Ethicon, Gmbh

Cilag International Gmbh

Darwin L Schultz

Morgan Robert Hunter

Frederick E Shelton, IV

Jeffrey S Swayze

Chester O Baxter, Iii

Adam R Dunki-Jacobs

Lauren S Weaner

Austin E Wise

Jason L Harris

Michael J Vendely

Taylor W Aronhalt

Mark D Overmyer

Andrew T Beckman

Sarah Alexandra Worthington

James A Vandewalle

Jerome R Morgan

David C Yates

Shane R Adams

Richard L Leimbach

Anil K Nalagatla

Robert L Koch, Jr

Adam David Hensel

Douglas B Hoffman

Daniel L Baber

Iii Chester O Baxter

A surgical stapling instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that includes a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument may include a first distal articulation driver operably coupled to the surgical end effector and a second distal articulation driver that is coupled to the surgical end effector. At least one driver member may operably engage the first and second distal articulation drivers such that when the first distal articulation driver is moved in a distal direction, the least one driver moves the second distal articulation driver in a proximal direction and when the first distal articulation driver is moved in the proximal direction, the at least one driver member moves the second distal articulation driver in the distal direction.

Stapling assembly comprising a supported firing bar

Articulatable surgical instruments with proximal and distal shaft supports

A surgical tool assembly. A surgical end effector is movably coupled to a shaft assembly by an articulation joint that is configured to facilitate selective articulation of the surgical end effector relative to the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is operably coupled to the articulation joint. An elongate notch is provided in the distal end portion and is located on one lateral side of a shaft axis that is defined by the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly may be configured to prevent the distal end portion from buckling when an axial actuation motion is applied to the proximal end.

Articulatable surgical end effector with asymmetric shaft arrangement

A surgical tool assembly that includes a elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. A surgical end effector is movably coupled to the elongate shaft assembly by a distal support link that is pivotally coupled to the surgical end effector to define an articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis. The distal support link is pivotally and axially movably coupled to the elongate shaft assembly to facilitate selective articulation of the surgical end effector relative to the elongate shaft assembly about the articulation axis between a first unarticulated position and articulation position located on one side of the shaft axis.

Articulatable surgical instrument with independent pivotable linkage distal of an articulation lock

A surgical end effector including a first jaw that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and a second jaw that is movably supported relative to the first jaw between open and closed positions. A firing member is supported for axial movement within the first jaw along a shaft axis between a starting position and an ending position. A firing member lockout system is movable between an unlocked position wherein the firing member lockout system is out of engagement with the firing member and a locked position wherein the firing member lockout system is configured to prevent the firing member from being distally advanced from the starting position unless an unfired staple cartridge comprising a cam assembly that is located in an unfired position is supported within the first jaw. The firing member lockout system is configured to be moved from the unlocked position to the locked position when the second jaw is moved to the closed position.

Jaw actuated lock arrangements for preventing advancement of a firing member in a surgical end effector unless an unfired cartridge is installed in the end effector

A surgical instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. A surgical end effector is pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel about an articulation axis that extends transversely relative to the shaft axis. An articulation driver is supported for selective longitudinal travel relative to the elongate shaft assembly. A central articulation link is pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft assembly for pivotal travel relative thereto. An intermediate link is movably coupled to the articulation driver and the central articulation link. An end effector driver is movably coupled to the central articulation link and the surgical end effector.

Surgical instruments with multiple link articulation arrangements

Dual articulation drive system arrangements for articulatable surgical instruments

A surgical instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. The surgical instrument includes a surgical end effector that has a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end is pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel about an articulation axis that extends transversely relative to the shaft axis. The surgical end effector is selectively pivotable about the articulation axis from an unarticulated position wherein the distal end of the surgical end effector is located an unarticulated distance from the articulation axis to articulated positions wherein the distal end of the surgical end effector is located a corresponding articulated distance from the articulation axis that is less than the unarticulated distance.

Surgical instrument with articulating and axially translatable end effector

A surgical instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. A surgical end effector is pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation relative to the elongate shaft assembly about an articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis. An articulation cable is coupled to the surgical end effector at a point of attachment and is journaled on a proximal pulley that is supported on the elongate shaft assembly. The proximal pulley defines a proximal pulley axis that is located a tension distance from the point of attachment. An articulation driver is coupled to the articulation cable for selectively causing the articulation cable to rotate about the proximal pulley in first and second articulation directions. An adjustable tensioning assembly interfaces with the proximal pulley to selectively adjust the tensioning distance.

Surgical instruments with tensioning arrangements for cable driven articulation systems

Various electrical and slip ring connector arrangements configured to facilitate the passage of electrical current and signals between two components that are rotatable relative to each other such as an interchangeable surgical shaft assembly that includes portions that are rotatable relative to fixed mounting portions.

Surgical instrument comprising a rotatable shaft

A surgical instrument includes an end effector with a first jaw and a second jaw. The instrument also includes a first drive assembly, a first motor coupled to the first drive assembly, a second drive assembly, a second motor coupled to the second drive assembly, a control module, and a closure trigger. The first motor is operable to motivate the first drive assembly, and the second motor is operable to motivate the second drive assembly. The control module is operably couplable to the first motor and the second motor. The closure trigger is movable during a closure stroke to transition the end effector to the approximated configuration, and to transition the control module from operable engagement with the first motor to operable engagement with the second motor.

Multiple motor control for powered medical device

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Covington, KY, United States of America

Darwin L Schultz