Firing members with non-parallel jaw engagement features for surgical end effectors
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;
a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said shaft assembly and comprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other to move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other; and
a firing member configured to move between a starting position and an ending position relative to said surgical end effector, said firing member comprising;
a vertically extending firing body comprising two lateral sides;
a first jaw engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body, each said first jaw engagement member oriented along a first jaw engagement axis that intersects said shaft axis and being arranged to slidably engage said first jaw as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position; and
a second jaw engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body and being spaced vertically from said first jaw engagement members, each said second jaw engagement member being oriented along a second jaw engagement axis that intersects said shaft axis and said first jaw engagement axis, each said second jaw engagement member being arranged to slidably engage said second jaw as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument that includes a shaft axis and first and second jaws that are configured to move relative to each other about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A firing member is configured to move between a starting position and an ending position. A first jaw engagement member extends laterally from each lateral side of the firing member. Each first jaw engagement member is oriented along a first jaw engagement axis that intersects the shaft axis. A second jaw engagement member extends laterally from each lateral side of the firing member. Each second jaw engagement member is oriented along a second jaw engagement axis that intersects the shaft axis and the first jaw engagement axis.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said shaft assembly and comprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other to move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other; and a firing member configured to move between a starting position and an ending position relative to said surgical end effector, said firing member comprising; a vertically extending firing body comprising two lateral sides; a first jaw engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body, each said first jaw engagement member oriented along a first jaw engagement axis that intersects said shaft axis and being arranged to slidably engage said first jaw as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position; and a second jaw engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body and being spaced vertically from said first jaw engagement members, each said second jaw engagement member being oriented along a second jaw engagement axis that intersects said shaft axis and said first jaw engagement axis, each said second jaw engagement member being arranged to slidably engage said second jaw as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; and a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said shaft assembly and comprising; an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; an anvil, said elongate channel and anvil being configured for movable travel relative to each other about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other; and a firing member configured to move between a starting position and an ending position relative to said surgical end effector, said firing member comprising; a vertically extending firing body comprising two lateral sides; a channel engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body, each said channel engagement member comprising a first proximal end and a first distal end and being arranged to slidably engage said elongate channel as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position; and an anvil engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body and being spaced vertically from a corresponding one of said channel engagement members, each said anvil engagement member comprising a second proximal end spaced a proximal vertical distance from said shaft axis, each said anvil engagement member further comprising a second distal end that is spaced from said shaft axis a distal vertical distance that differs from said proximal vertical distance, each said anvil engagement member being arranged to slidably engage said anvil as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said shaft assembly and comprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other to move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other; and a firing member configured to move between a starting position and an ending position relative to said surgical end effector, said firing member comprising; a vertically extending firing body comprising two lateral sides; a first jaw engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body, each said first jaw engagement member oriented along a first jaw engagement axis that is not parallel with said shaft axis and being arranged to slidably engage said first jaw as said firing member is moved between said starting position and ending position; and a second jaw engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body and being spaced vertically from said first jaw engagement members, each said second jaw engagement member being oriented along a second jaw engagement axis is not parallel to said shaft axis and said first jaw engagement axis. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; and a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said shaft assembly and comprising; an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; an anvil, said elongate channel and anvil being configured for movable travel relative to each other about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other; and a firing member configured to move between a starting position and an ending position relative to said surgical end effector, said firing member comprising; a vertically extending firing body comprising two lateral sides; a channel engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body, each said channel engagement member comprising a first proximal end and a first distal end and being arranged to slidably engage said elongate channel as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position; and an anvil engagement member extending laterally from each said lateral side of said firing body and being spaced vertically from a corresponding one of said channel engagement members, each said anvil engagement member comprising a second proximal end spaced a proximal vertical distance from said first proximal end of a corresponding one of said channel engagement members, each said anvil engagement member further comprising a second distal end that is spaced from said first distal end of said corresponding channel engagement member a distal vertical distance that differs from said proximal vertical distance, each said anvil engagement member being arranged to slidably engage said anvil as said firing member is moved between said starting position and said ending position, wherein said first proximal end has a first proximal thickness and wherein said first distal end has a first distal thickness that differs from said first proximal thickness. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification