The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 07, 2020
Filed:
Dec. 21, 2016
Ethicon Endo-surgery, Llc, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Jeffrey S. Swayze, West Chester, OH (US);
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US);
Mark D. Overmyer, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Ethicon LLC, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Abstract
A surgical instrument that includes an elongate shaft that has an end effector coupled thereto for selective articulation relative to the shaft. At least one articulation link operably interfaces with a source of articulation motions and is coupled to the end effector for applying articulation motions thereto. An articulation lock member corresponds to each articulation link and is configured to laterally move into locking engagement with the corresponding articulation link from an unlocked position that is laterally adjacent to the corresponding articulation link. An actuation system operably interfaces with each of the articulation lock members to selectively laterally move each articulation lock member from the unlocked position into locking engagement with the corresponding articulation link.