Surgical stapling instrument incorporating a tapered firing bar for increased flexibility around the articulation joint
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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Abstract
A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic articulates an end effector by having a geared articulation mechanism that converts rotational motion from a handle portion. A firing bar longitudinally translates between the handle portion and the end effector. The firing bar head is thickened in order to present an undistorted cutting edge and engagement features to the opposing jaws of the end effector. The firing bar also advantageously includes a thinned or tapered proximal portion in the form of a strip or band that negotiates the articulation mechanism.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 18)
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6. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a handle portion operable to produce a firing motion, a closing motion, and an articulation motion;
a shaft coupled to the handle portion operable to separately transfer the firing motion, the closing motion, and the articulation motion;
an elongate channel coupled to the shaft and including a channel slot, an anvil pivotally coupled to the elongate channel, responsive to the closing motion from the shaft, and including an anvil channel;
a firing device including a distally presented cutting edge longitudinally received between the elongate channel and the anvil; and
an articulation mechanism pivoting the elongate channel from the shaft in response to the articulation motion;
wherein firing device includes a thinned strip portion transitioning through the articulation mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16)
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11. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle portion operably configured to produce a rotational articulation motion and a longitudinal firing motion;
a shaft operably configured to separately transfer the rotational articulation motion and the longitudinal firing motion;
an end effector distally coupled to the shaft;
an articulation mechanism responsive to the rotational articulation motion to articulate the end effector; and
a firing bar responsive to the longitudinal firing motion of the handle portion, the firing bar comprising;
an elongate strip longitudinally positioned for movement through the articulation mechanism and laterally aligned with an axis of articulation, and a firing bar head distally aligned with, thicker than, and connected to the elongate strip and positioned for longitudinal movement in the end effector. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 17)
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Specification