Modular surgical instruments
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis, the elongated shaft assembly comprising;
a proximal firing member operably interfacing with a firing system for receiving firing and retraction motions therefrom; and
a proximal articulation assembly operably interfacing with an articulation system for receiving articulation motions therefrom wherein the surgical instrument further comprises;
a surgical end effector comprising;
first and second end effector portions wherein the first end effector portion comprises a carrier configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein, and wherein the second end effector portion comprises an anvil assembly and is selectively movable relative to the first end effector portion in a first direction upon application of an opening motion to the second end effector portion, the second end effector portion being further selectively movable in a second direction upon application of a closing motion to the second end effector portion;
an articulation joint configured to selectively articulate the first end effector portion about an articulation axis in the first and second directions relative to the longitudinal tool axis;
an articulation link assembly operably interfacing with the articulation joint for applying the articulation motions to the articulation joint;
a drive assembly supported for operable movement within the surgical end effector upon application of the firing and retraction motions thereto, the drive assembly configured to apply the opening and closing motions to the second end effector portion, wherein the drive assembly comprises a cutting head, comprising;
a vertically extending portion including an upper end and a lower end and a tissue cutting portion oriented between the upper end and the lower end;
a bottom foot protruding from the lower end of the vertically extending portion and configured to movably engage a bottom portion of the carrier;
an upper tab portion protruding from the upper end of the vertically extending portion and configured to engage a portion of the anvil assembly; and
a drive beam assembly operably coupled to the cutting head comprising;
an upper firing bar segment coupled to the upper end of the vertically extending portion of the cutting head; and
a lower firing bar segment coupled to the lower end of the vertically extending portion of the cutting head wherein the upper and lower firing bars are pivotally coupled to a proximal engagement member, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises;
means for simultaneously coupling;
a proximal end of the first end effector portion to the elongated shaft assembly;
the articulation link assembly to the proximal articulation assembly; and
the drive assembly to the proximal firing member.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument equipped with a coupler arrangement for coupling end effectors to an elongated shaft assembly of the surgical instrument. The end effectors may include a pair of jaws in the form of a carrier supporting a surgical staple cartridge and an anvil. The anvil is movable relative to the carrier in opening and closing directions. The end effector may include an articulation joint that facilitates pivotal travel of the carrier and anvil as a unit relative to the elongated shaft assembly in the same directions in which the anvil is opened and closed relative to the carrier.
2517 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis, the elongated shaft assembly comprising; a proximal firing member operably interfacing with a firing system for receiving firing and retraction motions therefrom; and a proximal articulation assembly operably interfacing with an articulation system for receiving articulation motions therefrom wherein the surgical instrument further comprises; a surgical end effector comprising; first and second end effector portions wherein the first end effector portion comprises a carrier configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein, and wherein the second end effector portion comprises an anvil assembly and is selectively movable relative to the first end effector portion in a first direction upon application of an opening motion to the second end effector portion, the second end effector portion being further selectively movable in a second direction upon application of a closing motion to the second end effector portion; an articulation joint configured to selectively articulate the first end effector portion about an articulation axis in the first and second directions relative to the longitudinal tool axis; an articulation link assembly operably interfacing with the articulation joint for applying the articulation motions to the articulation joint; a drive assembly supported for operable movement within the surgical end effector upon application of the firing and retraction motions thereto, the drive assembly configured to apply the opening and closing motions to the second end effector portion, wherein the drive assembly comprises a cutting head, comprising; a vertically extending portion including an upper end and a lower end and a tissue cutting portion oriented between the upper end and the lower end; a bottom foot protruding from the lower end of the vertically extending portion and configured to movably engage a bottom portion of the carrier; an upper tab portion protruding from the upper end of the vertically extending portion and configured to engage a portion of the anvil assembly; and a drive beam assembly operably coupled to the cutting head comprising; an upper firing bar segment coupled to the upper end of the vertically extending portion of the cutting head; and a lower firing bar segment coupled to the lower end of the vertically extending portion of the cutting head wherein the upper and lower firing bars are pivotally coupled to a proximal engagement member, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises; means for simultaneously coupling; a proximal end of the first end effector portion to the elongated shaft assembly; the articulation link assembly to the proximal articulation assembly; and the drive assembly to the proximal firing member.
