Surgical stapling and cutting instrument with improved firing system

A method for processing an instrument for surgery, the method comprising:

• obtaining the surgical instrument comprising an elongate channel assembly having a distal end and a proximal end, said elongate channel assembly constructed to operably support a staple cartridge assembly therein;
• a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly;
• a first distal cable transition support operably mounted to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly;
• at least one second cable transition support operably attached to said knife assembly;
• and a first cable having a distal end affixed to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said first cable extending around said second cable transition support on said knife assembly and said first distal cable transition support and having a proximal end interfacing with a winch assembly;
• a second distal cable transition support operably mounted to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly;
• and a second cable having a distal end affixed to said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said second cable extending around said second cable transition support on said knife assembly and said second distal cable transition support and having a proximal end interfacing with said winch assembly;
• sterilizing the surgical instrument;
• and
• storing the instrument in a sterile container.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• an elongate channel assembly having a distal end and a proximal end and constructed to operably support a staple cartridge therein;
• a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly;
• first and second distal cable transition supports on said distal end of said elongate channel assembly;
• first and second proximal cable transition supports operably attached to said proximal end of said elongate channel assembly;
• a reciprocatable drive member;
• a first cable attached to said knife assembly and said reciprocatable drive member, said first cable operably supported on said first distal cable transition support and said first proximal cable transition support;
• a second cable having one end attached to said knife assembly and another end attached to said reciprocatable drive member, said second cable operably supported on said second distal transition support and said second proximal transition support;
• and
• at least one retract cable attached to said knife assembly and said reciprocatable drive member and extending therebetween.

A method for processing an instrument for surgery, the method comprising:

• obtaining the surgical instrument comprising an elongate channel assembly having a distal end and a proximal end and constructed to operably support a staple cartridge therein;
• a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly;
• first and second distal cable transition supports on said distal end of said elongate channel assembly;
• first and second proximal cable transition supports operably attached to said proximal end of said elongate channel assembly;
• a reciprocatable drive member;
• a first cable attached to said knife assembly and said reciprocatable drive member, said first cable operably supported on said first distal cable transition support and said first proximal cable transition support;
• a second cable having one end attached to said knife assembly and another end attached to said reciprocatable drive member, said second cable operably supported on said second distal transition support and said second proximal transition support;
• and at least one retract cable attached to said knife assembly and said reciprocatable drive member and extending therebetween;
• sterilizing the surgical instrument;
• and
• storing the instrument in a sterile container.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle assembly;
• an elongate closure tube assembly operably coupled to said handle assembly;
• an elongate channel assembly having a proximal end operably interfacing with said elongate closure tube assembly, said elongate channel assembly constructed to operably support a staple cartridge therein;
• a knife assembly oriented for travel within said elongate channel assembly;
• two first distal cable transition supports operably attached to a distal end of said elongate channel assembly;
• at least one second cable transition support operably attached to said knife assembly;
• a first cable having a first anchor segment affixed to a first point of attachment on said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said first cable extending from said first point of attachment around one of said first cable transition supports and said second cable transition support to interface with a winch assembly operably supported by said handle assembly;
• and
• a second cable having a second anchor segment affixed to a second point of attachment on said distal end of said elongate channel assembly, said second cable extending from said second point of attachment around the other one of said first cable transition supports and said second cable transition support to interface with said winch assembly.