Hand held rotary powered surgical instruments with end effectors that are articulatable about multiple axes
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- a handle;
a firing system operably supported by said handle and configured to selectively generate at least one rotary firing motion;
a shaft assembly operably extending from said handle and defining a shaft axis, said shaft assembly comprising at least one rotary drive shaft assembly operably interfacing with said firing system;
an articulation joint assembly comprising;
a first joint segment defining a proximal socket oriented at a distal end of said shaft assembly;
a second joint segment comprising a proximal gimbal movably supported within said proximal socket and defining a distal socket, wherein said at least one rotary drive shaft assembly extends through said proximal socket and said proximal gimbal;
a third joint segment comprising a distal gimbal movably supported within said distal socket and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;
a surgical end effector operably coupled to said third joint segment and comprising a firing member operably interfacing with said at least one rotary drive shaft assembly and being configured to move within said surgical end effector in response to an application of said at least one rotary firing motion to said at least one rotary drive shaft assembly; and
articulation means for selectively moving said third joint segment in multiple directions that are transverse to said shaft axis.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument comprising a handle, a firing system, a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis, an articulation joint assembly, an end effector, and articulation means is disclosed. The shaft assembly comprises at least one rotary drive shaft assembly. The articulation joint assembly comprises a first joint segment defining a proximal socket, a second joint segment comprising a proximal gimbal movably supported within the proximal socket and defining a distal socket, and a third joint segment comprising a distal gimbal movably supported within the distal socket. The surgical end effector is operably coupled to the third joint segment and comprises a firing member operably interfacing with the at least one rotary drive shaft assembly. The articulation means selectively moves the third joint segment in multiple directions that are transverse to the shaft axis.
5996 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a handle; a firing system operably supported by said handle and configured to selectively generate at least one rotary firing motion; a shaft assembly operably extending from said handle and defining a shaft axis, said shaft assembly comprising at least one rotary drive shaft assembly operably interfacing with said firing system; an articulation joint assembly comprising; a first joint segment defining a proximal socket oriented at a distal end of said shaft assembly; a second joint segment comprising a proximal gimbal movably supported within said proximal socket and defining a distal socket, wherein said at least one rotary drive shaft assembly extends through said proximal socket and said proximal gimbal; a third joint segment comprising a distal gimbal movably supported within said distal socket and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; a surgical end effector operably coupled to said third joint segment and comprising a firing member operably interfacing with said at least one rotary drive shaft assembly and being configured to move within said surgical end effector in response to an application of said at least one rotary firing motion to said at least one rotary drive shaft assembly; and articulation means for selectively moving said third joint segment in multiple directions that are transverse to said shaft axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a handle; a firing system operably supported by said handle and configured to selectively generate at least one rotary firing motion; a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis and comprising at least one rotary drive shaft assembly operably interfacing with said firing system; an articulation joint assembly comprising; a first joint segment defining a proximal socket oriented at a distal end of said shaft assembly; a second joint segment comprising a proximal ball segment movably supported within said proximal socket and defining a distal socket, wherein said at least one rotary drive shaft assembly extends through said proximal socket and said proximal ball segment; a third joint segment comprising a distal ball segment movably supported within said distal socket and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; a cable-actuated articulation assembly operably interfacing with said third joint segment for selectively moving said third joint segment in multiple directions that are transverse to said shaft axis; and a surgical end effector operably coupled to said third joint segment and comprising a firing member operably interfacing with said at least one rotary drive shaft assembly and being configured to move within said surgical end effector in response to an application of said at least one rotary firing motion to said at least one rotary drive shaft assembly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a handle; a firing system operably supported by said handle and configured to selectively generate at least one rotary firing motion; a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis and comprising at least one rotary drive shaft assembly operably interfacing with said firing system; an articulation joint assembly comprising; a first joint segment defining a proximal socket oriented at a distal end of said shaft assembly; a second joint segment comprising a proximal ball segment movably supported within said proximal socket and defining a distal socket, wherein said at least one rotary drive shaft assembly extends through said proximal socket and said proximal ball segment; a third joint segment comprising a distal ball segment movably supported within said distal socket and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; a cable-actuated articulation assembly operably interfacing with said third joint segment for selectively moving said third joint segment in multiple directions that are transverse to said shaft axis; and a surgical end effector removably coupled to said third joint segment, said surgical end effector comprising; a cartridge mounting portion configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; an implement drive shaft rotatably supported by said cartridge mounting portion and configured to receive said at least one rotary firing motion from said at least one rotary drive shaft assembly; an anvil pivotally supported on said cartridge mounting portion for selective travel between open and closed positions; and a firing member threadably journaled on said implement drive shaft and being configured to slidably engage said anvil and said cartridge mounting portion.
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Specification