative to said elongate channel for selective movement between open and closed positions relative to said elongate channel; a firing drive shaft rotatably supported in one of said anvil and said elongate channel; a firing member operably interfacing with said firing drive shaft such that rotation of said firing drive shaft in a first rotary direction causes said firing member to move from a starting position to an ending position and rotation of said firing drive shaft in a second rotary direction causes said firing member to move from said ending position to said starting position, said firing member comprising camming portions configured to engage said elongate channel and said anvil to maintain a desired space therebetween when said firing member is moving from said starting position to said ending position; and an elongate shaft assembly operably interfacing with said elongate channel and comprising: a distal power shaft separate and distinct from said firing drive shaft and supported proximal to said elongate channel for rotational travel in said first rotary direction and said second rotary direction, said distal power shaft configured for selective operable engagement with said firing drive shaft; and a closure tube supported for axial travel on a proximal end portion of said elongate channel, said closure tube configured for selective threaded engagement with a portion of said distal power shaft such that rotation of said distal power shaft in said first rotary direction causes said closure tube to move distally on said proximal end portion of said elongate channel into camming contact with said anvil to apply a closing motion thereto and rotation of said distal power shaft in said second rotary direction causes said closure tube to move in a proximal direction out of camming contact with said anvil to permit said anvil to move to said open position.