JP2020501753A - Surgical instrument with jaws pivotable about a fixed axis, including separate and distinct closure and firing systems - Google Patents

Abstract

Surgical instrument having first and second jaws pivotally supported relative to each other for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot axis between an open position and a closed position. Is provided. A firing member is movably supported to selectively move axially within at least one of the jaws between a start position and an end position, wherein the firing member moves the jaws to a closed position. At times, it is configured to engage both jaws. The firing system is operably interfaced with the firing member to selectively axially move the firing member between a start position and an end position, and the closure system is operable with at least one of the jaws. To move the jaws between an open position and a closed position without activating the firing system.

Description

  The present invention relates to surgical instruments and, in various situations, to surgical stapling and cutting instruments and staple cartridges for use therewith, designed for stapling and cutting tissue.

The various features of the embodiments described herein, together with their advantages, can be understood by the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
1 is a side view of a surgical system including a handle assembly and a plurality of interchangeable surgical tool assemblies that may be used therewith. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the interchangeable surgical tool assemblies of FIG. 1 operably coupled to the handle assembly of FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 and a portion of a handle assembly. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another one of the interchangeable surgical tool assemblies illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. FIG. 6 is another partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIGS. 4 and 5; FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIGS. FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the elastic spine assembly of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. FIG. 8 is another exploded view of a portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIGS. 4-7. FIG. 9 is another cross-sectional perspective view of the surgical end effector portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIGS. 4-8. FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the surgical end effector portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly illustrated in FIG. 9. 11 is a perspective, side, and front view of an embodiment of a firing member that may be used with the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an anvil that may be used in the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. FIG. 13 is a transverse side elevational view of the anvil of FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the anvil of FIGS. 12 and 13. The cross-section of the surgical end effector portion and shaft portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 4 is illustrated with unused or unfired surgical staples properly seated in the elongated channels of the surgical end effector. FIG. FIG. 16 is another transverse side elevational view of the surgical end effector and shaft portion of FIG. 15 after the surgical staple cartridge has been at least partially fired and the firing member has been retracted to a starting position. FIG. 17 is another transverse side elevational view of the surgical end effector and shaft portion of FIG. 16 after the firing member has completely retracted to the starting position. FIG. 16 is a top cross-sectional view of the surgical end effector and shaft portion shown in FIG. 15 with unused or unfired surgical staples properly seated in the elongated channel of the surgical end effector. FIG. 19 is another top cross-sectional view of the surgical end effector of FIG. 18 with an at least partially fired surgical staple installed therein, showing the firing member held in a locked position. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the anvil and a portion of the elongated channel of the interchangeable tool assembly of FIG. FIG. 21 is an exploded side view depicting the anvil portion and the elongated channel portion of FIG. 20. It is a rear perspective view of the anvil attachment part of embodiment of an anvil. FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of an anvil attachment portion of another embodiment of the anvil. FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of an anvil attachment portion of another embodiment of the anvil. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an anvil. FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the anvil of FIG. 25. FIG. 26 is an end cross-sectional view of the anvil of FIG. 25. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another anvil embodiment. FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the anvil of FIG. 28. FIG. 29 is a top view of the distal end of the anvil body portion of the anvil of FIG. 28. FIG. 9 is a top view of the distal end of the anvil body portion of another anvil embodiment. FIG. 32 is an end cross-sectional perspective view of the anvil of FIG. 31. It is an end sectional perspective view which shows another embodiment of an anvil. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a closure member with a distal closure tube segment. FIG. 35 is a transverse side elevational view of the closure member of FIG. 34. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly showing the firing member of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly in the fully closed position, the anvil attachment position, and the starting position. FIG. 37 is another partial cross-sectional view of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 36 at the beginning of an opening process. FIG. 38 is another partial cross-sectional view of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 37 with the anvil in a fully open position. FIG. 37 is a side view of a portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 36. FIG. 38 is a side view of a portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 37. FIG. 39 is a side view of a portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 38. FIG. 8 is a cross-side elevation view of another closure member embodiment. FIG. 43 is an end cross-sectional view of the closure member of FIG. 42. FIG. 5 is an end cross-sectional view of another closure member embodiment. FIG. 5 is an end cross-sectional view of another closure member embodiment. FIG. 5 is an end cross-sectional view of another closure member embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the surgical end effector of the interchangeable tool assembly illustrated in FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the surgical end effector of the interchangeable surgical tool of FIG. FIG. 50 is another cross-sectional view of the surgical end effector of FIG. 48. FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a portion of a lower surface of an embodiment of an anvil. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 5 with the anvil of the surgical end effector in a fully open position. FIG. 52 is another partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly of FIG. 51 with the anvil of the surgical end effector in a first closed position. 51 at the beginning of the firing process, with the anvil in the first closed position and the firing member of the surgical end effector of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly moving distally from the starting position. FIG. 6 is another partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the tool assembly. 51. The interchangeable surgical tool of FIG. 51 with the anvil in the second closed position and the firing member advanced distally into the surgical staple cartridge of the surgical end effector of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly. FIG. 4 is another partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembly. FIG. 4 is a graph comparing firing energy versus time for different interchangeable surgical tool assemblies. 4 is a graph showing the improvement in firing over force for four different interchangeable surgical tool assemblies and comparing the ratio of the firing distance traveled by each firing member to the firing load.

  Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. The exemplifications set forth herein illustrate, in one form, various embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Absent.

The applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. patent applications filed on the same date as the present application, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______, Title of Invention "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND REPLACEABLE TOOL ASSEMBLIES THEREOF", Attorney Docket No. END7980USNP / 160155,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS", Attorney Docket No. END7981USNP / 160156,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ________, Title of Invention "LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS", Attorney Docket No. END7982USNP / 160157,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS AND FIRING MEMBERS THEREOF", Attorney Docket No. END7983USNP / 160158,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS AND REPLACEABLE TOOL ASSEMBLIES", Attorney Docket No. END7984USNP / 160159, and-U.S. Pat. AND ADAPTABLE FIRING MEMBERS THEREFOR ", Attorney Reference Number END7985USNP / 160160.

The applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. patent applications filed on the same date as the present application, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. ___________________________________, Title of Invention "STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN", Attorney Docket No. END7986USNP / 160161,
- U.S. Patent Application No. _____ No., entitled "SURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLIES WITH CLUTCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHIFTING BETWEEN CLOSURE SYSTEMS WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION FEATURES AND ARTICULATION AND FIRING SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. END7987USNP / 160162,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS", Attorney Docket No. END7988USNP / 160163,
-U.S. Patent Application No. __________________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLIES WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION FEATURES," Attorney Docket No. END7989USNP / 160164,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ____________________________________, Title of Invention "STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN", Attorney Docket Number END7990USNP / 160165,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS", Attorney Docket No. END7991USNP / 160166,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH JAW OPENING FEATURES FOR INCREASING A JAW OPENING DISTANCE," Attorney Docket No. END7992USNP / 160167
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______, Title of Invention "METHODS OF STAPLING TISSUE", Attorney Docket No. END7993USNP / 160168,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ________________, Title of Invention "FIRING MEMBERS WITH NON-PARALLEL JAW ENGAGMENT FEATURES FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS", Attorney Docket No. END7994USNP / 160169
-U.S. Patent Application No. _____________________________________________________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH EXPANDABLE TISSUE STOP ARRANGEMENTS", Attorney Docket No. END7995USNP / 160170,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ___________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS", Attorney Docket No. END7996USNP / 160171,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______, Title of Invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH POSITIVE JAW OPENING FEATURES," Attorney Docket No. END7997USNP / 160172,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING FIRTING SYSTEM ACTUATION UNLESS_UNESPENT_USPEN_USPEN_SUNPENT_SEPAR. The name of the invention is "STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN", and the agent reference number END7999USNP / 160174.

The applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. patent applications filed on the same date as the present application, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. ___________, Title of Invention "METHOD FOR RESETTING A FUSE OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SHAFT", Attorney Docket No. END8013USNP / 160175,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _____________________________________, Title of Invention "STAPLE FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENT TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAPLES," Attorney Docket No. END8014USNP / 160176,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______, Title of Invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING IMPROVED JAW CONTROL", Attorney Docket No. END8016USNP / 160178,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _________________, Title of Invention "STAPLE CARTRIDGE AND STAPLE CARTRIDGE CHANGEL COMPRISING WINDOWS DEFINED THEREIN", Attorney Docket No. END8017USNP / 160179,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______, Title of Invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CUTTING MEMBER", Attorney Docket No. END8018USNP / 160180,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ____________________________________, Title of Invention "STAPLE FIRING MEMBER COMPRISING A MISSING CARTRIDGE AND / OR SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT", Attorney Docket No. END8019USNP / 160181,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ___________, Title of Invention "FIRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKOUT", Attorney Docket No. END8020USNP / 160182,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______, Title of Invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN END EFFECTOR LOCKOUT AND A FIRING ASSEMBLY LOCKOUT", Attorney Docket No. END8021USNP / 160183
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______________, Title of Invention "FIRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FUSE," Attorney Docket No. END8022USNP / 160184, and-U.S. Patent Application No. FUSE ”, Attorney Docket No. END8023USNP / 160185.

The applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. patent applications filed on the same date as the present application, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "STAPLE FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS", Attorney Docket No. END8038USNP / 160186,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______, Title of Invention "ANVIL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS", Attorney Docket No. END8039USNP / 160187,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "METHOD OF DEFORMING STAPLES FROM TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAPLE CARTRIDGES WITH THE THE SAME SURGITAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT No. 160, Agency No. 80, INSTRUMENT NO.
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "BILTERALLY ASYMMETRIC STAPLE FORMING POCKET PAIRS", Attorney Docket No. END8042USNP / 160190,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______, Title of Invention "CLOSURE MEMBERS WITH CAM SURFACE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SEPARATE AND DISTINCT CLOSURE AND FIRDSING N / A First Entry No. 160
-U.S. Patent Application No. _________________, Title of the Invention "SURGICAL STAPLERS WITH INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATABLE CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS," Attorney Docket No. END8044USNP / 160192,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH SMART STAPLE CARTRIDGES", Attorney Docket No. END8045USNP / 160193,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ________________________________________________________________________________, for the title "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING STAPLES WITH DIFFERENT CLAMPING BREADTHS", Attorney Docket No. END8047USNP / 160195,
U.S. Patent Application No. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Patent, entitled "STAPLE FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS COMPRISING PRIMARY SIDEWALLS AND POCKET SIDEWALLS", Attorney Docket No. END8048USNP / 160196,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______________, Title of Invention "NO-CARTRIDGE AND SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS", Attorney Docket No. END8050USNP / 160198,
-U.S. Patent Application No. __________, Title of Invention "FIRING MEMBER PIN ANGLE", Attorney Docket No. END8051USNP / 160199,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ____________________________________________________________________________________________, for the name of the invention, "STAPLE FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS COMPRISING ZONED FORMING SURFACE GROOVES", Attorney Docket No. END8052USNP / 160200,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FAILURE RESPONSE MODES", Attorney Docket No. END8053USNP / 160201,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ____________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH PRIMARY AND SAFETY PROCESSORS", Attorney Docket No. END8054USNP / 160202,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "ANVIL HAVING A KNIFE SLOT WIDTH", Attorney Docket No. END8057USNP / 160205,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ________, Title of Invention "CLOSURE MEMBER ARANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", Attorney Docket No. END8058USNP / 160206, and-U.S. Patent Application No. ________, Title of Invention "FIRING MEMBINE PINCO RIGIN PINCO PATENT" No. END8059USNP / 160207.

The applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. patent applications filed on the same date as the present application, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. ____________________________________________________, Title of the Invention, "STEPTED STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH ASYMMETRAL STAPLES", Attorney Docket No. END8000USNP / 160208,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ___________________________________, Title of Invention "STEPTED STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH TISSUE RETENTION AND GAP SETTING FEATURES," Attorney Docket No. END8001USNP / 160209,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ____________, Title of Invention "STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH DEFORMABLE DRIVER RETENTION FEATURES," Attorney Docket No. END8002USNP / 160210,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______, Title of Invention "DURABILITY FEATURES FOR END EFFECTORS AND FIRING ASSEMBLEES OF SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS", Attorney Docket No. END8003USNP / 160211
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS HAVING END EFFECTORS WITH POSITIVE OPENING FEATURES", Attorney Docket No. END8004USNP / 160212, and-U.S. Pat. DEPOSABLE LOADING UNITS FOR SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS ", Attorney Reference Number END8005USNP / 160213.

The applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. patent applications filed on the same date as the present application, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______, Title of Invention "METHOD FOR ATTACHING A SHAFT ASSEMBLY TO A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND AND, ALTERNATIVELYY, TOA SURGICAL ROBOT", Attorney No.
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______________________________________, Title of Invention "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MANUALLY-OPERABLE RETRACTION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A MOTORIZED SURGITAL INSTRUMENT SERVICE INSTRUMENT 1602 SERIAL INSTRUMENT SERVICES
-U.S. Patent Application No. ____________________________________, Title of Invention "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SEPARATELY ACTUABLE AND RETRACTABLE SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. END8008USNP / 160216,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _________________________________________, Title of Invention "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CLUTCH CONFIGURED TO ADAPT THE OUTPUT OF A ROTARY FIRING MEMBER TO TWO DIFFERENT SERIES No. 16
-U.S. Patent Application No. ______, Title of Invention "SURGICAL SYSTEM COMPRISING A FIRING MEMBER ROTATABLE INTO AN ARTICULATION STATE TO TO ARTICULATE AN END EFFECTOR FUNCTION PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE
-U.S. Patent Application No.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No. END8012USNP / 160220.

The applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. patent applications filed on the same date as the present application, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. ________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. END8024USNP / 160221,
-U.S. Patent Application No. __________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS," Attorney Docket No. END8025USNP / 160222,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. END8026USNP / 160223,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ___________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH MOVABLE CAMMING MEMBER CONFIGURATION TO DISENGAGE FIRING MEMBER LOCKOUT FEATURES", Attorney No. 80, US Pat.
-U.S. Patent Application No. ________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS," Attorney Docket No. END8028USNP / 160225,
- U.S. Patent Application No. _____ No., entitled "JAW ACTUATED LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING ADVANCEMENT OF A FIRING MEMBER IN A SURGICAL END EFFECTOR UNLESS AN UNFIRED CARTRIDGE IS INSTALLED IN THE END EFFECTOR" of the invention, Attorney Docket No. END8029USNP / 160226,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ________________, Title of Invention "AXIALLY MOVABLE CLOSURE SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPLYING CLOSURE MOTIONS TO JAWS OF SURGITAL INSTRUMENTS", Agent No. 160 / US No. 30 / USD.
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "PROTECTIVE COVER ARRANGEMENTS FOR A JOINT INTERFACE BETWEEN A MOVABLE JAW AND ACTUATOR SHAFT OF A SURN G
-U.S. Patent Application No. ________, Title of Invention "SURGICAL END EFFECTOR WITH TWO SEPARATE COOPERATING OPENING FEATURES FOR OPENING AND CLOSING END EFFECTOR JUSN.
-U.S. Patent Application No. ____________, Title of Invention "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL END EFFECTOR WITH ASYMMETRIC SHAFT ARRANGEMENT", Attorney Docket No. END8033USNP / 160230,
-U.S. Patent Application No. ________, Title of Invention "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH INDEPENDENT PIVOTABLE LINKAGE DISTAL OF AN ARTICULATION LOCK", Attorney Reference Number END8034USNP,
-U.S. Patent Application No. _______, Title of Invention "ARTICULATION LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOCKING AN END EFFECTOR IN AN ARTICULATED POSITION IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF RESPONSE 32
-U.S. Pat. The name of the invention, "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATION STROKE AMPLIFICATION FEATURES", and the agent reference number END8037USNP / 160234.

The applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. patent applications filed on June 24, 2016, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 191,775, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING WIRE STAPLES AND STAMPED STAPLES",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 191,807, entitled "STAPLING SYSTEM FOR USE WITH WIRE STAPLES AND STAMPED STAPLES",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 191,834, entitled "STAMPED STAPLES AND STAPLE CARTRIDGES USING THE SAME",
U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 191,788, Title of Invention "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING OVERDRIVEN STAPLES";

The applicant of the present application owns the following U.S. patent applications filed on June 24, 2016, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,218, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER",
-U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,227, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER",
-U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,259, title of the invention "SURGICAL FASTENER CARTRIDGE", and-U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,264, title of the invention "SURGICAL FASTENER CARTRIDGE".

The applicant of the present application owns the following patent applications filed on April 1, 2016, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,325, entitled "METHOD FOR OPERATING A SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,321, entitled "MODULAR SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,326, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY INCLUDING A RE-ORIENTABLE DISPLAY FIELD",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,263, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE ASSEMBLY WITH RECONFIGURE GRIP PORTION,"
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,262, entitled "ROTARY POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MANUALLY ACTUABLE BAILOUT SYSTEM",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,277, entitled "SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING END EFFECTOR WITH ANVIL CONCENTRIC DRIVE MEMBER",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,296, entitled "INTERCHANGEABLE SURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLY WITH A SURGICAL END EFFECTOR THAT IS SELECTIVELY ROTATABLE ABOUT ASH FASH
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,258, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A SHIFTABLE TRANSMISSION",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,278, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM CONFIGURATION TO PROVIDE SELECTIVE CUTTING OF TISSUE",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,284, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A CONTOURABLE SHAFT",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,295, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A TISSUE COMPRESSION LOCKOUT",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,300, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN UNCLAMPING LOCKOUT",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,196, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A JAW CLOSURE LOCKOUT",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,203, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A JAW ATTACHMENT LOCKOUT",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,210, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,324, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SHIFTING MECHANISM",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,335, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT COMPULSING MULTIPLE LOCKOUTS",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,339, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,253, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM CONFIGURATION TO APPLY ANNULAR ROWS OF STAPLES HAVING DIFFERENT HEIGHTS",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,304, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A GROOVED FORMING POCKET",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,331, entitled "ANVIL MODIFICATION MEMBERS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,336, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGES WITH ATRAUMATIC FEATURES,"
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,312, entitled "CIRCULAR STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INCISABLE TISSUE SUPPORT",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,309, title of invention "CIRCULAR STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING ROTARY FIRING SYSTEM", and-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,349, title of invention "CIRCULAR STAPLING SYSTEM CONFIGURATION COLOR CONFIGURATION CONFIGURATION CONFIGURATION.

The applicant of the present application also owns the following U.S. Patent Applications, filed December 31, 2015, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 984,488, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATION FOR BATTERY PACK FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS",
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 984,525, title of invention "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATION FOR DRIVETTRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", and-U.S. patent application Ser. AND MOTOR CONTROL CIRCUITS ".

Applicants also own the following identified U.S. patent applications, filed February 9, 2016, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,220, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ARTICULATING AND AXIALLY TRANSLATABLE END EFFECTOR",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,228, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE LINK ARTICULATION ARRANGEMENTS",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,196, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ARTICULATION MECHANISM WITH SLOTTED SECONDARY CONSTRAIN",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,206, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH AN END EFFECTOR THAT IS HIGHLY ARTICULATEABLE RELATIVE TO AN ELONGATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY";
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,215, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH NON-SYMMETRICAL ARTICULATION ARRANGEMENTS",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,227, entitled "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SINGLE ARTICULATION LINK ARRANGEMENTS",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,235, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH TENSIONING ARRANGEMENTS FOR CABLE DRIVEN ARTICULATION SYSTEMS,"
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,230; Title of Invention "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-AXIS FIRING BEAM ARRANGEMENTS"; REDUCTION ARRANGEMENTS ”.

The applicant of the present application also owns the following identified United States patent applications filed on February 12, 2016, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 043,254, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 043,259, title of invention "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATE FOR DIVIVTRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 043,275; Title of Invention "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATE FOR DIVIVTRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS"; and-U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 043,289; FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS ".

The applicant of the present application owns the following patent applications filed on June 18, 2015, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 742,925, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH POSITIVE JAW OPENING ARRANGEMENTS",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,941, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH DUAL CAM ACTUATED JAW CLOSING FEATURES",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,914, entitled "MOVABLE FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS",
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 742,900, entitled "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH COMPOSITE FIRING BEAM STRUCTURES WITH CENTER FIRING SUPPORT PORTER PORTER PORTER ART OVER PORT INTERNATIONAL
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,885; title of invention "DUAL ARTICULATION DRIVE SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS"; and-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,876; FOR ARTICULABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS ".

The applicant of the present application owns the following patent applications filed on March 6, 2015, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,746, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256184;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,795, titled "MULTIPLE LEVEL THRESHOLDS TO MODIFY OPERATION OF POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/02561185;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,832, entitled "ADAPTIVE TISSUE COMPRESSION TECHNIQUES TO ADJUST CLOSURE RATES FOR MULTIPLE TISSUE TYPES", now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/025644.
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,935, entitled "OVERLAID MULTI SENSOR RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) ELECTRODE SYSTEM TO MEASURE TISSUE COMPRESSION", now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256071.
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,831, entitled "MONITORING SPEED CONTROL AND PRECISION INCREMENTING OF MOTOR FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256153.
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,859, entitled "TIME DEPENDENT EVALUATION OF SENSOR DATA TO DETERMINE STABILITY, CREEP, AND VISCOELASTIC ELEMENTS ELEMENTS OF MEASURES, currently published as U.S. Pat.
U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,817, entitled "INTERACTIVE FEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256186;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,844; title of invention "CONTROL TECHNIQUES AND SUB-PROCESSOR CONTAINED WITHIN MODULAR SHAFT WITH SELECT SELECT CONTROL CONTROL FROM HANDLE, U.S. Pat.
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,837, entitled "SMART SENSORS WITH LOCAL SIGNAL PROCESSING", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256163;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,765, entitled "SYSTEM FOR DETECTION THE THE MIS-INSERTION OF A STAPLE CARTRIDGE INTO A SURGICAL STAPLLER", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256160.
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,799, entitled "SIGNAL AND POWER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM POSITIONED ON A ROTATABLE SHAFT", currently published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256162, and-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / No. 640,780, the title of the invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A LOCKABLE BATTERY HOUSING", currently published as US Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0256161.

The applicant of the present application owns the following patent applications filed on February 27, 2015, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,576, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INSPECTION STATION", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249919;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,546, entitled "SURGICAL APPARATUS CONFIGURATION TO ASSESS WHEETHER A PERFORMANCE PARAMETER OF THE SURGICAL APPARATUS IS WANTIN ACCESSORIES OF THE SUPPORT OF THE SURGITAL APPARATUS IS WEBIN AN EPA ,
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 633,560, entitled "SURGICAL CHARGING SYSTEM THAT CHARGES AND / OR CONDITIONS ONE OR MORE BATTERIES", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249910;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,566, entitled "CHARGING SYSTEM THAT ENABLES EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS FOR CHARGING A BATTERY", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249918;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,555, entitled "SYSTEM FOR MONITORING WHEETHER A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249916;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,542, entitled REINFORMED BATTERY FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249908;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,548, entitled "POWER ADAPTER FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249909;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,526, entitled "ADAPTABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249495;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,541, entitled "MODULAR STAPLING ASSEMBLY", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249927, and-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,562, Published under the name "SURGICAL APPARATUS CONFIGURATION TO TRACK AN END-OF-LIFE PARAMETER", currently U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0249917.

The applicant of the present application owns the following patent applications filed on December 18, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 574,478, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING AN ARTICULATEABLE END EFFECTOR AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE FIRING GIGABYTE's U.S. Pat. ,
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 574,483, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING LOCKABLE SYSTEMS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0174969;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,139, entitled "DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0174978;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,148, entitled "LOCKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES WITH ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL END EFFECTORS", now published in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 76/017, 2016.
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 575,130, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH WITH AN ANVIL THAT IS SELECTIVELY MOVABLE ABOUT A DISCRETE NON-MOVABLE AXIS RELATIVE TOA TRAVEL PORTER TRACE AUTHOR TRAVEL TOP LAST ATOP REGARD TO A LAST GALLERY TO GIRL Published as
U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,143, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH IMPROVED CLOSURE ARRANGEMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0174983;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,117, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND MOVABLE FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS", now U.S. Pat.
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,154, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND IMPROVED FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS", now U.S. Pat.
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 574,493, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0174970, and-U.S. Patent Application No. 14/574, No. 500, the title of the invention, "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKABLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM", now published as US Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0174971.

The applicant of the present application owns the following patent applications filed on March 1, 2013, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,295, entitled "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CONDUCTIVE PATHWAYS FOR SIGNAL COMMUNICATION", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0246461;
U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,323, entitled "ROTARY POWERED ARTICULATION JOINTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0246472;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,338, entitled "THUMBWHEEL SWITCH ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/02494957;
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 782,499, entitled "ELECTROMECHANICAL SURGICAL DEVICE WITH SIGNAL RELAY ARRANGEMENT", now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,358,003;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,460, entitled "MULTIPLE PROCESSOR MOTOR CONTROL FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0246478;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,358, entitled "Joystick Switch Assemblies For Surgical Instruments", now issued as U.S. Patent No. 9,326,767;
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 782,481, entitled "SENSOR STRAIGHTENED END EFFECTOR DURING REMOVAL THROUGH TROCAR", now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,468,438;
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 782,518, entitled "CONTROL METALDS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH REMOVABLE IMPLEMENT PORTIONS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0246475;
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 782,375, entitled "ROTARY POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE DEGREES OF FREEDOM", now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,398,911, and-U.S. Pat. Application No. 13/782 , 536, the title of the invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SOFT STOP", currently issued as U.S. Patent No. 9,307,986.

The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent applications filed on March 14, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-Published in U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,097, titled "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE", now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263542;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,193, entitled "CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR A DRIVE MEMBER OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT," currently issued as U.S. Patent No. 9,332,987;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,053, entitled "INTERCHANGEABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLYES FOR US WITH A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263564;
U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,086, entitled "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION LOCK", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541;
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 803,210, entitled "SENSOR ARRANGEMENTS FOR ABSOLUTE POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263538;
U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,148, entitled "MULTI-FUNCTION MOTOR FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263554;
U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,066, entitled "DRIVE SYSTEM LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263565;
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 803,117, entitled "ARTICULATION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Pat. No. 9,351,726, and-U.S. Pat. Application No. 13 / 803,130 No., Title of Invention "DRIVE TRAIN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", currently issued as U.S. Patent No. 9,351,727, and-U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,159; FOR OPERATING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ", now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0277017. And publish.

The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent application, filed March 7, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 200,111, entitled "CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263539.

The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent applications filed on March 26, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,106, entitled "POWER MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0275258;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,099, entitled "STERILIZATION VERIFICATION CIRCUIT", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0275581;
U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,094, entitled "VERIFICATION OF NUMBER OF BATTERY EXCHANGES / PROCEDURE COUNT", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272580;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,117, entitled "POWER MANAGEMENT THROUGH SLEEP OPTIONS OF SEGMENTED CIRCUIT AND WAKE UP CONTROL", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272574;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,075, entitled "MODULAR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272579;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,093, entitled "FEEDBACK ALGORITHMS FOR MANUAL BAILOUT SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272569;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,116, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT UTILIZING SENSOR ADAPTATION", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272571;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,071, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT CONTROL CIRCUIT HAVING A SAFETY PROCESSOR", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272578;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,097, published under the title "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272570;
-Published in U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,126, titled "INTERFACE SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS", now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272572;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,133, entitled "MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272557;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,081, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL A CONTROL SEGMENTED CIRCUIT", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0277471;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,076, entitled "POWER MANAGEMENT THROUGH SEGMENTED CIRCUIT AND VARIABLE VOLTAGE PROTECTION", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0280424;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,111, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT SYSTEM", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272583, and-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,125, Invention Under the name "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SHAFT", currently published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0280384.

The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent applications filed on September 5, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,103, entitled "CIRCURY AND SENSORS FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0066912;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,119, titled "ADJUNCT WITH INTEGRATED SENSORS TO QUANTIFY TISSUE COMPRESSION", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0066914;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 478,908, entitled "MONITORING DEVICE DEGRADATION BASED ON COMPONENT EVALUATION", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0066910;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 478,895, titled "MULTIPLE SENSORS WITH ONE SENSOR AFFECTING A SECOND SENSOR'S OUTPUT OR INTERPRETATION", now published in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0066909.
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,110, entitled "POLARITY OF HALL MAGNET TO DETECT MISLOADED CARTRIDGE", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0066915;
-Published in U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,098, entitled "SMART CARTRIDGE WAKE UP OPERATION AND DATA DATA RETENTION", now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0066911;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,115, titled "MULTIPLE MOTOR CONTROL FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0066916, and-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,108. No., the title of the invention, "LOCAL DISPLAY OF TISSUE PARAMETER STABILIZATION", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0066913.

The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent applications filed on April 9, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,590, titled "MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKABLE DUAL DRIVE SHAFTS", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0305987;
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 248,581, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CLOSING DRIVE AND A FIRING DRIVE OPERATED FROM THE THE SAME ROTABLE OUTPUT," now US Pat.
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,595, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SHAFT INCLUDING SWITCHES FOR CONTROL THE CONTROL OPERATION OF THE SURGITAL INSTRUMENT", now U.S. Pat.
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,588, entitled "POWERED LINEAR SURGICAL STAPLER", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0309666;
-Published in U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,591, entitled "TRANSMISSION ARRANGEMENT FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT", now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0305991;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,584, entitled "MODULAR MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ALIGNMENT FEATURES FOR ALIGNING ROTARY ROTARY DRIVE SHARETS WITH SERIES RIGHT SERVICES RIGHT SERVICES RIGHT SERVICES RIGHT SERVICES RIGHT SERVICES RIGHT SERVICES RIGHT RIGHT SERVICES RIGHTS
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,587, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL STAPLLER", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0309665;
-U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,586, entitled "DRIVE SYSTEM DECOPLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT", now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0305990; and-U.S. Patent Application No. 14/248, No. 607, the title of the invention, “MODULAR MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH STATUS INDICATION ARRANGEMENTS”, currently published as US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0305992.

The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent applications filed on April 16, 2013, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety:
-US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,365, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR",
-U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,376, entitled "LINEAR CUTTER WITH POWER",
-U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,382, entitled "LINEAR CUTTER WITH MOTOR AND PISTOL GRIP",
-U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,385, title of the invention "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE WITH WULT MULTIPLE ACTUATION MOTORS AND MOTOR CONTROL," and-U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,372, title of invention "SUNRTIG MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR ".

  As set forth in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments. Well-known operations, components and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. The reader is advised that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and exemplary. Will understand. Modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims.

  The terms "comprise" (any form of comprises, such as "comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (any form of have, such as "has" and "having"), "include ( include) "(any word form of include, such as" includes "and" including "), and" contain "(any word form of container, such as" contains "and" containing ") are open-ended concatenations. Verb. As a result, a surgical system, device, or apparatus that “comprises,” “has,” “includes,” or “contains” one or more elements has one or more of those elements but one of them. It is not limited to having only one or more. Similarly, an element of a system, device, or apparatus that “comprises,” “has,” “includes,” or “contains” one or more features has one or more of those features, It is not limited to having only the above features.

  The terms "proximal" and "distal" are used herein with reference to a clinician operating the handle portion of a surgical instrument. The term "proximal" refers to the portion closest to the clinician, and the term "distal" refers to the portion remote from the clinician. It will be further understood that for convenience and clarity, spatial terms such as "vertical", "horizontal", "top", and "bottom" may be used herein with respect to the drawings. However, surgical instruments are used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and / or absolute.

  Various exemplary devices and methods are provided for performing laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery. However, the reader will readily appreciate that the various methods and devices disclosed herein may be used in many surgical procedures and applications, including those associated with open surgery. By reading through the Detailed Description of the Invention herein, the reader will appreciate that various instruments disclosed herein can be used, for example, through incisions or punctures made in tissue through natural orifices. It will be further appreciated that it can be inserted into the body in any manner, such as through a hole. The active portion or end effector portion of these instruments can be inserted directly into the patient's body or through an access device having an active passageway through which the end effector and elongate shaft of the surgical instrument can be advanced. You can also.

  A surgical stapling system can include a shaft and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector has a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw includes a staple cartridge. A staple cartridge is insertable into and removable from the first jaw, but the staple cartridge is not removable or at least not easily replaceable from the first jaw; Other embodiments are also contemplated. The second jaw includes an anvil configured to deform staples ejected from the staple cartridge. The second jaw is pivotable about a closed axis with respect to the first jaw, but the first jaw is pivotable with respect to the second jaw. Embodiments are also envisioned. The surgical stapling system further includes an articulation configured to allow the end effector to rotate, ie, articulate, with respect to the shaft. The end effector is rotatable about an articulation axis extending through the articulation. Other embodiments that do not include an articulation are also contemplated.

  The staple cartridge includes a cartridge body. The cartridge body includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a deck extending between the proximal and distal ends. In use, the staple cartridge is positioned on a first side of the tissue to be stapled and the anvil is positioned on a second side of the tissue. The anvil is moved toward the staple cartridge to compress and clamp tissue against the deck. Subsequently, the staple removably stored in the cartridge body can be deployed in the tissue. The cartridge body includes a staple cavity defined therein, and the staple is removably stored in the staple cavity. The staple cavities are arranged in six longitudinal rows. Three rows of staple cavities are located on a first side of the longitudinal slot, and three rows of staple cavities are located on a second side of the longitudinal slot. Other arrangements of staple cavities and staples may also be possible.

  The staples are supported by a staple driver in the cartridge body. The driver is movable between a first, or unfired position, and a second, or fired, position for firing staples from the staple cavity. The driver includes an elastic member retained within the cartridge body by a retainer extending around a bottom of the cartridge body and configured to grip the cartridge body and retain the retainer relative to the cartridge body. . Drivers are movable by a sled between their unfired position and their fired position. The sled is movable between a proximal position adjacent the proximal end and a distal position adjacent the distal end. The sled includes a plurality of ramps configured to slide beneath the driver and lift the driver, with staples supported thereon and toward the anvil.

  In addition to the above, the sled is moved distally by the firing member. The firing member is configured to contact the sled and push the sled toward the distal end. A longitudinal slot defined in the cartridge body is configured to receive a firing member. The anvil also includes a slot configured to receive the firing member. The firing member further includes a first cam that engages the first jaw, and a second cam that engages the second jaw. As the firing member is advanced distally, the first cam and the second cam can control the distance between the staple cartridge deck and the anvil, ie, the tissue gap. The firing member also includes a knife configured to cut tissue captured between the staple cartridge and the anvil. Desirably, the knife is positioned at least partially proximal to the ramp so that the staples are fired forward of the knife.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a motor-driven surgical system 10 that can be used to perform a variety of different surgical procedures. As shown therein, one example of a surgical system 10 includes four interchangeable surgical tool assemblies 100, 200, 300, and 1000, which are used interchangeably with handle assembly 500. So that each is adapted. Each interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100, 200, 300, and 1000 may be designed for use in connection with performing one or more specific surgical procedures. In another surgical system embodiment, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly may be effectively used with a tool drive assembly of a robotically controlled or automated surgical system. For example, the surgical tool assembly disclosed herein is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 9,072,535, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. , Can be used with (but not limited to) various robotic systems, instruments, components, and methods.

  FIG. 2 illustrates one form of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 operably coupled to a handle assembly 500. FIG. 3 illustrates the attachment of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 to the handle assembly 500. The mounting configuration and process shown in FIG. 3 may also be used in connection with mounting any of the interchangeable surgical tool assemblies 100, 200, 300 and 1000 to a tool drive portion or tool drive housing of a robotic system. Good. The handle assembly 500 can include a handle housing 502 that includes a pistol grip portion 504 that can be grasped and manipulated by a clinician. As discussed briefly below, handle assembly 500 operably supports a plurality of drive systems, which are interchangeable surgical tool assemblies 100, 200, 300 operably mounted on the handle assemblies. And / or 1000 to generate and apply various control movements to corresponding portions.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, handle assembly 500 may further include a frame 506 operably supporting a plurality of drive systems. For example, the frame 506 can operably support a “first” or closed drive system, generally indicated at 510, which is operably attached to the handle assembly 500. Or, it may be used to apply an opening and closing motion to the coupled interchangeable surgical tool assemblies 100, 200, 300, and 1000. In at least one form, the closure drive system 510 may include an actuator in the form of a closure trigger 512 pivotally supported by the frame 506. Such a configuration allows the clinician to operate the closure trigger 512 such that when the clinician grasps the pistol grip portion 504 of the handle assembly 500, the closure trigger 512 is moved from a starting or "inactive" position to a " It is easily pivotable to an "actuated" position, more specifically a fully compressed or fully activated position. In various forms, the closure drive system 510 further includes a closure linkage assembly 514 pivotally coupled to the closure trigger 512 or otherwise operably interfaced. As described in further detail below, in the illustrated example, the closure linkage assembly 514 includes a lateral mounting pin 516 that facilitates mounting to a corresponding drive system on the surgical tool assembly. In use, the clinician depresses the closure trigger 512 toward the pistol grip portion 504 to activate the closure drive system. U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,142, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SENSOR SYSTEM", which is now incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, as US Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272575. As described in more detail in the published literature, when the clinician completes the closure stroke by fully depressing the closure trigger 512, the closure drive system will cause the closure trigger 512 to be fully depressed or fully depressed. It is configured to lock in an actuated position. If the clinician desires to unlock the closure trigger 512 and urge the closure trigger 512 to the inactive position, the clinician simply activates the closure release button assembly 518 and the closure trigger is released. Allows to return to the working position. The closure release button 518 may also be configured to interact with various sensors in communication with the microcontroller 520 in the handle assembly 500 to track the position of the closure trigger 512. The construction and operation of the closure release button assembly 518 may be described in further detail in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272575.

  In at least one form, the handle assembly 500 and the frame 506 may operably support another drive system, referred to herein as the launch drive system 530, wherein the launch drive system 530 has an attached interchangeable surgical system. The firing tool is configured to apply a firing motion to a corresponding portion of the tool assembly. As described in detail in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272575, the firing drive system 530 includes an electric motor (shown in FIGS. 1-3) disposed within a pistol grip portion 504 of the handle assembly 500. No) may be used. In various embodiments, the motor may be, for example, a brushed DC drive motor having a maximum speed of about 25,000 RPM. In other configurations, the motor may include a brushless motor, a cordless motor, a synchronous motor, a stepper motor, or any other suitable electric motor. The motor may be powered by power supply 522, which in one form may include a removable power pack. The power pack may support therein a plurality of lithium ion ("LI") batteries or other suitable batteries. A number of batteries may be used as power source 522 of surgical system 10, and the batteries may be connected in series with one another. Power supply 522 may also be replaceable and / or rechargeable.

