Articulatable surgical stapling instruments
AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Chester O. Baxter, III, Jason L. Harris
Life of this patent
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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 end effector, comprising:
- a first jaw extending along a longitudinal axis;
- a second jaw opposing the first jaw;
- a beam movable distally through the first jaw and the second jaw during a firing stroke;
- and
- a spring comprising a pair of spring arms positioned side-by-side on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, each spring arm of the pair of spring arms comprising a deflectable end comprising a beam blocker, the beam blocker extending laterally inward toward the longitudinal axis to block distal advancement of the beam through the firing stroke unless an unfired cartridge is positioned in the first jaw.
A surgical stapling device, comprising:
- an end effector extending along a longitudinal axis;
- a staple cartridge positioned in the end effector, the staple cartridge comprising a staple firing sled movable between an unfired position and fired positions;
- a beam movable distally through the end effector during a staple firing stroke to move the staple firing sled from the unfired position;
- and
- a spring comprising a pair of deflectable spring arms positioned side-by-side on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, each deflectable spring arm of the pair of deflectable spring arms comprising a beam blocker, each beam blocker extending laterally inward toward the longitudinal axis to block distal advancement of the beam unless the staple firing sled is in the unfired position.
A surgical end effector, comprising:
- a first jaw extending along a longitudinal axis;
- a second jaw opposing the first jaw;
- a beam movable distally through the first jaw and the second jaw during a firing stroke;
- and
- a spring comprising a pair of spring arms positioned side-by-side on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, each spring arm of the pair of spring arms comprising a deflectable end comprising a lateral extension and a blocking surface, the blocking surface aligned with a portion of the beam unless an unfired staple cartridge is positioned in the first jaw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.