SURGICAL STAPLERS WITH INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATABLE CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an elastic spine assembly comprising a proximal spine portion and a distal spine portion that is elastically coupled to said proximal spine portion for axial movement relative thereto between a neutral position and an elongated position;
a first jaw attached to said distal spine portion;
a second jaw movably supported relative to said first jaw for selective movement between open and closed positions relative to said first jaw;
a closure system configured to apply a closure motion to said second jaw and to move said distal spine portion from said neutral position to said elongated position upon actuation thereof; and
a firing system configured to axially advance a firing member from a starting to an ending position within said first jaw upon actuation thereof and to enable said distal spine portion to return to said neutral position to thereby increase said closure motion applied to said second jaw.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument with separate actuatable closure and firing systems for closing a movable jaw and actuating a firing member. In one form, the surgical instrument comprises an elastic spine assembly that includes a proximal spine portion and a distal spine portion that is elastically coupled to the proximal spine portion for axial movement relative thereto between a neutral position and an elongated position such that during actuation of the firing system results in an increased application of closure motions to the movable jaw without actuating the closure system.
306 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elastic spine assembly comprising a proximal spine portion and a distal spine portion that is elastically coupled to said proximal spine portion for axial movement relative thereto between a neutral position and an elongated position; a first jaw attached to said distal spine portion; a second jaw movably supported relative to said first jaw for selective movement between open and closed positions relative to said first jaw; a closure system configured to apply a closure motion to said second jaw and to move said distal spine portion from said neutral position to said elongated position upon actuation thereof; and a firing system configured to axially advance a firing member from a starting to an ending position within said first jaw upon actuation thereof and to enable said distal spine portion to return to said neutral position to thereby increase said closure motion applied to said second jaw. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elastic spine assembly configured to elongate between a first neutral position and a second elongated position; a first jaw attached to said elastic spine assembly; a second jaw movably supported relative to said first jaw for selective movement between open and closed positions relative to said first jaw; a closure system comprising a closure member configured to apply a first amount of closure force to said second jaw to move said second jaw from said open position to a first closed position and elongate said elastic spine assembly to said second elongated position; a firing member supported for axial travel between a starting position and an ending position within said first jaw; and a firing system operably interfacing with said firing member to selectively advance said firing member from said starting position to said ending position such that movement of said firing member from said starting position to said ending position causes said elastic spine to move toward said first neutral position which causes said closure member to apply a second amount of closure force to said second jaw and thereby moves said second jaw to a second closed position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elastic spine assembly comprising a proximal spine portion and a distal spine portion that is elastically coupled to said proximal spine portion for axial movement relative thereto between a neutral position and an elongated position; an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein, said elongate channel attached to said distal spine portion; an anvil pivotally coupled to said elongate channel for selective pivotal travel about a fixed pivot axis between open and closed positions relative to said elongate channel; a closure system configured to apply closure motions to said anvil and move said distal spine portion from said neutral position to said elongated position; and a firing system configure to axially advance a firing member from a starting to an ending position within said elongate channel upon actuation thereof and thereby enable said distal spine portion to return to said neutral position to thereby increase said closure motions applied to said anvil. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification