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Surgical stapling instrument incorporating a tapered firing bar for increased flexibility around the articulation joint

  • US 20050006431A1
  • 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:

  • a handle portion operably configured to produce an articulation motion and a firing motion;

    a shaft having a longitudinal axis attached to the handle portion for transferring the articulation motion and the firing motion;

    an end effector;

    an articulation mechanism coupling the shaft to the end effector and responsive to the articulation motion to rotate the end effector from the longitudinal axis of the shaft about an axis of articulation; and

    a firing mechanism responsive to the firing motion and coupled for movement through the articulation mechanism and having an actuating portion with a second thickness end effector, the firing mechanism comprising;

    an actuating portion having a first thickness and coupled for movement and positioned in the end effector, and an articulation portion proximally attached to the actuating portion and having a second thickness less than the first thickness aligned with the axis of articulation for resilient articulating movement through the articulation mechanism.

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