  The electric motor is configured to axially drive a longitudinally movable drive member 540 in a distal direction and a proximal direction depending on the polarity of the motor. For example, when the motor is driven in one rotational direction, the longitudinally movable drive member 540 is driven axially in a distal direction "DD". When the motor is driven in the opposite direction of rotation, drive member 540 is driven axially in a proximal direction "PD". The handle assembly 500 can include a switch 513 that can be configured to reverse the polarity imparted to the electric motor by the power supply 522, or otherwise control the electric motor. Handle 500 may also include one or more sensors (not shown) configured to detect the position of drive member 540 and / or the direction in which drive member 540 is being moved. Motor operation may be controlled by a firing trigger 532 (see FIG. 1) pivotally supported on handle assembly 500. The firing trigger 532 may be pivoted between an inactive position and an active position. The firing trigger 532 may be spring or other such that when the clinician releases the firing trigger 532, it may be pivoted or otherwise returned to an inactive position by a spring or other biasing configuration. May be biased to the inoperative position. In at least one form, the firing trigger 532 can be located "outside" the closure trigger 512, as described above. As described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272575, handle assembly 500 may include a firing trigger safety button (not shown) to prevent accidental activation of firing trigger 532. When the closure trigger 512 is in the non-actuated position, the safety button is housed within the handle assembly 500 so that the clinician cannot easily access the security button and prevent the firing trigger 532 from being actuated. Also, the safety button cannot be moved between the firing position where the firing trigger 532 can be fired. When the clinician depresses the closure trigger 512, the safety button and firing trigger 532 pivots downward, and then allows the clinician to operate the safety button and firing trigger 532.

  In at least one form, the longitudinally movable drive member 540 may have a rack formed thereon with a number of teeth (not shown), which rack connects with a motor. It meshes and engages with a corresponding drive gear configuration (not shown). These mechanisms can be described in further detail in U.S. Patent Application No. 2015/0272575. Also, in at least one form, there is a manually actuable "emergency disengagement" assembly configured to allow a clinician to manually retract longitudinally movable drive member 540 in the event of a motor failure. May be included. The emergency release assembly may include a lever or emergency release handle assembly stored under releasable door 550 in handle assembly 500. The lever is configured to be manually pivoted into ratchet engagement with the teeth of drive member 540. Accordingly, the clinician can manually retract the drive member 540 by ratcheting the drive member 5400 in the proximal direction "PD" using the emergency release handle assembly. U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 249,117, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING APPARATUS WITH MANUALLY RETRACTABLE FIRING SYSTEM", which is now published as U.S. Patent No. 8,608,045. The literature, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses emergency release configurations and other components, configurations, and systems that may be used with the various surgical tool assemblies disclosed herein.

  Referring now to FIG. 2, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 includes a surgical end effector 110 having a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw includes an elongate channel 112 that is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge 116 therein. The second jaw includes an anvil 114 pivotally supported with respect to the elongate channel 112. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 also includes a lockable articulation joint 120 that can be configured to releasably hold the end effector 110 in a desired position relative to the shaft axis SA. For details regarding the various structures and operations of the end effector 110, the articulation joint 120, and the articulation lock, see US patent application Ser. No. 13 / 803,086, the title of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION LOCK", which is described in the literature currently published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541. As further seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 includes a proximal housing or nozzle 130 and a closed tube assembly that may be utilized to close and / or open the anvil 114 of the end effector 110. 140. As described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0272575, a closure tube assembly 140 is movably mounted on a spine 145 that supports an articulation mechanism 147 for applying articulation to the surgical end effector 110. Supported. Spine 145 is configured to (1) slidably support firing bar 170 therein and (2) slidably support closure tube assembly 140 extending around spine 145. Be composed. Under various circumstances, spine 145 has a proximal end rotatably supported within chassis 150. Please refer to FIG. In one configuration, for example, the proximal end of spine 145 is attached to a spine bearing (not shown) configured to be supported inside chassis 150. With this configuration, the spine 145 can be easily rotatably attached to the chassis 150, and the spine 145 can be selectively rotated about the shaft axis SA with respect to the chassis 150. Become.

  Still referring to FIG. 3, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 includes a closure shuttle 160 slidably supported therein so that it can be moved axially relative to the chassis 150. As can be seen in FIG. 3, closure shuttle 160 includes a pair of proximally projecting hooks 162 that are configured to attach to attachment pins 516 attached to closure linkage assembly 514 in handle assembly 500. Have been. Proximal closure tube segment 146 of closure tube assembly 140 is coupled to closure shuttle 160 for relative rotation therewith. Thus, when the hook 162 is hooked on the pin 516, actuation of the closure trigger 512 causes the closure shuttle 160, and eventually the closure tube assembly 140 on the spine 145, to move axially. A closure spring (not shown) is pivotally supported on closure tube assembly 140 and serves to bias closure tube assembly 140 in a proximal direction “PD” such that shaft assembly 100 is operable by handle assembly 500. Can serve to pivot the closure trigger 512 to the inactive position. In use, the closure tube assembly 140 is moved distally (direction "DD") to close the anvil 114, for example, in response to actuation of the closure trigger 512. The obturator tube assembly 140 includes a distal obturator tube segment 142 pivotally pinned to the distal end of the proximal obturator tube segment 146. The distal occlusion tube segment 142 is configured to move axially with the proximal occlusion tube segment 146 relative to the surgical end effector 110. When the distal end of the distal closure tube segment 142 strikes the proximal surface or ledge 115 on the anvil 114, the anvil 114 is pivotally closed. Closure of the anvil 114 is described in more detail in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541, and is described in further detail below. As described in detail in US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541, the anvil 114 is opened by moving the distal occlusion tube segment 142 proximally. Distal closure tube segment 142 has a horseshoe-shaped opening 143 therein, which defines a downwardly extending return tab (not shown), which is located on the proximal end of anvil 114. In cooperation with the formed anvil tab 117, the anvil 114 is pivoted back to the open position. In the fully open position, the closure tube assembly 140 is in its most proximal position, the inoperative position.

  As also described above, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 further includes a firing bar 170 that is supported for axial movement within the shaft spine 145. The firing bar 170 includes an intermediate firing shaft portion configured to be attached to a distal cutting portion or knife bar that is configured to move axially through the surgical end effector 110. Have been. In at least one configuration, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 includes a clutch assembly (not shown) that can be configured to selectively and releasably couple the articulation drive to the firing bar 170. The clutch assembly may be described in further detail in U.S. Patent Application No. 2014/0263541. When the clutch assembly is in its engaged position, distal movement of the firing bar 170 causes the articulation mechanism 147 to move distally, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541. Similarly, proximal movement of firing bar 170 can cause joint drive mechanism 147 to move proximally. When the clutch assembly is in its disengaged position, movement of the firing bar 170 is not transmitted to the articulation mechanism 147, so that the firing member 170 can move independently of the articulation mechanism 147. . The interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 may also include a slip ring assembly (not shown) that supplies power to and / or from the end effector 110, And / or configured to transmit signals to and / or from the end effector 110. Slip ring assemblies may be described in further detail in U.S. Patent Application No. 2014/0263541. US patent application Ser. No. 13 / 800,067, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE TISSUE THICKNESS SENSOR SYSTEM", which is currently published as US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263552, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Incorporated in U.S. Patent No. 9,345,481, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE TISSUE THICKNESS SENSOR SYSTEM" is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

  Still referring to FIG. 3, the chassis 150 is adapted to be received in a dovetail slot 507 formed in the distal end of the frame 506 and has at least one, and preferably two, formed on the chassis 150. It has a corresponding tapered mounting portion 152. Each dovetail slot 507 may be tapered, or, in other words, may be somewhat V-shaped to fit and receive tapered mounting portion 152. 3, a shaft mounting lug 172 is formed at the proximal end of the firing shaft 170. When the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 is connected to the handle assembly 500, the shaft mounting lug 172 is received in a shaft mounting cradle 542 formed at the distal end of the longitudinally movable drive member 540. . The interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 also employs a latch system 180 for releasably latching the shaft assembly 100 to the frame 506 of the handle assembly 500. In at least one form, for example, the latch system 180 includes a locking member or lock yoke 182 movably connected to the chassis 150. Lock yoke 182 includes two proximally projecting lock lugs 184 configured to releasably engage corresponding lock detents or grooves 509 in the distal mounting flange of frame 506. May be included. In various configurations, lock yoke 182 is biased proximally by a spring or biasing member. Actuation of the lock yoke 182 may be performed by a latch button 186 slidably mounted on a latch actuator assembly mounted on the chassis 150. Latch button 186 may be biased proximally with respect to lock yoke 182. As will be described in more detail below, lock yoke 182 may be moved to the unlocked position by biasing latch button 186 in the distal direction DD, which also causes lock yoke 182 to pivot. Out of retaining engagement with the distal mounting flange of frame 506. When the locking yoke 182 is in “retaining engagement” with the distal mounting flange of the frame 506, the locking lugs 184 are retained in corresponding locking detents or grooves 509 in the distal end of the frame 506. It fits. Latch systems can be described in further detail in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541.

