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:
Jun. 06, 2006
Filed:
Jul. 09, 2003
Frederick E. Shelton, Iv, Hillsboro, OH (US);
Michael Earl Setser, Burlington, KY (US);
William Bruce Weisenburgh, Ii, Maineville, OH (US);
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US);
Michael Earl Setser, Burlington, KY (US);
William Bruce Weisenburgh, II, Maineville, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic articulates an end effector by having a geared articulation mechanism that converts rotational motion from a handle portion. A firing bar longitudinally translates between the handle portion and the end effector. The firing bar head is thickened in order to present an undistorted cutting edge and engagement features to the opposing jaws of the end effector. The firing bar also advantageously includes a thinned or tapered proximal portion in the form of a strip or band that negotiates the articulation mechanism.