Ethicon, Gmbh

Bettcher Industries, Inc.

Josiah J Brinkerhoff

Adam David Hensel

Lauren S Weaner

Austin E Wise

Daniel V Jones

Frederick E Shelton, IV

Chester O Baxter, Iii

Jeffrey S Swayze

Adam R Dunki-Jacobs

Kenneth E Carper

Michael W Goldenbogen

Tom Remm

Edward A Steele

Iii Chester O Baxter

A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector that comprises a first jaw and a second jaw that is movably supported relative to the first jaw for selective movement between an open position and closed positions. The surgical instrument further comprises a closure member that is axially movable in response to closing and opening motions. The closure member comprises at least one opening cam that protrudes therefrom to movably engage a corresponding cam surface on the second jaw such that upon application of the opening motion, the at least one opening cam movably engages the corresponding cam surface to move the second jaw to an open position, even when the jaws are under a load.

Surgical end effectors with positive jaw opening arrangements

A surgical stapling instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and includes a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto by an articulation joint. The surgical end effector includes a cartridge support member that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein. The surgical instrument further includes a longitudinally movable firing beam that extends through the articulation joint and is selectively axially movable from a starting position to an ending position within the surgical end effector. A firing beam locking assembly comprising a biasing member is operably supported on the articulation joint and is configured to apply a biasing motion to the firing beam to bias the firing beam into a locked position wherein the firing beam is prevented from moving from the starting to the ending position unless an unfired surgical staple cartridge is operably supported in the cartridge support member.

Surgical stapling instruments with lockout arrangements for preventing firing system actuation when a cartridge is spent or missing

A thumbpiece or thumb support () positioned between a head assembly () and a handle assembly () of a power operated rotary knife (). The thumb support () includes a thumb supporting surface () to support a thumb of an operator's hand during operation of the power operated rotary knife (). The thumb support () comprises a base portion () and thumb supporting portion () including the thumb supporting surface (). The thumb support () further includes an interface assembly () between the thumb supporting portion () and the base portion () for relative pivotal movement between the thumb supporting portion () and the base portion ().

Pivoting thumb support for power operated rotary knife

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Josiah J Brinkerhoff