Laterally actuatable articulation lock arrangements for locking an end effector of a surgical instrument in an articulated configuration
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, 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;
at least one articulation link operably interfacing with a source of articulation motions and being coupled to said surgical end effector for applying said articulation motions thereto;
an articulation lock arrangement comprising an articulation lock member corresponding to each said articulation link, each said articulation lock member configured to laterally move into locking engagement with said corresponding articulation link from an unlocked position that is laterally adjacent to said corresponding articulation link; and
actuation means operably interfacing with each of said articulation lock members to selectively laterally move each said articulation lock member from said unlocked position into locking engagement with said corresponding articulation link.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument that includes an elongate shaft that has an end effector coupled thereto for selective articulation relative to the shaft. At least one articulation link operably interfaces with a source of articulation motions and is coupled to the end effector for applying articulation motions thereto. An articulation lock member corresponds to each articulation link and is configured to laterally move into locking engagement with the corresponding articulation link from an unlocked position that is laterally adjacent to the corresponding articulation link. An actuation system operably interfaces with each of the articulation lock members to selectively laterally move each articulation lock member from the unlocked position into locking engagement with the corresponding articulation link.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, 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; at least one articulation link operably interfacing with a source of articulation motions and being coupled to said surgical end effector for applying said articulation motions thereto; an articulation lock arrangement comprising an articulation lock member corresponding to each said articulation link, each said articulation lock member configured to laterally move into locking engagement with said corresponding articulation link from an unlocked position that is laterally adjacent to said corresponding articulation link; and actuation means operably interfacing with each of said articulation lock members to selectively laterally move each said articulation lock member from said unlocked position into locking engagement with said corresponding articulation link. - 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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an elongate shaft; a surgical end effector coupled to said elongate shaft for selective articulation relative thereto; a source of articulation motions; a first axially movable articulation link operably interfacing with said source of said articulation motions, wherein said first axially movable articulation link is coupled to said surgical end effector to apply said articulation motions thereto; a first articulation lock member configured to laterally move between a first unlocked position wherein said first articulation link is axially movable and a first locked position wherein said first articulation lock member prevents axial movement of said first articulation link; and an axially movable lock actuator operably interfacing with said first articulation lock member to selectively laterally move said first articulation lock member from said first unlocked position to said first locked position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification