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Surgical instrument with a lateral-moving articulation control

  • US 20050006430A1
  • Filed: 07/09/2003
  • Published: 01/13/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

  • an end effector;

    a shaft having a longitudinal axis and including an articulation motion transfer member;

    an articulation mechanism responsive to the articulation motion and pivotally coupling the end effector to a distal end of the shaft in an articulation plane bisected by the longitudinal axis; and

    an articulation control coupled to a proximal portion of the shaft, comprising;

    an actuator laterally and linearly positionable by a user, the lateral motion therefrom aligned to the articulation plane to intuitively correspond to the direction of articulation, and a motion conversion mechanism coupled to the actuator and to the articulation mechanism and operably configured to convert the lateral motion from the articulation control to an articulation motion.

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