US 12,213,668 B2
Firing system features for surgical stapler
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US); Kevin M. Fiebig, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Adam D. Hensel, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Aug. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/402,695.
Prior Publication US 2023/0050707 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/072 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00367 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0725 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical stapling instrument comprising:
(a) a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis to a distal end;
(b) an end effector operatively coupled with the shaft, wherein the end effector includes:
(i) a first jaw having an anvil, and
(ii) a second jaw, wherein the first and second jaws are operable to clamp tissue therebetween; and
(c) a stapling assembly supported by the second jaw of the end effector, wherein the stapling assembly includes:
(i) a plurality of staples,
(ii) a staple actuator translatable distally through the stapling assembly along the longitudinal axis, and
(iii) a first driver assembly, wherein the first driver assembly includes:
(A) a laterally-opposed pair of distal drivers that receive respective staples of the plurality of staples,
(B) a proximal driver that receives a respective staple of the plurality of staples, and
(C) a cam surface,
wherein the staple actuator is configured to engage the cam surface of the first driver assembly during distal translation of the staple actuator to drive the respective staples into contact with the anvil of the first jaw,
wherein the staple actuator and the cam surface are configured such that, when the respective staples contact the anvil of the first jaw, the engagement between the staple actuator and the cam surface of the first driver assembly is centered at a location along the cam surface distal of a centroid of the first driver assembly,
wherein the location is positioned below the centroid and spaced apart therefrom by a vertical distance, wherein the cam surface is oriented at an angle relative to a horizontal reference plane, wherein the vertical distance and the angle have a ratio of between approximately 0.025:25 and approximately 0.1:15.