Surgical instrument with articulating shaft with double pivot closure and single pivot frame ground
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an elongate shaft comprising a frame assembly and a closure assembly;
an end effector comprising a lower jaw and a pivotally attached upper jaw;
an articulation joint pivotally attaching the lower jaw of the end effector to a distal end of the frame assembly;
a handle portion attached to a proximal end of the elongate shaft and operatively configured to longitudinally couple a closure motion to the closure assembly; and
a multiple pivot joint of the closure assembly encompassing the articulation joint and distally engaged to the upper jaw to effect the pivoting of the upper jaw.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic use includes a proximal portion that is manipulated external to a patient to position an attached elongate shaft and end effector to a desired surgical site inside of the patient. An articulation joint pivotally attaches the end effector to the elongate shaft to give further clinical flexibility in reaching tissue at a desired angle. A closure tube assembly includes a multiple pivoting portion that overrides the articulation joint in order to distally translate to close the end effector yet pass over an articulated shaft. Thereby, additional clinical flexibility in positioning the end effector is achieved without losing the ability for separate closure and firing motions transferred by the shaft. Thereby, design flexibility is achieved by avoiding the design constraints of transferring a mechanical motion through the tight confines of the elongate shaft sufficient to effect articulation.
1932 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft comprising a frame assembly and a closure assembly;
an end effector comprising a lower jaw and a pivotally attached upper jaw;
an articulation joint pivotally attaching the lower jaw of the end effector to a distal end of the frame assembly;
a handle portion attached to a proximal end of the elongate shaft and operatively configured to longitudinally couple a closure motion to the closure assembly; and
a multiple pivot joint of the closure assembly encompassing the articulation joint and distally engaged to the upper jaw to effect the pivoting of the upper jaw. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft comprising a frame assembly and an encompassing and longitudinally, slidingly received closure assembly;
a staple applying assembly comprising an elongate channel, a staple cartridge engaged in the elongate channel, and an anvil pivotally attached to the elongate channel presenting a staple forming surface to the staple cartridge;
the frame assembly comprising a distal frame portion attached to the elongate channel and a proximal frame portion pivotally attached to the distal frame portion;
a handle portion attached to a proximal end of the proximal frame portion and operatively configured to longitudinally couple a closure motion to the closure assembly; and
a multiple pivot joint of the closure assembly encompassing the articulation joint and distally engaged to the upper jaw to effect the pivoting of the upper jaw. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft comprising a frame assembly and an encompassing and longitudinally, slidingly received sleeve assembly;
an end effector including an actuating member;
the frame assembly comprising a distal frame portion attached to the end effector and a proximal frame portion pivotally attached to the distal frame portion;
a handle portion attached to a proximal end of the proximal frame portion and operatively configured to longitudinally couple a longitudinal motion to the sleeve assembly; and
a multiple pivot joint of the sleeve assembly encompassing the articulation joint and distally engaged to the actuating member of the end effector to effect actuation thereof. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification