SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND MOVABLE FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS
First Claim
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- a surgical end effector comprising;
first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of said at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and
a firing member operably supported in one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein in respond to an application of a firing motion thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;
a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;
an articulation joint coupling said surgical end effector to said shaft assembly for selective articulation relative thereto about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector;
a flexible firing beam extending through said articulation joint to interface with said firing member in said surgical end effector to apply said firing motion thereto; and
a movable firing beam support assembly configured to movably contact said firing beam on each lateral side thereof as said firing beam flexes about said articulation joint.
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Abstract
A surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector that is coupled to a shaft assembly by an articulation joint. A flexible firing beam extends through the articulation joint to interface with a firing member in the surgical end effector to apply a firing motion thereto. In at least one form, the surgical instrument further includes a movable firing beam support assembly that is configured to movably contact the firing beam on each lateral side thereof as the firing beam flexes about the articulation joint.
220 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a surgical end effector comprising; first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of said at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and a firing member operably supported in one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein in respond to an application of a firing motion thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; an articulation joint coupling said surgical end effector to said shaft assembly for selective articulation relative thereto about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector; a flexible firing beam extending through said articulation joint to interface with said firing member in said surgical end effector to apply said firing motion thereto; and a movable firing beam support assembly configured to movably contact said firing beam on each lateral side thereof as said firing beam flexes about said articulation joint. - 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 surgical end effector comprising; first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of the at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and a firing member supported in one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein in response to an application of a firing motion thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; an articulation joint coupling said surgical end effector to said shaft assembly for selective articulation relative thereto about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector; a flexible firing beam extending through said articulation joint to interface with said firing member in said surgical end effector to apply said firing motion thereto; a firing beam support assembly comprising; a first compression band supported adjacent a first lateral side of said firing beam and spanning said articulation joint; a second compression band supported adjacent a second lateral side of said firing beam and spanning said articulation joint; at least one first support member movably supported relative to said first compression band for movable contact therewith; and at least one second support member movably supported relative to said second compression band for movable contact therewith. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a surgical end effector comprising; first and second jaw members wherein application of a closure motion to at least one of said first and second jaw members results in the movement of the at least one of said first and second jaw members to a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaw members; and a firing member supported in one of said first and second jaw members for axial travel therein in response to an application of a firing motion thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; an articulation joint coupling said surgical end effector to said shaft assembly for selective articulation relative thereto about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector; a flexible firing beam extending through said articulation joint to interface with said firing member in said surgical end effector to apply said firing motion thereto; a firing beam support assembly comprising a firing beam guide assembly spanning a portion of the firing beam adjacent said articulation joint, said firing beam guide assembly comprising; a first side member adjacent a portion of a first lateral side of said firing beam; a second side member adjacent another portion of a second lateral side of said firing beam, a distal mounting portion coupling a distal end of said first side member to a distal end of said second side member, said distal mounting portion mounted to at least one of said first and second jaw members; and a proximal mounting portion coupling a proximal end of said first side member to a proximal end of said second side member, said proximal mounting portion mounted to a corresponding portion of said shaft assembly and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; a movable firing beam support assembly configured to movably contact said first and second side members as said firing beam flexes about said articulation joint. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification