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:
Apr. 15, 2014
Filed:
Mar. 26, 2010
John V. Hunt, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Robert J. Laird, Morrow, OH (US);
Omar J. Vakharia, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Richard W. Timm, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Gavin M. Monson, Oxford, OH (US);
Suzanne E. Thompson, West Chester, OH (US);
John V. Hunt, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Robert J. Laird, Morrow, OH (US);
Omar J. Vakharia, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Richard W. Timm, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Gavin M. Monson, Oxford, OH (US);
Suzanne E. Thompson, West Chester, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
A surgical instrument is provided that can comprise and end effector including two jaws and a cutting member configured to move between the jaws. In at least one embodiment, one or both of the jaws may be flexible, such that a jaw is configured to flex when gripping tissue. Further, at least one of the jaws may include a thin cross-sectional area such that the jaw flexes when gripping tissue. Additionally, in at least one embodiment, one or more compression elements may extend from the cutting member and may be configured to cause the jaws to close when the cutting member is advanced. The compression elements may comprise a roller and/or a low-friction material. Moreover, in at least one embodiment, one or both of the jaws may be precurved, away from the cutting member's longitudinal axis. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the overall force required to advance the cutting member and/or close the jaws may be reduced.