Surgical stapling instruments
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an elongate shaft;
a joint;
an end effector, wherein said end effector is selectively movable relative to said elongate shaft about said joint, said end effector comprising;
a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and
an anvil movably coupled to said channel;
a locking mechanism having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein, when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration, said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said elongate shaft and said end effector and at least limit relative movement between said elongate shaft and said end effector, wherein said locking mechanism comprises;
a lock member moveable relative to said joint, wherein said lock member is configured to engage said end effector when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration; and
an actuator, wherein said lock member is operably engaged with said actuator; and
a closure drive operably engaged with said anvil, wherein said closure drive is movable between a first position and a second position to move said anvil between an open position and a closed position, and wherein, when said closure drive is in said second position, said closure drive is adjacent to said actuator and configured to restrain travel of said actuator and hold said locking mechanism in said locked configuration.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument including a shaft, an end effector movable relative to the shaft, a locking mechanism configured to engage the shaft and/or end effector to fix the relative relationship between the shaft and end effector, and a closure system configured to close the end effector and engage the locking mechanism to prevent it from becoming unlocked. The instrument can further include a firing drive comprising a trigger, a firing member, and a pawl, where the pawl is rotatable between a first position in which the pawl is disengaged from the firing member and a second position in which the trigger can advance the pawl and firing member toward the end effector. The instrument can also include a reel, a band, where the band can be wound around the reel to retract the firing member, and a return mechanism for selectively engaging the trigger with the firing member and the reel.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft; a joint; an end effector, wherein said end effector is selectively movable relative to said elongate shaft about said joint, said end effector comprising; a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and an anvil movably coupled to said channel; a locking mechanism having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein, when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration, said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said elongate shaft and said end effector and at least limit relative movement between said elongate shaft and said end effector, wherein said locking mechanism comprises; a lock member moveable relative to said joint, wherein said lock member is configured to engage said end effector when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration; and an actuator, wherein said lock member is operably engaged with said actuator; and a closure drive operably engaged with said anvil, wherein said closure drive is movable between a first position and a second position to move said anvil between an open position and a closed position, and wherein, when said closure drive is in said second position, said closure drive is adjacent to said actuator and configured to restrain travel of said actuator and hold said locking mechanism in said locked configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft; a joint; an end effector, wherein said end effector is selectively movable relative to said elongate shaft about said joint, said end effector comprising; a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and an anvil movably coupled to said channel; a locking mechanism having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein, when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration, said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said elongate shaft and said end effector and at least limit relative movement between said elongate shaft and said end effector; and a closure drive operably engaged with said anvil, wherein said closure drive is movable between a first position and a second position to move said anvil between an open position and a closed position, and wherein, when said closure drive is in said second position, said closure drive is configured to hold said locking mechanism in said locked configuration; wherein said locking mechanism comprises; a lock member including a first end and a second end, wherein said lock member is slidable relative to said joint, and wherein said first end of said lock member is configured to engage said end effector when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration; and an actuator, wherein said second end of said lock member is operably engaged with said actuator, and wherein said closure drive is configured to abut said actuator when said closure drive is in said second position and prevent said lock member from being slid relative to said joint. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft; a joint; an end effector, wherein said end effector is selectively movable relative to said elongate shaft about said joint, said end effector comprising; a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and an anvil movably coupled to said channel; a locking mechanism having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein, when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration, said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said elongate shaft and said end effector and at least limit relative movement between said elongate shaft and said end effector, wherein said locking mechanism comprises; a lock member moveable relative to said joint, wherein said lock member is configured to engage said end effector when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration; and an actuator, wherein said lock member is operably engaged with said actuator; and a closure drive configured to generate a closing motion, wherein said closure drive includes a driver, wherein said anvil is operably engaged with said driver and is movably responsive to said closing motion, and wherein said driver is adjacent to said actuator and configured to restrain travel of said actuator as a result of said closing motion and prevent said locking mechanism from being configured in said unlocked configuration. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft; a joint; an end effector, wherein said end effector is selectively movable relative to said elongate shaft about said joint, said end effector comprising; a channel configured to receive a staple cartridge; and an anvil movably coupled to said channel; a locking mechanism having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein, when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration, said locking mechanism is configured to engage at least one of said elongate shaft and said end effector and at least limit relative movement between said elongate shaft and said end effector; and a closure drive configured to generate a closing motion, wherein said closure drive includes a driver, wherein said anvil is operably engaged with said driver and is movably responsive to said closing motion, and wherein said driver is configured to engage said locking mechanism as a result of said closing motion and prevent said locking mechanism from being configured in said unlocked configuration; wherein said locking mechanism comprises; a lock member including a first end and a second end, wherein said lock member is slidable relative to said joint, and wherein said first end of said lock member is configured to engage said end effector when said locking mechanism is in said locked configuration; and an actuator, wherein said second end of said lock member is operably engaged with said actuator, and wherein said driver is configured to abut said actuator as a result of said closing motion and prevent said lock member from being slid relative to said joint. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a shaft; a joint; an end effector, wherein said end effector is selectively movable relative to said shaft about said joint, said end effector comprising; a first jaw; and a second jaw, wherein said first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw; a locking mechanism comprising; an unlocked configuration in which said end effector is rotatable relative to said shaft about said joint; a locked configuration in which said locking mechanism is engaged with said end effector and said end effector is inhibited from rotating relative to said shaft; and an actuator configured to place said locking mechanism in at least one of said unlocked configuration and said locked configuration; and a closure drive configured to generate a closing motion, wherein said closure drive includes a driver, wherein said first jaw is operably engaged with said driver and is movably responsive to said closing motion, and wherein said driver is adjacent to said actuator and configured to restrain travel of said actuator as a result of said closing motion and retain said locking mechanism in said locked configuration. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification