Surgical instrument having a multiple rate directional switching mechanism

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle;
• a firing drive, comprising:
• a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle, wherein said firing drive is configured to generate a firing motion upon a first actuation of said firing trigger and a retraction motion upon an other actuation of said firing trigger;
• a first ratchet assembly, comprising:
• a first ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth;
• and
• a first pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said first ratchet wheel;
• and
• a second ratchet assembly, comprising:
• a second ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth;
• and
• a second pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said second ratchet wheel;
• an elongate shaft assembly coupled to said handle, wherein said elongate shaft assembly is operably engaged with said first ratchet wheel and said second ratchet wheel;
• and
• an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft assembly, said end effector comprising:
• an elongate channel configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein;
• an anvil movably coupled to said elongate channel;
• and
• a cutting member operably supported within said elongate channel, wherein said cutting member is operably engaged with said elongate shaft assembly, wherein, when said firing trigger is engaged with said first ratchet wheel, said first actuation advances said cutting member a first distance, wherein, when said firing trigger is engaged with said second ratchet wheel, said other actuation retracts said cutting member a second distance, and wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle;
• a firing drive, comprising:
• a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle;
• a drive shaft operably engaged with said firing trigger, wherein an actuation of said firing trigger rotates said drive shaft about an axis;
• an elongate shaft assembly;
• a transmission, wherein said transmission is configurable in a first configuration for rotating said elongate shaft assembly about an axis in a first direction and a second configuration for rotating said elongate shaft assembly about said axis in a direction opposite said first direction, said transmission comprising a pinion gear, wherein said drive shaft is mated with said elongate shaft assembly in said first configuration, and wherein said drive shaft and said elongate shaft assembly are mated with said pinion gear in said second configuration;
• and
• an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft assembly, said end effector comprising:
• an elongate channel configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein;
• an anvil movably coupled to said elongate channel;
• and
• a cutting member operably supported within said elongate channel, wherein said cutting member is operably engaged with said elongate shaft assembly, wherein, when said transmission is in said first configuration, said actuation advances said cutting member a first distance, wherein, when said transmission is in said second configuration, said actuation retracts said cutting member a second distance, and wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle;
• a firing drive, comprising:
• a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle, wherein said firing drive is configured to generate a rotary firing motion upon a first actuation of said firing trigger and a rotary retraction motion upon an other actuation of said firing trigger;
• a first drive member, wherein said firing trigger is selectively engageable with said first drive member;
• and
• a second drive member, wherein said firing trigger is selectively engageable with said second drive member;
• an elongate shaft coupled to said handle;
• and
• a firing member operably supported by said elongate shaft, wherein said firing member is operably engaged with said first drive member and said second drive member, wherein, when said firing trigger is engaged with said first drive member, said first actuation advances said firing member a first distance, wherein, when said firing trigger is engaged with said second drive member, said other actuation retracts said firing member a second distance, and wherein said second distance is larger than said first distance.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle;
• a firing drive, comprising:
• a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle, wherein said firing drive is configured to generate a firing motion upon a first actuation of said firing trigger and a retraction motion upon an other actuation of said firing trigger;
• a first ratchet assembly, comprising:
• a first ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth;
• and
• a first pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said first ratchet wheel;
• and
• a second ratchet assembly, comprising:
• a second ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth;
• and
• a second pawl pivotably connected to said firing trigger, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said second ratchet wheel;
• an elongate shaft coupled to said handle;
• and
• a firing member operably engaged with said first ratchet wheel and said second ratchet wheel, wherein, when said firing trigger is engaged with said first ratchet wheel, said first actuation advances said firing member a first distance, wherein, when said firing trigger is engaged with said second ratchet wheel, said other actuation retracts said firing member a second distance, and wherein said second distance is larger than said first distance.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle;
• a firing drive, comprising:
• a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle;
• a drive shaft operably engaged with said firing trigger, wherein an actuation of said firing trigger rotates said drive shaft about an axis;
• an output shaft;
• a transmission, wherein said transmission is configurable in a first configuration for rotating said output shaft about an axis in a first direction and a second configuration for rotating said output shaft about said axis in a direction opposite said first direction, wherein said transmission comprises a pinion gear, wherein said drive shaft is mated with said output shaft in said first configuration, and wherein said drive shaft and said output shaft are mated with said pinion gear in said second configuration;
• and
• a firing member operably engaged with said output shaft, wherein, when said transmission is in said first configuration, said actuation advances said firing member a first distance, wherein, when said transmission is in said second configuration, said actuation retracts said firing member a second distance, and wherein said second distance is larger than said first distance.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a handle;
• a firing drive, comprising:
• a firing trigger operably coupled to said handle;
• a first drive member, wherein said firing trigger is selectively engageable with said first drive member to generate a rotary firing motion upon a first actuation of said firing trigger;
• and
• a second drive member, wherein said firing trigger is selectively engageable with said second drive member to generate a rotary retraction motion upon an other actuation of said firing trigger;
• an elongate shaft coupled to said handle;
• and
• a firing member operably engaged with said first drive member and said second drive member, wherein, when said firing trigger is engaged with said first drive member, said first actuation advances said firing member a first distance, wherein, when said firing trigger is engaged with said second drive member, said other actuation retracts said firing member a second distance, and wherein said second distance is larger than said first distance.