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2. A disposable loading unit for attachment to an elongated shaft assembly of a surgical instrument, the disposable loading unit comprising:
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a housing assembly having a distal and proximal end, the proximal end operably couplable to the elongated shaft assembly; a carrier operably supporting a surgical staple cartridge therein; an anvil movably supported on the carrier and being selectively movable relative to the carrier in a first direction upon application of an opening motion to the anvil, the anvil being further selectively movable in a second direction upon application of a closing motion to the anvil; an articulation joint configured to selectively articulate the carrier about an articulation axis in the first and second directions; an articulation link assembly operably interfacing with the articulation joint for applying articulation motions to the articulation joint and being selectively couplable to a corresponding portion of the elongated shaft assembly; and a drive assembly supported for operable movement within the disposable loading unit upon application of firing and retraction motions from a corresponding firing portion of the elongated shaft assembly, the drive assembly configured to apply the opening and closing motions to the anvil, wherein the drive assembly comprises; a cutting head comprising; a vertically extending portion including an upper end and a lower end and a tissue cutting portion oriented between the upper end and the lower end; a bottom foot protruding from the lower end of the vertically extending portion and configured to movably engage a bottom portion of the carrier; an upper tab portion protruding from the upper end of the vertically extending portion and configured to engage a portion of the anvil; and a drive beam assembly operably coupled to the cutting head and configured to interface with the corresponding firing portion of the elongated shaft assembly, wherein the drive beam assembly comprises; an upper firing bar segment coupled to the upper end of the vertically extending portion of the cutting head; and a lower firing bar segment coupled to the lower end of the vertically extending portion of the cutting head wherein the upper and lower firing bars are pivotally coupled to a proximal engagement member configured to operably interface with the corresponding firing portion of the elongated shaft assembly and wherein the upper and lower firing bars are each pivotally coupled to the proximal engagement member.
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3. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis, said elongated shaft assembly comprising; a proximal firing member operably interfacing with a firing system for receiving firing and retraction motions therefrom; and a proximal articulation assembly operably interfacing with an articulation system for receiving articulation motions therefrom wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; a surgical end effector comprising first and second end effector portions wherein said second end effector portion is selectively movable relative to said first end effector portion in a first direction upon application of an opening motion to said second end effector portion, said second end effector portion being further selectively movable in a second direction upon application of a closing motion to said second end effector portion; an articulation joint configured to selectively articulate said first end effector portion in said first and second directions about a fixed articulation axis that is transverse to said longitudinal tool axis; an articulation link assembly operably interfacing with said articulation joint for applying said articulation motions to said articulation joint; and means for simultaneously coupling; a distal end of said first end effector portion to said elongated shaft assembly; said articulation link assembly to said proximal articulation assembly; and a drive assembly movably supported in said surgical end effector to said proximal firing member, said drive assembly comprising; a cutting head; a proximal engagement member configured to operably interface with said means for simultaneously coupling; an upper firing bar segment coupled to an upper portion of said cutting head and being pivotally coupled to said proximal engagement member; and a lower firing bar segment coupled to a lower portion of said cutting head and being pivotally coupled to said proximal engagement member. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A disposable loading unit for attachment to an elongated shaft assembly of a surgical instrument, the disposable loading unit comprising:
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a housing assembly having a distal and proximal end, said proximal end being operably couplable to the elongated shaft assembly, said housing assembly further defining a longitudinal tool axis; a carrier operably supporting a surgical staple cartridge therein; an anvil movably supported on said carrier and being selectively movable relative to said carrier in a first direction upon application of an opening motion to said anvil, said anvil being further selectively movable in a second direction upon application of a closing motion to said anvil; an articulation joint being configured to selectively articulate said carrier in said first and second directions about a fixed articulation axis that is transverse to said longitudinal tool axis; an articulation link assembly operably interfacing with said articulation joint for applying articulation motions to said articulation joint and being selectively couplable to a corresponding portion of the elongated shaft assembly; and a drive assembly configured to apply the opening and closing motions to said anvil, wherein said drive assembly comprises; a cutting head; a proximal engagement member configured to operably interface with said elongate shaft assembly; an upper firing bar segment coupled to an upper portion of said cutting head and being pivotally coupled to said proximal engagement member; and a lower firing bar segment coupled to a lower portion of said cutting head and being pivotally coupled to said proximal engagement member. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification