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US 2022/0031323 A1Published application
Surgical instruments with combination function articulation joint arrangements
AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorSpencer J. Witte
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Surgical instruments that have articulation joints that include a distal joint member and a central joint member that is selectively articulatable relative to the central joint member about a distal articulation axis that is transverse to a shaft axis. The articulation joints may further include a proximal joint member that operably interfaces with the central joint member such that the central joint member is selectively articulatable relative to the proximal joint member about a proximal articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and the distal articulation axis.
Claims21
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;
- a surgical end effector operably coupled to said shaft assembly by an articulation joint, wherein said surgical end effector comprises:
- a first jaw;
- and
- a second jaw movably supported relative to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the first jaw, and wherein said articulation joint comprises:
- a distal joint member coupled to said surgical end effector;
- a central joint member operably interfacing with said distal joint member such that said distal joint member is selectively articulatable relative to said central joint member about a distal articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis;
- and
- a proximal joint member coupled to said shaft assembly, wherein said proximal joint member operably interfaces with said central joint member such that said central joint member is selectively articulatable relative to said proximal joint member about a proximal articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis and said distal articulation axis, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises an articulation control system operably interfacing with said articulation joint and said surgical end effector, and wherein said articulation control system is configured to apply articulation motions to said surgical end effector to selectively articulate said surgical end effector about said distal articulation axis and said proximal articulation axis.
6 more elements
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;
- a surgical end effector operably coupled to said shaft assembly by an articulation joint, wherein said surgical end effector comprises:
- an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;
- and
- an anvil pivotally supported relative to said elongate channel, wherein said anvil is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the surgical staple cartridge supported in the elongate channel, and wherein said articulation joint comprises:
- a distal joint member coupled to said elongate channel;
- a central joint member operably interfacing with said distal joint member such that said distal joint member is selectively articulatable relative to said central joint member about a distal articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis;
- and
- a proximal joint member coupled to said shaft assembly, wherein said proximal joint member operably interfaces with said central joint member such that said central joint member is selectively articulatable relative to said proximal joint member about a proximal articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis and said distal articulation axis, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises an articulation control system operably interfacing with said articulation joint and said surgical end effector, wherein said articulation control system is configured to apply articulation motions to said surgical end effector to selectively articulate said surgical end effector about said distal articulation axis and said proximal articulation axis, and wherein said articulation control system is configured to apply closing motions to said second jaw of said surgical end effector.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.