US 12,076,194 B2
Surgical instrument comprising an articulation indicator
Richard L. Leimbach, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Michael J. Stokes, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Jun. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/843,465.
Application 17/843,465 is a continuation of application No. 17/084,205, filed on Oct. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,534,259.
Prior Publication US 2022/0387125 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/115 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 90/08 (2016.02) [A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/072 (2013.01); A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00039 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00057 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00115 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07214 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 17/115 (2013.01); A61B 2090/035 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0807 (2016.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a shaft defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector, comprising:
a first jaw; and
a second jaw;
an articulation joint, wherein said end effector is rotatable relative to said shaft about said articulation joint and within a first range of orientations and a second range of orientations;
a control system including a sensor configured to detect an orientation of said shaft; and
an articulation drive operable to rotate said end effector about said articulation joint when said articulation drive is in an activated operative state, wherein said articulation drive comprises an articulation actuator comprising an indicator in communication with said control system, wherein said indicator is configured to indicate a first display state in response to a first input from said control system and a second display state in response to a second input from said control system, wherein said control system supplies said first input to said indicator when said shaft is in said first range of orientations, and wherein said control system supplies said second input to said indicator when said shaft is in said second range of orientations.