Surgical stapling and cutting device with dual actuating control knob

A medical device, comprising:

• a control handle having a control shaft with a longitudinal axis, said control shaft connected to said control handle rotatably about said longitudinal axis;
• a surgical end effector connected to said control handle with a passive articulating connection;
• and
• a control device:
• rotationally fixedly connected to at least part of said control shaft to correspondingly rotate said control shaft about said longitudinal axis when said control device is rotated;
• and
• longitudinally connected to said passive articulating connection to selectively unlock articulation of said end effector.

A medical device, comprising:

• a control handle having a control shaft with a longitudinal axis, said control shaft connected to said control handle rotatably about said longitudinal axis;
• a surgical end effector passively articulated with respect to said control shaft and connected through said control shaft to said control handle;
• and
• a control device:
• rotationally fixedly connected to a part of said control shaft to correspondingly rotate said control shaft about said longitudinal axis when said control device is rotated;
• and
• operable to selectively unlock passive articulation of said end effector when actuated.

A medical device, comprising:

• a control handle having a first portion of a passive articulation joint with a longitudinal axis, said first portion being rotatable about said longitudinal axis with respect to said control handle;
• a surgical end effector having a second portion of said passive articulation joint and being connected through said first portion to said control handle for actuation thereby, said first and second portions of said passive articulation joint connecting said end effector to said control handle in a passive articulation;
• and
• a control device:
• rotationally fixedly connected to at least part of said first portion to correspondingly rotate said first portion about said longitudinal axis when said control device is rotated;
• and
• longitudinally connected to at least a part of said passive articulating joint to selectively unlock passive articulation of said end effector.

A medical device, comprising:

• an end effector control handle;
• a control shaft having:
• a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a handle portion connecting said control shaft to said control handle rotatably about said longitudinal axis;
• a surgical end effector;
• a passive articulation joint connecting said end effector to said control shaft;
• an articulation joint release unlocking said articulation joint when actuated and locking said articulation joint when unactuated;
• and
• an end effector control device:
• rotationally fixedly connected to at least a portion of said control shaft to correspondingly rotate said control shaft about said longitudinal axis when said control device is rotated;
• and
• longitudinally connected to said joint release to selectively unlock said articulation joint when actuated.

In a medical device having an end effector coupled to a control handle, an end effector control assembly comprising:

• a control shaft having:
• a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a handle portion connecting said control shaft to the control handle rotatably about said longitudinal axis;
• a passive articulation joint connecting an end effector to said control shaft;
• and
• an end effector control device:
• rotationally fixedly connected to at least part of said control shaft to correspondingly rotate said control shaft about said longitudinal axis when said control device is rotated;
• and
• longitudinally connected to said articulation joint to selectively unlock said articulation joint when actuated.

A medical device, comprising:

• an end effector control handle having a distal portion;
• a control shaft having:
• a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a handle portion connecting said control shaft to said control handle rotatably about said longitudinal axis;
• a surgical stapling end effector having a stapling device with staples and a cutting device with a blade;
• said control handle having:
• a stapler closing actuator operable to close said stapling device when actuated;
• and
• a staple firing actuator operable to staple said staples with said stapling device and cut with said cutting device when actuated;
• a passive articulation joint connecting said end effector to said control shaft;
• an articulation joint release unlocking said articulation joint when actuated and locking said articulation joint when unactuated, said stapler closing actuator and said staple firing actuator being different from said articulation joint release;
• and
• a bell-shaped end effector control device:
• rotationally fixedly connected to at least a portion of said control shaft to correspondingly rotate said control shaft about said longitudinal axis when said control device is rotated;
• defining an interior disposed about said distal portion of said end effector control handle;
• and
• longitudinally connected to said joint release to selectively unlock said articulation joint when actuated.