Surgical stapling instrument with an articulatable end effector

US8308040B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Zhifan F. Huang · Mason, US
• Chad P. Boudreaux · Cincinnati, US
• Joseph C. Hueil · Loveland, US
• Dean B. Bruewer · Lancaster, US
• Aron O. Zingman · Cambridge, US
• David B. Smith · Mason, US
• Geoffrey C. Hueil · Cincinnati, US
• Hector Chow · Cincinnati, US
• Mark Richard Shaw · Loveland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 22, 2010
• Grant date: Nov 13, 2012
• Expiry date: Apr 22, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/0811
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument can comprise a channel configured to support a staple cartridge and, in addition, an anvil pivotable between open and closed positions relative to the channel. The surgical instrument can further comprise a cutting member configured to incise tissue positioned captured between the staple cartridge and the anvil and, in addition, means for stopping the cutting member prior to a distal end datum, wherein the distal end datum can be defined by the distal-most staple cavity in the staple cartridge. In such embodiments, the incision within the tissue may not extend beyond the portion of the tissue that has been stapled.