  The attachment of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 to the handle assembly 500 will now be described with reference to FIG. To begin the coupling process, the clinician may move the chassis such that the tapered mount 152 formed on the chassis 150 of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 is aligned with the dovetail slot 507 of the frame 506. 150 may be positioned above or adjacent the distal end of frame 506. The clinician then moves the surgical tool assembly 100 along the installation axis IA, which is perpendicular to the shaft axis SA, and places the tapered mounting portion 152 on the corresponding dovetail receiving end at the distal end of the frame 506. It may be housed "operably engaged" with slot 507. In doing so, the shaft mounting lug 172 on the firing shaft 170 is also housed in the cradle 542 of the longitudinally movable drive member 540, and the portion of the pin 516 on the closing link 514 corresponds to the corresponding portion in the closing shuttle 160. It is housed in a hook 162. As used herein, the term "operable engagement" in the context of two components means that when the two components are fully engaged with each other, thereby applying an actuation motion to them, It means that the component can perform the intended action, function, and / or procedure.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, the surgical system 10 shown in this figure includes four interchangeable surgical tool assemblies 100, 200, 300, and 1000, each of which is effectively associated with the same handle assembly 500. Used to perform different surgical procedures. One example of a configuration of an interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 configuration, discussed briefly above, is described in further detail in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541. Various details of interchangeable surgical tool assemblies 200 and 300 are set forth in various U.S. patent applications, filed on the same day as this specification, and incorporated herein by reference. Various details of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 are discussed in further detail below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each of the surgical tool assemblies 100, 200, 300 and 1000 includes a pair of jaws, at least one of which has tissue captured or between the two jaws. It is movable between an open position where it can be manipulated and a closed position where the tissue is securely held between them. The one or more movable jaws move between an open position and a closed position when an opening and closing motion is applied from the handle assembly or from a robotic or surgical automation system to which the surgical tool assembly is operatively connected. Move with In addition, each of the illustrated interchangeable surgical tool assemblies includes a firing member that responds to a firing motion applied to the firing member by the handle assembly or the robotic system to cause the jaw to move. Staples are fired from a staple cartridge supported by one of the staple cartridges. Each surgical tool assembly is uniquely designed to perform a particular procedure, such as cutting and fastening a particular type of tissue in a particular area of the body and a particular thickness of tissue, for example. It may be done. The closing motion control system, the firing motion control system, and the articulation control system in the handle assembly 500 or robotic system depend on the type of closing motion system, firing motion system configuration, and articulation system configuration used in the surgical tool assembly. Accordingly, it may be configured to generate an axial control movement and / or a rotation control movement. In one configuration, when the handle assembly or the closing motion control system in the robotic system is fully activated, one of the components of the closing motion system control (e.g., including a closed tube assembly as described above). May move axially from a non-actuated position to a fully activated position. The axial distance that the closure tube assembly travels between the inactive position and the fully activated position may be referred to herein as "closing stroke length." Similarly, when the firing system within the handle assembly or robotic system is fully activated, one of the firing system control components (e.g., having a longitudinally movable drive member as described above). Good) moves axially from a non-actuated position to a fully actuated or fired position. The axial distance that the longitudinally movable drive member moves between the inactive position and the fully fired position may be referred to herein as "firing stroke length". In a surgical tool assembly that uses an articulatable end effector configuration, the handle assembly or robotic system may use an articulation control component that moves axially over an "articulation drive stroke length." In many situations, the closing stroke length, firing stroke length, and articulation drive stroke length are fixed for a particular handle assembly or robotic system. Here, each of the surgical tool assemblies can be closed, fired over their respective stroke lengths without undue stress on the surgical tool components, which can result in damage or catastrophic failure of the surgical tool assembly. And / or containment of controlled movements of the joint components.

  Referring now to FIGS. 4-10, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 includes a surgical end effector 1100, which includes an elongated channel 1102, wherein the elongated channel 1102 has a staple cartridge 1110 therein. It is constituted so that it may be operably supported. End effector 1100 may further include an anvil 1130 pivotally supported with respect to elongate channel 1102. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 may further include an articulation 1200 and an articulation lock 1210 (see FIGS. 5 and 8-10), although the articulation 1200 and the articulation lock 1210 may be any desired relative to the shaft axis SA. The end effector 1100 can be configured to be releasably held in the articulated position. Regarding the configuration and operation of the articulation lock 1210, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 803,086, entitled "ARTICULABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION LOCK", the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Thus, it can be explained in detail in the literature currently published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541. Regarding joint locks, see also U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 15 / 019,196, filed February 9, 2016, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ARTICULATION MECHANISM WITH SLOTTED SECONDARY," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. CONSTRAIN ". As seen in FIG. 7, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 includes a proximal housing or nozzle 1300 composed of nozzle portions 1302, 1304, as well as snaps, projections, and screws on the assembled nozzle portions 1302, 1304. And an actuator wheel 1306 configured to be connected by such as. The interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 may further include a closure tube assembly 1400 that may be utilized to close and / or open the anvil 1130 of the end effector 1100, as discussed in further detail below. Referring now primarily to FIGS. 8 and 9, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 can include a spine assembly 1500 that can be configured to support an articulation lock 1210. In the configuration shown, spine assembly 1500 includes an "elastic" spine member or "elastic" frame member 1510, described in further detail below. The distal end 1522 of the elastic spine member 1510 is attached to the distal frame segment 1560, which operably supports the articulation lock 1210 therein. As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, spine assembly 1500 is configured to (1) slidably support firing member assembly 1600 and (2) extend around spine assembly 1500. Configured to slidably support the closing tube assembly 1400. Spine assembly 1500 can also be configured to slidably support proximal joint drive 1700.

  As seen in FIG. 10, the distal frame segment 1560 is pivotally connected to the elongate channel 1102 by an end effector mounting assembly 1230. In one configuration, for example, the distal end 1562 of the distal frame segment 1560 has a pivot pin 1564 formed thereon. The pivot pin 1564 is adapted to be pivotally received in a pivot hole 1234 formed in a pivot base 1232 of the end effector mounting assembly 1230. The end effector mounting assembly 1230 is attached to the proximal end 1103 of the elongate channel 1102 by a spring pin 1105 or other suitable member. Pivot pin 1564 defines an articulation axis BB transverse to shaft axis SA. Please refer to FIG. Such a configuration facilitates pivotal movement (i.e., articulation) of the end effector 1100 about the articulation axis BB relative to the spine assembly 1500.

