US 12,185,946 B2
Articulatable surgical stapling instruments
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US); Chester O. Baxter, III, Loveland, OH (US); and Jason L. Harris, Lebanon, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Jun. 11, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/898,693.
Application 16/898,693 is a continuation of application No. 15/386,230, filed on Dec. 21, 2016, granted, now 11,160,551.
Prior Publication US 2020/0375597 A1, Dec. 3, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0682 (2013.01); A61B 17/07292 (2013.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.02); A61B 90/03 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00017 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00039 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00309 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0046 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00464 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00473 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00685 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00734 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00964 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07214 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07221 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07228 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07242 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0725 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07257 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07264 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2929 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2931 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2933 (2013.01); A61B 2090/034 (2016.02); A61B 2090/065 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0801 (2016.02); A61B 2090/08021 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0811 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0814 (2016.02)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical stapling system, comprising:
an end effector, comprising:
a first jaw; and
a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw between an open position and a clamped position;
a firing driver movable from a starting position toward an ending position during a firing stroke;
an elongate shaft;
a series of articulation vertebrae;
a flexible firing rod extending through said series of articulation vertebrae, wherein said flexible firing rod is configured to drive said firing driver between said starting position and said ending position; and
a plurality of flexible articulation actuators extending through said series of articulation vertebrae, wherein said plurality of flexible articulation actuators are configured to flex to position said end effector relative to said elongate shaft about at least one of said series of articulation vertebrae, wherein said plurality of flexible articulation actuators comprises:
a first flexible articulation actuator extending on a first lateral side of said flexible firing rod, wherein said first flexible articulation actuator terminates at a first discrete attachment location on said first lateral side of said flexible firing rod; and
a second flexible articulation actuator extending on a second lateral side of said flexible firing rod, wherein said second flexible articulation actuator terminates at a second discrete attachment location on said second lateral side of said flexible firing rod.