US 11,839,420 B2
Stapling assembly comprising a firing member push tube
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US); Jerome R. Morgan, Cincinnati, OH (US); Chester O. Baxter, III, Loveland, OH (US); and David C. Yates, Morrow, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/707,400.
Application 17/707,400 is a continuation of application No. 15/472,668, filed on Mar. 29, 2017, granted, now 11,523,859.
Application 15/472,668 is a continuation of application No. 15/392,265, filed on Dec. 28, 2016, abandoned.
Application 15/392,265 is a continuation of application No. 13/536,393, filed on Jun. 28, 2012, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2022/0218407 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 34/37 (2016.01); A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61B 90/10 (2016.01); A61B 90/50 (2016.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1442 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 34/37 (2016.02); A61B 34/71 (2016.02); A61B 90/10 (2016.02); A61B 90/50 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00083 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00345 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00619 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00982 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00988 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1226 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1455 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1467 (2013.01); A61B 2034/254 (2016.02); A61B 2034/303 (2016.02); A61B 2034/306 (2016.02); A61B 2034/743 (2016.02); A61B 2090/506 (2016.02)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
an elongate shaft comprising a shaft frame, wherein the shaft frame defines a longitudinal axis;
an end effector rotatable relative to the elongate shaft, wherein the end effector is movable between an open position, a closed position, and a final closed position, the end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw;
a multi-plane articulation joint comprising a joint frame rotatably coupled to the shaft frame, wherein the end effector is rotatably coupled to the joint frame, and wherein the end effector is rotatable between an unarticulated position in which the end effector is aligned with the longitudinal axis and an articulated positon in which the end effector extends at an angle transverse to the longitudinal axis; and
a firing member assembly movable from a proximal position to an intermediate position to move the end effector from the open position into the closed position during a closure stroke and movable from the intermediate position to a distal fully-fired position during a staple firing stroke, the firing member assembly comprising:
a central portion movable within the end effector;
a first jaw-engaging cam extending from the central portion that engages the first jaw during the staple firing stroke;
a second jaw-engaging cam extending from the central portion that engages the second jaw during the staple firing stroke, wherein the first jaw-engaging cam and the second jaw-engaging cam co-operatively hold the end effector in the final closed position to compress patient tissue captured intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw during the staple firing stroke; and
a motor-driven flexible push tube comprising a segmented region comprising laser-cut segments, wherein the flexible push tube is connected to the central portion intermediate the first jaw-engaging cam and the second jaw-engaging cam, wherein the segmented region extends within the multi-plane articulation joint, and wherein the flexible push tube is movable distally to push the firing member assembly distally through the closure stroke and the staple firing stroke.