Interchangeable surgical tool assembly with a surgical end effector that is selectively rotatable about a shaft axis
First Claim
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;
a surgical end effector operably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly by a mounting fixture configured to permit said surgical end effector to selectively rotate about said shaft axis upon application of at least one rotary positioning motion thereto, said surgical end effector comprising a firing member configured for selective axial movement therein in response to an application of at least one rotary control motion thereto;
an end effector rotary locking system interfacing with said surgical end effector and configured to lock said surgical end effector in rotary orientations about said shaft axis upon application of an axial locking motion to said end effector rotary locking system and to unlock said surgical end effector for selective rotation about said shaft axis upon application of an axial unlocking motion to said end effector rotary locking system, said end effector rotary locking system comprising a rotation locking disc coupled to said surgical end effector for rotational travel therewith upon said application of said at least one rotary positioning motion to said surgical end effector, said rotation locking disc further configured to frictionally engage said mounting fixture to prevent rotation of said surgical end effector about said shaft axis upon application of said axial locking motion to said end effector rotary locking system; and
a rotary drive system configured to apply said at least one rotary control motion to said firing member, said rotary drive system configured to apply at least one said rotary positioning motion to said surgical end effector when said end effector rotary locking system is in an unlocked configuration to position said surgical end effector in a selected one of said rotary orientations about said shaft axis.
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Abstract
A surgical instrument is disclosed. In one form, the surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft assembly and an end effector that is configured for selective rotation relative to the axis of the elongate shaft assembly. The surgical instrument can include a rotary locking system for locking the surgical end effector in rotary orientations about the shaft axis upon application of axial locking and axial unlocking motions to the rotary locking system. The surgical instrument may further comprise a rotary drive system that is configured to apply rotary control motions to a firing member as well as to apply rotary positioning motions to the surgical end effector.
2722 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; a surgical end effector operably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly by a mounting fixture configured to permit said surgical end effector to selectively rotate about said shaft axis upon application of at least one rotary positioning motion thereto, said surgical end effector comprising a firing member configured for selective axial movement therein in response to an application of at least one rotary control motion thereto; an end effector rotary locking system interfacing with said surgical end effector and configured to lock said surgical end effector in rotary orientations about said shaft axis upon application of an axial locking motion to said end effector rotary locking system and to unlock said surgical end effector for selective rotation about said shaft axis upon application of an axial unlocking motion to said end effector rotary locking system, said end effector rotary locking system comprising a rotation locking disc coupled to said surgical end effector for rotational travel therewith upon said application of said at least one rotary positioning motion to said surgical end effector, said rotation locking disc further configured to frictionally engage said mounting fixture to prevent rotation of said surgical end effector about said shaft axis upon application of said axial locking motion to said end effector rotary locking system; and a rotary drive system configured to apply said at least one rotary control motion to said firing member, said rotary drive system configured to apply at least one said rotary positioning motion to said surgical end effector when said end effector rotary locking system is in an unlocked configuration to position said surgical end effector in a selected one of said rotary orientations about said shaft axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said elongate shaft assembly for selective rotation relative to said elongate shaft assembly about said shaft axis upon application of at least one rotary positioning motion thereto, said surgical end effector comprising a firing member configured for selective axial movement therein in response to an application of at least one rotary control motion thereto; an articulation joint operably coupling said surgical end effector to said elongate shaft assembly to facilitate selective articulation of said surgical end effector about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions thereto, said articulation joint comprising; an articulation shaft coupled to said elongate shaft assembly, said articulation shaft defining said articulation axis; and a mounting fixture pivotally iournaled on said articulation shaft for selective articulation about said articulation axis, said mounting fixture operably interfacing with said surgical end effector to permit said surgical end effector to selectively rotate about said shaft axis upon application of said at least one rotary positioning motion thereto; an end effector rotary locking system interfacing with said surgical end effector and being configured to lock said surgical end effector in rotary orientations about said shaft axis upon application of an axial locking motion to said end effector rotary locking system and to unlock said surgical end effector for selective rotation about said shaft axis upon application of an axial unlocking motion to said end effector rotary locking system, said end effector rotary locking system comprising a rotation locking disc coupled to said surgical end effector for rotational travel therewith upon said application of said at least one rotary positioning motion to said surgical end effector, said rotation locking disc further configured to frictionally engage said mounting fixture to prevent rotation of said surgical end effector about said shaft axis upon application of said axial locking motion to said end effector rotary locking system; and a rotary drive system configured to apply said at least one rotary control motion to said firing member, said rotary drive system configured to apply said at least one rotary positioning motion to said surgical end effector when said end effector rotary locking system is in an unlocked configuration to position said surgical end effector in a selected one of said rotary orientations about said shaft axis. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; a surgical end effector comprising; an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein, wherein said elongate channel is operably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly by a mounting fixture configured to permit said elongate channel to selectively rotate about said shaft axis upon application of at least one rotary positioning motion thereto; an anvil supported relative to said elongate channel for selective movement between open and closed positions relative to said elongate channel; and a cutting member configured for selective axial movement through said elongate channel and said anvil when said anvil is in said closed position in response to an application of at least one rotary control motion thereto and wherein said surgical cutting and fastening instrument further comprises; an end effector rotary locking system interfacing with said elongate channel and said elongate shaft assembly and being configured to lock said elongate channel in rotary orientations about said shaft axis upon application of an axial locking motion to said end effector rotary locking system and to unlock said elongate channel for selective rotation about said shaft axis upon application of an axial unlocking motion to said end effector rotary locking system, said end effector rotary locking system comprising a rotation locking disc coupled to said elongate channel for rotational travel therewith upon said application of said at least one rotary positioning motion to said elongate channel, said rotation locking disc further configured to frictionally engage said mounting fixture to prevent rotation of said surgical end effector about said shaft axis upon application of said axial locking motion to said end effector rotary locking system; and a rotary drive system configured to apply said at least one rotary control motion to said cutting member, said rotary drive system configured to apply said at least one rotary positioning motion to said elongate channel when said end effector rotary locking system is in an unlocked configuration to position said surgical end effector in a selected one of said rotary orientations about said shaft axis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification