SHAFT BASED ROTARY DRIVE SYSTEM FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- an end effector having a selectively reciprocatable implement movably supported therein, said implement being selectively advanceable in a distal direction upon application of a rotary actuation motion thereto and retractable in a proximal direction upon application of a rotary retraction motion thereto;
an elongate shaft assembly coupled to said end effector and configured to transmit said rotary actuation motion and rotary retraction motion to said reciprocatable implement; and
a firing drive comprising;
a first rotary drive member selectively interfacing with said elongate shaft assembly and configured to apply said rotary actuation motion thereto when activated; and
a second rotary drive member selectively interfacing with said elongate shaft assembly and configured to apply said rotary retraction motion thereto when said first rotary drive member is deactivated and said second rotary drive member is activated.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument including a drive mechanism configured to advance a staple driver and/or cutting member at a first rate and retract the staple driver and/or cutting member at a different rate. In at least one embodiment, the rate at which the driver and cutting member is advanced and/or retracted is the distance that the driver and/or cutting member is translated per actuation of a trigger, for example. In various embodiments, the cutting member can be retracted at a faster rate as compared to the rate in which it is advanced. In such embodiments, the surgical instrument can, owing to the slower advancing rate, provide a greater torque or advancing force to the cutting member while, owing to the faster retracting rate, reduce the time required for the surgeon to retract the cutting member.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector having a selectively reciprocatable implement movably supported therein, said implement being selectively advanceable in a distal direction upon application of a rotary actuation motion thereto and retractable in a proximal direction upon application of a rotary retraction motion thereto; an elongate shaft assembly coupled to said end effector and configured to transmit said rotary actuation motion and rotary retraction motion to said reciprocatable implement; and a firing drive comprising; a first rotary drive member selectively interfacing with said elongate shaft assembly and configured to apply said rotary actuation motion thereto when activated; and a second rotary drive member selectively interfacing with said elongate shaft assembly and configured to apply said rotary retraction motion thereto when said first rotary drive member is deactivated and said second rotary drive member is activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8)
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6. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector having a selectively reciprocatable implement movably supported therein and being selectively advanceable in a distal direction upon application of a rotary actuation motion thereto and retractable in a proximal direction upon application of a rotary retraction motion thereto; an elongate shaft assembly coupled to said end effector and configured to transmit said rotary actuation motion and rotary retraction motion to said reciprocatable implement; and a firing drive interfacing with said elongate shaft to apply said rotary actuation and rotary retraction motions thereto, said firing drive comprising; a first ratchet assembly, comprising; a first ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a first pawl pivotably connected to an actuator device, wherein said first pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said first ratchet wheel to apply said rotary actuation motion to said elongate shaft; and a second ratchet assembly, comprising; a second ratchet wheel having a plurality of ratchet teeth; and a second pawl pivotably connected to said actuator device, wherein said second pawl is selectively engageable with said ratchet teeth of said second ratchet wheel to apply said rotary retraction motion to said elongate shaft. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector having a selectively reciprocatable implement member movably supported therein and being selectively advanceable in a distal direction upon application of a rotary actuation motion thereto and is retractable in a proximal direction upon application of a rotary retraction motion thereto; an elongate shaft assembly coupled to said end effector and configured to transmit said rotary actuation motion and rotary retraction motion to said reciprocatable implement; and a transmission configurable in a first configuration for rotating said elongate shaft assembly about an axis in a first direction and a second configuration for rotating said elongate shaft assembly about said axis in a direction opposite said first direction, said transmission comprising a pinion gear, wherein said drive shaft mated with said elongate shaft assembly in said first configuration, and wherein said drive shaft and said elongate shaft assembly are mated with said pinion gear in said second configuration. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification