Patent · US Active

Articulatable drive shaft arrangements for surgical cutting and fastening instruments

US7721934B2 · kind B2 · utility

1,859Cited by

458References

21Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. · US

Inventors

Frederick E. Shelton, IV · Hillsboro, US
Christoph L. Gillum · Springboro, US

Key dates

Filing date	May 30, 2007
Grant date	May 25, 2010
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Nov 25, 2027

Classification

Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
CPC primaryA61B2017/2927
WIPO fieldMedical technology
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector comprising a moveable cutting instrument. The instrument also includes a main drive shaft assembly for actuating the cutting instrument in the end effector. The instrument also includes a handle comprising a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly, a motor for actuating the gear drive train, a closure trigger for causing the end effector to clamp an object positioned in the end effector when the closure trigger is retracted, and a firing trigger separate from the closure trigger for actuating the motor when the firing trigger is retracted. The instrument further comprises means for articulating the end effector.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.