Articulatable surgical stapling instruments
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Chester O. Baxter, III, Jason L. Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical instrument that includes a shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and includes a proximal articulation joint that defines a first articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and a distal articulation joint that defines a second articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and the first articulation axis. The instrument further includes an anvil that is non-removably attached to the shaft assembly and a channel that is removably attachable to the shaft assembly and configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge.
Claims20
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis and comprising:
- a proximal articulation joint defining a first articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis;
- a distal articulation joint defining a second articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis and said first articulation axis;
- a drive shaft configured to transmit rotary drive motions from a source of rotary drive motions;
- and
- a movable anvil and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises:
- a channel that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein, said channel being configured to be removably attached to said shaft assembly, and
- a firing member movably supported in said channel and configured to operably interface with said drive shaft when said channel is operably coupled to said shaft assembly, said firing member operably movable between a first proximal position wherein said firing member applies an opening motion to said anvil and closing positions wherein said firing member applies closing motions to said anvil.
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft assembly, comprising:
- a spine member defining a shaft axis;
- a first channel mounting assembly movably coupled to said spine member for selective articulation relative thereto in a first articulation plane;
- a second channel mounting member movably coupled to said first channel
- mounting assembly for selective articulation relative thereto in a second articulation plane that is perpendicular to said first articulation plane;
- a flexible rotary drive shaft;
- and
- an anvil pivotally coupled to said second channel mounting member and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises:
- a channel that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein, said channel configured to be removably detached from said second channel mounting member apart from said anvil, and
- a firing member movably supported in said channel and configured to operably interface with said flexible rotary drive shaft when said channel is operably coupled to said second channel mounting member, said firing member operably movable between a first proximal position wherein said firing member applies an opening motion to said anvil and closing positions wherein said firing member applies closing motions to said anvil.
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft assembly, comprising:
- a spine assembly;
- and
- an axially movable firing bar and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises:
- a surgical end effector comprising:
- a channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein, said channel being configured to be removably coupled to said spine assembly by a connector assembly;
- and
- a firing member supported for axial travel within a surgical staple cartridge supported within said channel, said firing member comprising a proximally protruding coupler sized to be removably inserted into a corresponding retention cavity formed in a distal end of said axially movable firing bar, said corresponding retention cavity being sized relative to said proximally protruding coupler to snappingly receive said proximally protruding coupler therein when said channel is removably coupled to said spine assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.