Articulatable surgical instrument comprising a firing drive

US9101358B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Wendy A. Kerr · Cincinnati, US
• Thomas W. Lytle, IV · Monroe, US
• Mark D. Overmyer · Cincinnati, US
• Brett E. Swensgard · West Chester, US
• Richard L. Leimbach · Cincinnati, US
• Kevin D. Sackett · Independence, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 15, 2012
• Grant date: Aug 11, 2015
• Expiry date: Oct 29, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2017/2927
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector rotatably coupled to the shaft by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument can further include a staple cartridge positioned within the end effector and a firing drive operably coupled with a trigger wherein the operation of the trigger can advance and/or retract a firing member of the firing drive relative to the end effector. The surgical instrument can further comprise an articulation drive which is selectively engageable with the firing drive. When the articulation drive is engaged with the firing drive, the operation of the firing drive can operate the articulation drive and articulate the end effector. When the articulation drive is not engaged with the firing drive, the firing drive can be operated independently of the articulation drive.