Dual articulation drive system arrangements for articulatable surgical instruments

US10368861B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Chester O. Baxter, III · Loveland, US
• Jeffrey S. Swayze · Hamilton, US
• Adam R. Dunki-Jacobs · Cincinnati, US
• Frederick E. Shelton, IV · Hillsboro, US
• Morgan R. Hunter · Cincinnati, US
• Darwin L. Schultz · Covington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 18, 2015
• Grant date: Aug 6, 2019
• Expiry date: Jan 10, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/0818
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical stapling instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that includes a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument may include a first distal articulation driver operably coupled to the surgical end effector and a second distal articulation driver that is coupled to the surgical end effector. At least one driver member may operably engage the first and second distal articulation drivers such that when the first distal articulation driver is moved in a distal direction, the least one driver moves the second distal articulation driver in a proximal direction and when the first distal articulation driver is moved in the proximal direction, the at least one driver member moves the second distal articulation driver in the distal direction.