Surgical instrument with articulating shaft with single pivot closure and double pivot frame ground

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the elongate shaft further comprising a frame assembly encompassed by a longitudinally movable, slidingly received articulating closure sleeve;
• an end effector comprising a staple applying assembly, the staple applying assembly comprising an elongate channel, a staple cartridge engaged in the elongate channel, and a pivotable upper jaw having an anvil, wherein the anvil is pivotally attached to the elongate channel, the anvil presenting a staple forming surface to the staple cartridge;
• an articulation joint of the frame assembly, the articulation joint comprising a distal frame ground portion fixedly attached to the elongate channel of the staple applying assembly, a proximal frame ground portion, and a frame link pivotally attached to the distal frame ground portion by a first pivot pin, such that the distal frame ground portion is pivotable relative to the frame link about the first pivot pin, wherein the frame link is further pivotally attached to the proximal frame ground portion by a second pivot pin, such that the proximal frame ground portion is pivotable relative to the frame link about the second pivot pin, wherein the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin are spaced longitudinally apart;
• and
• a handle portion attached to a proximal end of the proximal frame ground portion and operatively configured to longitudinally couple a closure motion to the articulating closure sleeve, wherein the staple applying assembly is pivotally attached to the handle portion by the frame link;
• wherein the articulating closure sleeve comprises an articulating portion positioned to traverse over and encompass at least a portion of the frame link, and to distally engage with the upper jaw to effect pivoting of the upper jaw.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• an elongate shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the elongate shaft further comprising a frame assembly and an articulating sleeve;
• an end effector coupled with the elongate shaft, the end effector including an anvil member, the end effector further comprising a lower jaw;
• an articulation joint of the frame assembly, the articulation joint comprising a distal frame ground portion fixedly attached to the lower jaw of the end effector, a proximal frame ground portion longitudinally separated from the distal frame ground portion, and a frame link pivotally attached to the distal frame ground portion and pivotally attached to the proximal frame ground portion, wherein the frame link is pivotally coupled with the proximal frame ground portion by a first pivot member, wherein the proximal frame ground portion is pivotable relative to the frame link about the first pivot member, wherein the frame link is pivotally coupled with the distal frame ground portion by a second pivot member, wherein the distal frame ground portion is pivotable relative to the frame link about the second pivot member, wherein the first pivot member and the second pivot member are discrete relative to each other, wherein the first pivot member and the second pivot member are spaced longitudinally apart from each other, wherein the frame link is rigid, wherein the frame link includes a knife slot;
• and
• a handle portion attached to a proximal end of the frame assembly for dual pivotal attachment of the end effector to the handle portion, the handle portion being further operatively configured to longitudinally couple a longitudinal motion to the articulating sleeve;
• wherein the articulating sleeve comprises an articulating sleeve portion positioned to traverse over and encompass at least a portion of the frame link and to distally engage the anvil member of the end effector.