US 12,446,877 B2
Surgical instrument having articulation lock actuated by closure tube displacement
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US); Gregory J. Bakos, Mason, OH (US); Jason L. Harris, Lebanon, OH (US); and Taylor W. Aronhalt, Loveland, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Mar. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/125,777.
Application 16/868,218 is a division of application No. 15/635,663, filed on Jun. 28, 2017, granted, now 10,765,427, issued on Sep. 8, 2020.
Application 18/125,777 is a continuation of application No. 16/868,218, filed on May 6, 2020, granted, now 11,642,128.
Prior Publication US 2023/0301654 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 17/072 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0046 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2933 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2946 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A modular surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector, comprising:
a first jaw; and
a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position;
a shaft;
a closure tube slideable relative to the shaft between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein the second jaw is rotatable toward the closed position based on the closure tube moving toward the distal position, and wherein the closure tube comprises a cam;
an articulation joint, wherein the end effector is rotatable relative to the shaft about the articulation joint;
an articulation driver configured to rotate the end effector about the articulation joint, wherein the articulation driver comprises first teeth;
an articulation lock comprising a cam surface and second teeth, wherein the articulation lock is rotatable relative to the articulation driver between:
a first position in which the second teeth are demeshed from the first teeth and the articulation driver is permitted to rotate the end effector about the articulation joint; and
a second position in which the second teeth are meshed with the first teeth and the articulation driver is prevented from rotating the end effector about the articulation joint;
wherein the cam is configured to engage the cam surface of the articulation lock and rotate the articulation lock toward the second position based on the closure tube moving toward the distal position.