US 11,998,200 B2
Surgical stapling instrument with an articulatable end effector
Zhifan F. Huang, Mason, OH (US); Chad P. Boudreaux, Cincinnati, OH (US); Joseph C. Hueil, Loveland, OH (US); Dean B. Bruewer, Fairfield, OH (US); and David B. Smith, Mason, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on May 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/307,554.
Application 17/307,554 is a continuation of application No. 15/494,033, filed on Apr. 21, 2017, granted, now 11,013,511.
Application 15/494,033 is a continuation of application No. 14/854,724, filed on Sep. 15, 2015, granted, now 9,662,110, issued on May 30, 2017.
Application 14/854,724 is a continuation of application No. 13/776,862, filed on Feb. 26, 2013, granted, now 9,138,225, issued on Sep. 22, 2015.
Application 13/776,862 is a continuation of application No. 12/765,337, filed on Apr. 22, 2010, granted, now 8,408,439, issued on Apr. 2, 2013.
Application 12/765,337 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/008,266, filed on Jan. 10, 2008, granted, now 7,954,684, issued on Jun. 7, 2011.
Application 12/008,266 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/821,277, filed on Jun. 22, 2007, granted, now 7,753,245, issued on Jul. 13, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2021/0322009 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/295 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 17/295 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00318 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00734 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2913 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2916 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2923 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2929 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2943 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2946 (2013.01); A61B 2090/0811 (2016.02)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing comprising an electric motor;
an elongate shaft extending from said housing;
an end effector extending from said elongate shaft;
an articulation joint positioned intermediate said elongate shaft and said end effector, wherein said end effector is rotatable relative to said elongate shaft between an unarticulated position and an articulated position about an articulation axis defined by said articulation joint;
a cutting member comprising a distal end, wherein said cutting member is configured to be distally advanced relative to said end effector in response to actuation of said electric motor; and
a control system in signal communication with said electric motor, wherein said control system is configured to control the distal advancement of said cutting member such that said distal end of said cutting member is advanced to a predetermined final distal position within said end effector when said end effector is in said unarticulated position and when said end effector is in said articulated position.