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. 04, 2011
Filed:
Feb. 14, 2008
Kevin R. Doll, Mason, OH (US);
Bret W. Smith, Kings Mills, OH (US);
William D. Kelly, Mason, OH (US);
Ronald J. Kolata, Raleigh, NC (US);
Joshua R. Uth, Mason, OH (US);
Charles J. Scheib, Loveland, OH (US);
Frederick E. Shelton, Iv, Hillsboro, OH (US);
Kevin R. Doll, Mason, OH (US);
Bret W. Smith, Kings Mills, OH (US);
William D. Kelly, Mason, OH (US);
Ronald J. Kolata, Raleigh, NC (US);
Joshua R. Uth, Mason, OH (US);
Charles J. Scheib, Loveland, OH (US);
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
A surgical stapling apparatus for use with a disposable loading unit. Various embodiments include an elongated body assembly that comprises a distal body segment and a proximal body segment that are operably coupled together by an intermediate articulation joint such that the proximal body segment and the distal body segment define a longitudinal axis. The intermediate articulation joint may be configured to facilitate articulation of the distal body segment about an intermediate articulation axis that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. The elongated body assembly may be configured to transfer actuation motions from an actuation shaft housed in a handle assembly to the disposable loading unit. In various embodiments, the intermediate articulation joint may be adjacent to the handle assembly.