US 11,786,237 B2
Stapling assembly comprising a supported firing bar
Chester O. Baxter, III, Loveland, OH (US); Jeffrey S. Swayze, West Chester, OH (US); Adam R. Dunki-Jacobs, Cincinnati, OH (US); Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US); Morgan R. Hunter, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Darwin L. Schultz, Covington, KY (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/710,075.
Application 17/710,075 is a continuation of application No. 16/429,427, filed on Jun. 3, 2019, granted, now 11,497,489.
Application 16/429,427 is a continuation of application No. 14/742,885, filed on Jun. 18, 2015, granted, now 10,368,861, issued on Aug. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0218335 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/10 (2006.01); A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/068 (2013.01) [A61B 17/072 (2013.01); A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 17/105 (2013.01); A61B 34/71 (2016.02); A61B 2017/0046 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00323 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00327 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00734 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07214 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2902 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2933 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2939 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2943 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2946 (2013.01); A61B 2090/0818 (2016.02)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical stapling system, comprising:
a housing;
a shaft extending distally from the housing;
an articulation joint, wherein an articulation joint aperture extends through the articulation joint;
an end effector movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the end effector is rotatable relative to the shaft about the articulation joint, the end effector comprising:
a cartridge jaw comprising a replaceable staple cartridge, wherein the staple cartridge comprises staples removably stored therein; and
an anvil jaw;
a motor-driven firing drive, comprising:
a flexible drive bar comprising a supported portion having a perimeter;
a firing member pushed distally from a proximal position to a distal fully-fired position by the flexible drive bar during a firing stroke to eject the staples from the staple cartridge in response to a motor-driven input, the firing member comprising:
a central portion movable within the end effector, wherein the flexible drive bar is attached to the central portion;
an anvil jaw-engaging cam extending from the central portion that engages the anvil jaw during the firing stroke;
a cartridge jaw-engaging cam extending from the central portion that engages the cartridge jaw during the firing stroke, wherein the anvil jaw-engaging cam and the cartridge jaw-engaging cam co-operatively hold the cartridge jaw and the anvil jaw in compression against patient tissue captured intermediate the cartridge jaw and the anvil jaw during the firing stroke; and
a drive bar support, wherein the drive bar support extends through the articulation joint aperture and is movable relative to the articulation joint, the drive bar support comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a longitudinal aperture extending between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the flexible drive bar extends within the longitudinal aperture, wherein the longitudinal aperture is defined by an inner sidewall, and wherein the inner sidewall entirely surrounds the perimeter of the supported portion of the drive bar.