US 11,857,189 B2
Surgical instrument including first and second articulation joints
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US); Chester O. Baxter, III, Loveland, OH (US); Jeffrey S. Swayze, West Chester, OH (US); and Jerome R. Morgan, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/710,463.
Application 17/710,463 is a continuation of application No. 17/020,989, filed on Sep. 15, 2020.
Application 17/020,989 is a continuation of application No. 15/470,192, filed on Mar. 27, 2017, granted, now 11,058,423, issued on Jul. 13, 2021.
Application 15/470,192 is a continuation of application No. 13/536,292, filed on Jun. 28, 2012, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2022/0218347 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61B 34/37 (2016.01); A61B 34/35 (2016.01); A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/10 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 17/105 (2013.01); A61B 17/29 (2013.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.02); A61B 34/35 (2016.02); A61B 34/37 (2016.02); A61B 34/71 (2016.02); A61B 17/00234 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00309 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00314 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07214 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2903 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2908 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2929 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing;
a closure driver configured to transmit a closure motion;
a shaft assembly extending from said housing, wherein said shaft assembly defines a shaft axis and comprises:
a first shaft segment;
a second shaft segment extending distally from said first shaft segment;
a third shaft segment extending distally from said second shaft segment;
a first articulation joint rotatably connecting said first shaft segment and said second shaft segment;
a second articulation joint rotatably connecting said second shaft segment and said third shaft segment, wherein said second articulation joint is positioned distal to said first articulation joint;
a passage defined within said first shaft segment, said second shaft segment, and said third shaft segment;
a closure rod extending within said passage, wherein said closure rod is moved from a proximal position to a distal position in response to said closure motion;
a first jaw;
a second jaw rotatable relative to said first jaw from an open position toward a closed position in response to said closure rod moving from said proximal position to said distal position; and
a firing actuator configured to approximate said first jaw and said second jaw during a staple firing stroke; and
a first articulation cable drivable by a first rotatable articulation input to articulate said second shaft segment about a first articulation axis; and
a second articulation cable drivable by a second rotatable articulation input to articulate said third shaft segment about a second articulation axis, wherein said first articulation cable and said second articulation cable extend alongside said closure rod.