SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS
First Claim
1. A surgical end effector, comprising:
- a lower jaw;
an upper jaw comprising;
a proximal upper jaw portion pivotally coupled to said lower jaw for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about a pivot axis between open and closed positions upon application of closing and opening motions to said proximal upper jaw portion; and
a distal upper jaw portion movably coupled to said proximal upper jaw portion and supported for parallel movement toward and away from the lower jaw when the proximal upper jaw portion is in said closed position and wherein said surgical end effector further comprises;
a firing member operably supported for operable travel within said surgical end effector relative to said upper and lower jaws when said proximal upper jaw portion is in said closed position and firing motions are applied to said firing member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Surgical instruments and end effectors therefor are disclosed. In various implementations, the surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft assembly that defines a longitudinal tool axis. An elongated channel of an end effector is movably coupled to the elongated shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel about a pivot axis that is transverse to the longitudinal tool axis upon application of articulation motions thereto. The elongated channel may be configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge. An anvil assembly is pivotally coupled to the elongated channel for selective pivotal travel relative thereto between open and closed positions about the pivot axis upon application of closing and opening motions thereto. In some implementations, the anvil assembly comprises a two part assembly.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical end effector, comprising:
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a lower jaw; an upper jaw comprising; a proximal upper jaw portion pivotally coupled to said lower jaw for selective pivotal travel relative thereto about a pivot axis between open and closed positions upon application of closing and opening motions to said proximal upper jaw portion; and a distal upper jaw portion movably coupled to said proximal upper jaw portion and supported for parallel movement toward and away from the lower jaw when the proximal upper jaw portion is in said closed position and wherein said surgical end effector further comprises; a firing member operably supported for operable travel within said surgical end effector relative to said upper and lower jaws when said proximal upper jaw portion is in said closed position and firing motions are applied to said firing member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an elongated shaft assembly; a surgical end effector comprising; an elongated channel coupled to said elongated shaft assembly; a surgical staple cartridge operably supported in said elongated channel; and an anvil assembly comprising; a proximal anvil portion pivotally coupled to said elongated channel about a pivot axis and being selectively movable between open and closed positions upon application of closing and opening motions thereto; and a distal anvil portion slidably coupled to said proximal anvil portion such that when said proximal anvil portion is in said closed position, said distal anvil portion is movable relative thereto while remaining parallel to said elongated channel and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; a firing member operably supported for operable movement within said surgical end effector upon application of firing and refraction motions thereto; a firing system configured to selectively apply said firing and retraction motions to said firing member; and a closure system for applying said opening and closing motions to said proximal anvil portion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis; a surgical end effector comprising; an elongated channel movably coupled to the elongated shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel about a pivot axis that is transverse to said longitudinal tool axis upon application of articulation motions thereto, said elongated channel configured to operably support therein a surgical staple cartridge; and an anvil assembly pivotally coupled to said elongated channel for selective pivotal travel relative thereto between open and closed positions about said pivot axis upon application of closing and opening motions thereto. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification