SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT WITH A FIRING MEMBER RETURN MECHANISM
First Claim
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector;
a firing member;
a trigger;
a firing drive selectively engageable with said firing member, wherein said firing drive comprises a rack, and wherein said rack comprises;
a first drive portion, wherein said firing drive is configured to engage said first drive portion and advance said firing member relative to said end effector upon a first actuation of said trigger;
a second drive portion, wherein said firing drive is configured to engage said second drive portion and advance said firing member relative to said end effector upon a second actuation of said trigger; and
a rotatable portion configured to be rotated a first amount during said first actuation of said trigger and a second amount during said second actuation of said trigger, wherein said rotatable portion comprises a key positionable in an initial position, and wherein said rotatable portion may be configurable in an activated configuration and a deactivated configuration;
a reversing drive selectively engageable with said rack, wherein said reversing drive is configured to retract said rack and said firing member relative to said end effector upon a subsequent actuation of said trigger, and wherein said subsequent actuation is subsequent to said second actuation; and
an indexing member, said indexing member comprising;
a first stop, wherein said key is configured to rotate past said first stop into a first position during said first actuation of said trigger, and wherein said first stop is configured to prevent said key from returning to said initial position when said rotatable portion is in said activated configuration; and
a second stop, wherein said key is configured to rotate past said second stop into a second position during said second actuation of said trigger, wherein said second stop is configured to prevent said key from returning to said first position when said rotatable portion is in said activated configuration, and wherein said key is configured to rotate past said second stop and said first stop when said rotatable portion is in said deactivated configuration and said key is returned to said initial position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument including a firing drive configured to selectively advance a firing member and/or cutting member relative to an end effector and, in addition, a reversing drive configured to selectively retract the firing member and/or cutting member relative to the end effector.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector; a firing member; a trigger; a firing drive selectively engageable with said firing member, wherein said firing drive comprises a rack, and wherein said rack comprises; a first drive portion, wherein said firing drive is configured to engage said first drive portion and advance said firing member relative to said end effector upon a first actuation of said trigger; a second drive portion, wherein said firing drive is configured to engage said second drive portion and advance said firing member relative to said end effector upon a second actuation of said trigger; and a rotatable portion configured to be rotated a first amount during said first actuation of said trigger and a second amount during said second actuation of said trigger, wherein said rotatable portion comprises a key positionable in an initial position, and wherein said rotatable portion may be configurable in an activated configuration and a deactivated configuration; a reversing drive selectively engageable with said rack, wherein said reversing drive is configured to retract said rack and said firing member relative to said end effector upon a subsequent actuation of said trigger, and wherein said subsequent actuation is subsequent to said second actuation; and an indexing member, said indexing member comprising; a first stop, wherein said key is configured to rotate past said first stop into a first position during said first actuation of said trigger, and wherein said first stop is configured to prevent said key from returning to said initial position when said rotatable portion is in said activated configuration; and a second stop, wherein said key is configured to rotate past said second stop into a second position during said second actuation of said trigger, wherein said second stop is configured to prevent said key from returning to said first position when said rotatable portion is in said activated configuration, and wherein said key is configured to rotate past said second stop and said first stop when said rotatable portion is in said deactivated configuration and said key is returned to said initial position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector; a firing member movable between an initial position, a first fired position, and a second fired position; a trigger; a firing drive selectively engageable with said firing member, wherein said firing drive comprises a rack, and wherein said rack comprises; a first drive portion, wherein said firing drive is configured to engage said first drive portion and advance said firing member relative to said end effector upon a first actuation of said trigger; and a second drive portion, wherein said firing drive is configured to engage said second drive portion and advance said firing member relative to said end effector upon a second actuation of said trigger; a reversing drive selectively engageable with said rack, wherein said reversing drive is configured to retract said rack and said firing member relative to said end effector upon a subsequent actuation of said trigger, and wherein said subsequent actuation is subsequent to said second actuation; and holding means for holding said firing drive in said first position after said first actuation and before said second actuation and for holding said firing drive in said second position after said second actuation and before said subsequent actuation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a shaft comprising a distal end; a firing member; a trigger; a firing drive selectively engageable with said firing member, wherein said firing drive comprises; a first drive portion, wherein said firing drive is configured to engage said first drive portion and advance said firing member relative to said distal end upon a first actuation of said trigger; a second drive portion, wherein said firing drive is configured to engage said second drive portion and advance said firing member relative to said distal end upon a second actuation of said trigger; and a rotatable portion configured to be rotated a first amount during said first actuation of said trigger and a second amount during said second actuation of said trigger, wherein said rotatable portion comprises a key positionable in an initial position; a reversing drive selectively engageable with said firing member, wherein said reversing drive is configured to retract said firing member relative to said distal end upon a subsequent actuation of said trigger, and wherein said subsequent actuation is subsequent to said second actuation; and a holding member, comprising; a first backstop, wherein said key is configured to rotate past said first backstop into a first position during said first actuation of said trigger, wherein said first backstop is configured to prevent said key from returning to said initial position prior to said reversing drive being engaged with said firing member; and a second backstop, wherein said key is configured to rotate past said second backstop into a second position during said second actuation of said trigger, wherein said second backstop is configured to prevent said key from returning to said first position prior to said reversing drive being engaged with said firing member, and wherein said reversing drive is configured to disengage said key from said holding member when said reversing drive is engaged with said firing member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification