ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE
First Claim
1. A shaft assembly for use with a surgical instrument, said shaft assembly comprising:
- a shaft;
an end effector;
an articulation joint connecting said end effector to said shaft;
a firing driver movable relative to said end effector;
an articulation driver configured to articulate said end effector about said articulation joint; and
a clutch collar configured to selectively engage said articulation driver to said firing driver to impart the movement of said firing driver to said articulation driver.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector rotatably coupled to the shaft by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument can further include a staple cartridge positioned within the end effector and a firing drive operably coupled with a trigger wherein the operation of the trigger can advance and/or retract a firing member of the firing drive relative to the end effector. The surgical instrument can further comprise an articulation drive which is selectively engageable with the firing drive. When the articulation drive is engaged with the firing drive, the operation of the firing drive can operate the articulation drive and articulate the end effector. When the articulation drive is not engaged with the firing drive, the firing drive can be operated independently of the articulation drive.
512 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A shaft assembly for use with a surgical instrument, said shaft assembly comprising:
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a shaft; an end effector; an articulation joint connecting said end effector to said shaft; a firing driver movable relative to said end effector; an articulation driver configured to articulate said end effector about said articulation joint; and a clutch collar configured to selectively engage said articulation driver to said firing driver to impart the movement of said firing driver to said articulation driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle; an electric motor positioned in said handle; a shaft attachable to said handle; an end effector; an articulation joint connecting said end effector to said shaft; a firing driver movable toward said end effector, wherein said electric motor is configured to impart a firing motion to said firing driver; an articulation driver configured to articulate said end effector about said articulation joint; and a rotatable clutch configured to selectively engage said articulation driver to said firing driver to impart said firing motion to said articulation driver. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A shaft assembly for use with a surgical instrument, said shaft assembly comprising:
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a shaft; an end effector; an articulation joint connecting said end effector to said shaft; a firing driver movable relative to said end effector; an articulation driver configured to articulate said end effector about said articulation joint; and a longitudinal clutch configured to selectively engage said articulation driver to said firing driver to impart the movement of said firing driver to said articulation driver.
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Specification