Surgical cutting and stapling instruments with independent jaw control features
First Claim
1. A surgical cutting and stapling instrument, comprising:
- a surgical end effector, comprising;
an elongated channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein;
an anvil movably supported relative to the elongated channel such that the anvil and elongated channel may move toward and away from each other; and
a firing member operably supported for selective operable travel through the surgical staple cartridge upon application of firing motions to the firing member and wherein the surgical cutting and stapling instrument further comprises;
a first jaw closure system operably interfacing with the elongated channel and configured to selectively move the elongated channel relative to the anvil;
a second jaw closure system independently operable from the first jaw closure system, wherein the second jaw closure system operably interfacing interfaces with the anvil and is configured to selectively move the anvil relative to the elongated channel; and
a firing system operably interfacing with the firing member and configured to apply the firing motions to the firing member to move the firing member within the surgical staple cartridge.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Surgical instruments and end effectors therefor are disclosed. In various implementations, the surgical instrument includes a surgical end effector that comprises a lower jaw and an upper jaw that are supported for movable travel toward and away from each other. The instrument may further include a firing member that is operably supported for selective operable travel within the surgical end effector. The instrument may also include a first jaw closure system that operably interfaces with the lower jaw and is configured to selectively move the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw. A second jaw closure system operably interfaces with the upper jaw and is configured to selectively move the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw. A firing system operably interfaces with the firing member and is configured to apply firing motions to the firing member to move the firing member within the end effector.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A surgical cutting and stapling instrument, comprising:
-
a surgical end effector, comprising; an elongated channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; an anvil movably supported relative to the elongated channel such that the anvil and elongated channel may move toward and away from each other; and a firing member operably supported for selective operable travel through the surgical staple cartridge upon application of firing motions to the firing member and wherein the surgical cutting and stapling instrument further comprises; a first jaw closure system operably interfacing with the elongated channel and configured to selectively move the elongated channel relative to the anvil; a second jaw closure system independently operable from the first jaw closure system, wherein the second jaw closure system operably interfacing interfaces with the anvil and is configured to selectively move the anvil relative to the elongated channel; and a firing system operably interfacing with the firing member and configured to apply the firing motions to the firing member to move the firing member within the surgical staple cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A surgical cutting and stapling instrument, comprising:
-
a surgical end effector, comprising; an elongated channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; an anvil movably supported relative to the elongated channel such that the anvil and elongated channel may move toward and away from each other; and a firing member operably supported for selective operable travel through the surgical staple cartridge upon application of firing motions to the firing member, wherein the surgical cutting and stapling instrument further comprises; a first jaw closure system operably interfacing with the elongated channel and configured to selectively move the elongated channel relative to the anvil; a second jaw closure system operably interfacing with the anvil and configured to selectively move the anvil relative to the elongated channel; a firing system operably interfacing with the firing member and configured to apply the firing motions to the firing member to move the firing member within the surgical staple cartridge; and a handle operably supporting portions of each of the first jaw closure system, the second jaw closure system and the firing system therein, wherein the elongated channel is pivotally coupled to an elongated shaft assembly about a pivot axis, wherein the anvil is pivotally supported relative to the elongated channel for selective pivotal travel relative to the elongated channel about the pivot axis, wherein the first jaw closure system comprises a first jaw actuator bar movably supported by the elongated shaft assembly for selective axial travel in response to actuation of the first jaw closure system, wherein the first jaw actuator bar operably interfaces with the elongated channel, wherein the second jaw closure system comprises a second jaw actuator bar movably supported by the elongated shaft assembly for selective axial travel relative to the first jaw actuator bar in response to actuation of the second jaw closure system, and wherein the second jaw actuator bar operably interfaces with the anvil.
-
-
11. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:
-
a housing; an elongated shaft assembly operably coupled to the housing; a surgical end effector, comprising; an elongated channel configured to support a surgical staple fastener cartridge therein, the elongated channel movably coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft assembly; an anvil movably coupled to the distal end of the elongated shaft assembly, the anvil and elongated channel being supported for movable travel toward and away from each other; and a firing member operably supported for selective operable travel within the surgical end effector and wherein the surgical cutting and fastening instrument further comprises; a first jaw closure system operably supported by the housing; a first jaw actuator bar operably supported by the elongated shaft assembly and operably interfacing with the elongated channel and the first jaw closure system such that actuation of the first jaw closure system causes the elongated channel to move in a desired direction relative to the anvil; a second jaw closure system operably supported by the housing; a second jaw actuator bar operably supported by the elongated shaft assembly and operably interfacing with the anvil and the second jaw closure system such that actuation of the second jaw closure system causes the anvil to move relative to the elongated channel; and a firing system operably supported by the housing and operably interfacing with the firing member such that actuation of the firing system causes the firing member to move axially relative to the elongated channel and the anvil. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument, comprising:
-
a surgical end effector comprising; an elongated channel configured to operably support a surgical fastener cartridge therein; an anvil supported relative to the elongated channel such that the anvil and elongated channel may selectively move toward and away from each other; and a firing member operably supported for selective axial travel through the surgical fastener cartridge and wherein the surgical cutting and fastening instrument further comprises; means for selectively moving the elongated channel relative to the anvil; means for selectively moving the anvil relative to and independently of the elongated channel; and means for applying firing motions to the firing member to move the firing member within the surgical fastener cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification