US 12,011,166 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 Dec. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/114,887.
Application 17/114,887 is a continuation of application No. 16/898,693, filed on Jun. 11, 2020.
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 2021/0228209 A1, Jul. 29, 2021
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)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical stapling system, comprising:
an end effector configurable in an open configuration and a second configuration, comprising:
a first jaw; and
a second jaw;
a firing cam bar movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, wherein said firing cam bar comprises a first cam that engages said first jaw during said firing stroke and a second cam that engages said second jaw during said firing stroke;
an elongate shaft;
a series of articulation joints, wherein said end effector is rotatable relative to said elongate shaft about said series of articulation joints;
an articulation actuator positioned to transfer an input to a rotation of said elongate shaft via at least one of said series of articulation joints;
a flexible firing bar extending through said series of articulation joints, wherein said flexible firing bar is configured to drive said firing cam bar toward said fired position during said firing stroke, and wherein said flexible firing bar comprises a circular cross-sectional profile; and
a longitudinally-translatable driver, wherein longitudinal translation of said longitudinally-translatable driver drives longitudinal translation of said flexible firing bar.