SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION ARRANGEMENTS
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a surgical end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is selectively movable relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw upon application of a closure motion to said surgical end effector; and
an elongate shaft assembly, comprising;
a closure member assembly supported for axial travel relative to said surgical end effector, said closure member assembly comprising;
a proximal closure member configured to be axially advanced a complete closure stroke distance upon application of a closure actuation motion thereto; and
a distal closure member movably interfacing with said proximal closure member such that said distal closure member moves an axial closure distance in response to axial movement of said proximal closure member through said complete closure stroke distance to thereby cause said distal closure member to apply said closure motion to said surgical end effector and wherein said axial closure distance is less than said complete closure stroke distance.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector that includes a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein one of the first and second jaws is selectively movable relative to the other of the first and second jaws upon application of a closure motion to the surgical end effector. In one form, a proximal closure member is configured to be axially advanced a complete closure stroke distance upon application of a closure actuation motion thereto. A distal closure member movably interfaces with the proximal closure member such that the distal closure member moves an axial closure distance in response to axial movement of the proximal closure member through the complete closure stroke distance to thereby cause the distal closure member to apply the closure motion to the surgical end effector. In at least one arrangement, the axial closure distance is less than the complete closure stroke distance.
427 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a surgical end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is selectively movable relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw upon application of a closure motion to said surgical end effector; and an elongate shaft assembly, comprising; a closure member assembly supported for axial travel relative to said surgical end effector, said closure member assembly comprising; a proximal closure member configured to be axially advanced a complete closure stroke distance upon application of a closure actuation motion thereto; and a distal closure member movably interfacing with said proximal closure member such that said distal closure member moves an axial closure distance in response to axial movement of said proximal closure member through said complete closure stroke distance to thereby cause said distal closure member to apply said closure motion to said surgical end effector and wherein said axial closure distance is less than said complete closure stroke distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a surgical end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is selectively movable relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw upon application of a closure motion to said surgical end effector; and an elongate shaft assembly, comprising; a closure member assembly supported for axial travel relative to said surgical end effector, said closure member assembly comprising; a proximal closure member configured to be axially advanced a complete closure stroke distance upon application of a closure actuation motion thereto; and a distal closure member supported for axial travel an axial closure distance that is less than said complete closure stroke distance to apply said closure motion to said surgical end effector; and a closure stroke reduction assembly interfacing with said proximal closure member and said distal closure member such that, as said proximal closure member moves through said complete closure stroke distance, said distal closure member does not begin to axially move through said closure distance until said proximal closure member has axially moved through a portion of said complete closure stroke distance. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a surgical end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw wherein one of said first jaw and said second jaw is selectively movable relative to the other of said first jaw and said second jaw upon application of a closure motion to said surgical end effector; and an elongate shaft assembly, comprising; a closure member assembly supported for axial travel relative to said surgical end effector, said closure member assembly comprising; a proximal closure member configured to be axially advanced a complete closure stroke distance upon application of a closure actuation motion thereto, said proximal closure member configured to apply a maximum closure force upon reaching an end of said maximum closure stroke distance; a distal closure member supported for axial travel an axial closure distance that less than said complete closure stroke distance to apply said closure motion to said surgical end effector; and a closure stroke reduction assembly interfacing with said proximal closure member and said distal closure member such that, as said proximal closure member moves through said complete closure stroke distance, said proximal closure member applies another closure force to said distal closure member that is less than said maximum closure force. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification