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:
May. 30, 2017
Filed:
Sep. 15, 2015
Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Zhifan F. Huang, Mason, OH (US);
Chad P. Boudreaux, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Joseph C. Hueil, Loveland, OH (US);
Dean B. Bruewer, Fairfield, OH (US);
David B. Smith, Mason, OH (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Abstract
In various embodiments, a surgical instrument can comprise an end effector including a staple cartridge and a datum portion positioned proximal to the staple cartridge. The surgical instrument can further comprise a shaft and an articulation joint configured to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft. In addition, the surgical instrument can further comprise a firing member configured to deploy a plurality of staples from the staple cartridge and a drive assembly including a drive member configured to move the firing member. The drive assembly may also include a stop configured to engage the datum portion to limit the movement of the drive member after the plurality of staples are fired.