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. 28, 2020
Filed:
Apr. 01, 2016
Ethicon Endo-surgery, Llc, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US);
Christopher C. Miller, Loveland, OH (US);
Jason L. Harris, Lebanon, OH (US);
Brian Dinardo, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Daniel J. Mumaw, Liberty Township, OH (US);
Ethicon LLC, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Abstract
A surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The stapling instrument comprises a staple cartridge including a circular array of staple cavities defined therein and an anvil configured to deform the staples. The stapling instrument further comprises a closure drive configured to position the anvil relative to the staple cartridge and a firing drive configured to eject the staples from the staple cartridge. The closure drive includes a shaft which is extendable above the staple cartridge to permit the anvil to be attached to the shaft. In various instances, the stapling instrument is configured and arranged such that the anvil cannot be attached to the shaft unless the shaft is moved into a fully-extended position above the staple cartridge.