SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH DUAL CAM ACTUATED JAW CLOSING FEATURES
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;
an end effector mounting assembly movably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis;
first and second jaws movably coupled to said end effector mounting assembly such that said first and second jaws are each movable relative to each other and said shaft axis about a common pivot axis between an open position and closed positions, said first jaw comprising a first point and said second jaw comprising a second point wherein said first and second points lie along a common axis that is perpendicular to said shaft axis and wherein said first point is a first distance from said shaft axis when said first jaw is in said open position and wherein said second point is a second distance from said shaft axis when said second jaw is in said open position and wherein said second distance is different from said first distance;
means for biasing said first and second jaws away from each other to said open position; and
means for applying closure motions to said first and second jaws to move said first and second jaws toward each other to said closed positions.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. An end effector mounting assembly may be movably coupled to the elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis. First and second jaws may be movably coupled to the end effector mounting assembly such that the first and second jaws are each movable relative to each other and the shaft axis about a common pivot axis between an open position and closed positions. The first and second jaws may close at different closure rates upon the simultaneous application of closure motions thereto.
111 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; an end effector mounting assembly movably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis; first and second jaws movably coupled to said end effector mounting assembly such that said first and second jaws are each movable relative to each other and said shaft axis about a common pivot axis between an open position and closed positions, said first jaw comprising a first point and said second jaw comprising a second point wherein said first and second points lie along a common axis that is perpendicular to said shaft axis and wherein said first point is a first distance from said shaft axis when said first jaw is in said open position and wherein said second point is a second distance from said shaft axis when said second jaw is in said open position and wherein said second distance is different from said first distance; means for biasing said first and second jaws away from each other to said open position; and means for applying closure motions to said first and second jaws to move said first and second jaws toward each other to said closed positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
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10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; an end effector mounting assembly movably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis; first and second jaws movably coupled to said end effector mounting assembly such that said first and second jaws are each movable relative to each other and said shaft axis between an open position and closed positions such that upon application of a closing motion to said first and second jaws causes one of said first and second jaws to move to one of said closed positions at a closure rate that differs from another closure rate at which the other of said first and second jaws moves to said one of said closed positions; and means for selectively applying said closing motion to said first and second jaws and an opening motion to said first and second jaws to selectively move said first and second jaws from said closed positions to said open position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a first jaw and a second jaw that are pivotally supported relative to each other for selective pivotal travel between an open position and closed positions; and a closure member that is axially movable in response to applications of closing and opening motions thereto, said closure member including at least two inwardly extending opening tabs that are configured to operably engage corresponding portions of at least one of said first and second jaws upon application of said opening motions to said closure member to move at least one of said first and second jaws to said open position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification