Articulatable surgical instruments with articulation stroke amplification features
First Claim
1. A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
- an elongate shaft defining a shaft axis,a surgical end effector coupled to said elongate shaft for selective articulation relative to said elongate shaft about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis;
a first articulation link operably interfacing with a source of articulation motions to selectively axially move said first articulation link a first axial distance in a first axial direction;
a second articulation link operably interfacing with said surgical end effector to apply articulation motions thereto; and
an articulation stroke multiplier operably interfacing with said first articulation link and said second articulation link such that when said first articulation link is axially moved said first axial distance in said first axial direction, said articulation stroke multiplier moves said second articulation link another first axial distance in said first axial direction that is greater than said first axial distance.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical tool assembly that includes an elongate shaft that has an end effector coupled thereto for selective articulation relative to the shaft. A first articulation link operably interfaces with a source of articulation motions configured to selectively axially move the first articulation link a first axial distance in a first articulation direction. A second articulation link operably interfaces with the surgical end effector to apply articulation motions thereto. An articulation stroke multiplier operably interfaces with the first articulation link and the second articulation link such that when the first articulation link is axially moved the first axial distance in the first axial direction, the articulation stroke multiplier moves the second articulation link another first axial distance in the first axial direction that is greater than the first axial distance.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
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an elongate shaft defining a shaft axis, a surgical end effector coupled to said elongate shaft for selective articulation relative to said elongate shaft about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis; a first articulation link operably interfacing with a source of articulation motions to selectively axially move said first articulation link a first axial distance in a first axial direction; a second articulation link operably interfacing with said surgical end effector to apply articulation motions thereto; and an articulation stroke multiplier operably interfacing with said first articulation link and said second articulation link such that when said first articulation link is axially moved said first axial distance in said first axial direction, said articulation stroke multiplier moves said second articulation link another first axial distance in said first axial direction that is greater than said first axial distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
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an elongate shaft defining a shaft axis, a surgical end effector comprising; an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and coupled to said elongate shaft for selective articulation relative to said elongate shaft about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis; and an anvil movably supported on said elongate channel and wherein said surgical tool assembly further comprises; a first articulation link operably interfacing with a source of articulation motions to selectively axially move said first articulation link a first axial distance in a first axial direction; a second articulation link operably interfacing with said surgical end effector to apply articulation motions thereto; and an articulation stroke multiplier operably interfacing with said first articulation link and said second articulation link such that when said first articulation link is axially moved said first axial distance in said first axial direction, said articulation stroke multiplier moves said second articulation link another first axial distance in said first axial direction that is greater than said first axial distance. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
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an elongate shaft defining a shaft axis, a surgical end effector coupled to said elongate shaft for selective articulation relative to said elongate shaft about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis; a first articulation link operably interfacing with a source of articulation motions to selectively axially move said first articulation link a first axial distance in a first axial direction; a second articulation link operably interfacing with said surgical end effector to apply articulation motions thereto; and an articulation stroke multiplying means operably interfacing with said first articulation link and said second articulation link to move said second articulation link a second axial distance in response to movement of said first articulation link said first axial distance, wherein said first axial distance is less than said second axial distance.
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Specification