  Still referring to FIG. 10, in the illustrated embodiment, the joint drive 1700 has a distal end 1702 configured to operably engage with the joint lock 1210. The articulation lock 1210 includes an articulation frame 1212 adapted to operably engage a drive pin 1238 on a pivot base 1232 of the end effector mounting assembly 1230. In addition, a cross link 1237 may be coupled to the drive pin 1238 and the joint frame 1212 to assist in articulating the end effector 1100. As mentioned above, the operation of the articulation lock 1210 and articulation frame 1212 may be further described in the literature published under U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 803,086, now U.S. Pat. . Regarding end effector mounting assemblies and cross links, U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,245, filed February 9, 2016, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH," filed February 9, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION ARRANGEMENTS ". In various situations, the elastic spine member 1510 has a proximal end 1514 that is rotatably supported within the chassis 1800. In one configuration, for example, the proximal end 1514 of the elastic spine member 1510 is formed above for screw mounting to a spine bearing (not shown) configured to be supported within the chassis 1800. It has a thread 1516. With this configuration, the elastic spine member 1510 can be easily rotatably attached to the chassis 1800, and the spine assembly 1500 can be selectively rotated around the shaft axis SA with respect to the chassis 1800.

  Referring now primarily to FIG. 7, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 includes a closure shuttle 1420 that is slidably supported within the chassis 1800 and moves axially relative to the chassis 1800. I can do it. In one form, the closure shuttle 1420 includes a pair of proximally projecting hooks 1421 configured to attach to the attachment pin 516, wherein the attachment pin 516 includes a closure linkage assembly 514 of the handle assembly 500 as described above. Attached to. Proximal end 1412 of proximal closure tube segment 1410 is coupled to closure shuttle 1420 for rotation relative to closure shuttle 1420. For example, a U-shaped connector 1424 is inserted into an annular slot 1414 at the proximal end 1412 of the proximal occlusion tube segment 1410 and retained within a vertical slot 1422 of the occlusion shuttle 1420. Please refer to FIG. With such a configuration, the proximal closure tube segment 1410 is attached to the closure shuttle 1420 so that both move axially, while the closure tube assembly 1400 moves relative to the closure shuttle 1420 about the shaft axis SA. It becomes rotatable. A closure spring (not shown) is journaled on the proximal end 1412 of the proximal closure tube segment 1410, and serves to bias the closure tube assembly 1400 in the proximal direction PD. This may serve to pivot the closure trigger 512 on the handle assembly 500 (see FIG. 3) to an inactive position when the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 is operably coupled to the handle assembly 500. .

  As described above, the illustrated interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 includes an articulation 1200. However, other interchangeable surgical tool assemblies need not be articulatable. As seen in FIG. 10, upper tongue 1415 and lower tongue 1416 project distally from the distal end of proximal occlusion tube segment 1410 to provide distal closure of end effector occlusion sleeve or occlusion tube assembly 1400. It is movably connected to tube segment 1430. As seen in FIG. 10, distal closure tube segment 1430 includes an upper tongue 1434 and a lower tongue 1436 projecting proximally from its proximal end. The upper double pivot link 1220 includes a proximal pin and a distal pin, the proximal and distal pins being respectively upper tangs 1415 and 1434 of the proximal obturator segment 1410 and the distal obturator segment 1430. With the corresponding holes in the inside. Similarly, the lower dual pivot link 1222 includes a proximal pin and a distal pin, the proximal pin and the distal pin being the lower tongue of the proximal obturator segment 1410 and the distal obturator segment 1430, respectively. Engage corresponding holes in 1416 and 1436. As discussed in further detail below, axial and distal movement of the closure tube assembly 1400 causes the anvil 1130 to close and open relative to the elongate channel 1102.

  As described above, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 further includes a firing member assembly 1600 that is supported for axial movement within the spine assembly 1500. In the illustrated embodiment, firing member assembly 1600 includes a distal cutting portion or intermediate firing shaft portion 1602 configured to be attached to knife bar 1610. The firing member assembly 1600 may also be referred to herein as a “second shaft” and / or “second shaft assembly”. As seen in FIGS. 7-10, the intermediate firing shaft portion 1602 may include a longitudinal slot 1604 at its distal end, the longitudinal slot 1604 being a tab (not shown) at the proximal end of the knife bar 1610. Can be configured to receive The longitudinal slot 1604 and the proximal end of the knife bar 1610 can be sized and configured to allow relative movement therebetween, and can form a slip joint 1612. The slip joint 1612 can allow the intermediate firing shaft portion 1602 of the firing member assembly 1600 to move and articulate the end effector 1100 without moving, or at least substantially moving, the knife bar 1610. . Once the end effector 1100 is properly oriented, advance the intermediate firing shaft portion 1602 distally until the proximal side wall of the longitudinal slot 1604 contacts the tab on the knife bar 1610, and advance the knife bar 1610; A staple cartridge located within the channel 1102 can fire. As further shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the elastic spine member 1520 has an elongated opening or window 1525 therein, the elongated opening or window 1525 assembling the intermediate firing shaft portion 1602. And facilitate insertion of the intermediate firing shaft portion 1602 into the elastic spine member 1520. Once intermediate firing shaft portion 1602 is inserted, top frame segment 1527 may engage resilient spine member 1520 to encapsulate intermediate firing shaft portion 1602 and knife bar 1610 therein. The operation of firing member assembly 1600 can be further described in detail in US patent application Ser. No. 13 / 803,086, now published as US Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541.

  Additionally, in addition to the above, the interchangeable tool assembly 1000 may include a clutch assembly 1620, which may be configured to selectively and releasably couple the articulation drive 1800 to the firing member assembly 1600. it can. In one form, the clutch assembly 1620 includes a locking collar or lock sleeve 1622 disposed about the firing member assembly 1600, which lock sleeve 1622 couples the articulation drive 1700 to the firing member assembly 1600. The articulation drive 1700 can rotate between an engaged position and a disengaged position where the articulation drive 1700 is not operably connected to the firing member assembly 1600. When the locking sleeve 1622 is in the engaged position, the movement of the firing member assembly 1600 in the distal direction can cause the articulation drive 1700 to move in the distal direction, as well as causing the firing member assembly 1600 to move proximally. Moving in the direction allows the joint drive 1700 to move in the proximal direction. When the lock sleeve 1622 is in the disengaged position, if the firing member assembly 1600 moves, the movement is not transmitted to the joint drive 1700, so that the firing member assembly 1600 is independent of the joint drive 1700. Can be moved. In various situations, when the joint drive 1700 is not moved proximally or distally by the firing member assembly 1600, the joint drive 1700 can be held in place by the joint lock 1210.

  Referring primarily to FIG. 7, the locking sleeve 1622 can include a cylindrical or at least substantially cylindrical body that includes a longitudinal opening 1624 defined therein and includes a longitudinal opening 1624. The directional opening 1624 is configured to receive the firing member assembly 1600. The locking sleeve 1622 may include diametrically opposed locking protrusions 1626 and 1628, each facing inward, and a locking member 1629 facing outward. Lock protrusions 1626 and 1628 may be configured to selectively engage an intermediate firing shaft portion 1602 of firing member assembly 1600. More specifically, when lock sleeve 1622 is in its engaged position, lock protrusions 1626 and 1628 are located within drive notch 1605 defined within intermediate firing shaft portion 1602, and thus are distally positioned. Pushing and / or proximally pulling forces can be transmitted from firing member assembly 1600 to locking sleeve 1622. When the locking sleeve 1622 is in its engaged position, the second locking member 1629 is received in a drive notch 1704 defined in the articulation drive 1700, thereby applying a distal direction to the locking sleeve 1622. The pushing force and / or the pulling force in the proximal direction can be transmitted to the joint drive 1700. In effect, when the locking sleeve 1622 is in the engaged position, the firing member assembly 1600, the locking sleeve 1622, and the joint drive 1700 move together. On the other hand, when the lock sleeve 1622 is in the disengaged position, the lock protrusions 1626 and 1628 cannot be located within the drive notch 1605 of the intermediate firing shaft portion 1602 of the firing member assembly 1600, resulting in a remote Displacement and / or proximal pulling forces cannot be transmitted from firing member assembly 1600 to locking sleeve 1622. Correspondingly, a distal pushing force and / or a proximal pulling force cannot be transmitted to the joint drive 1700. Under such circumstances, the firing member assembly 1600 may be slid proximally and / or distally with respect to the locking sleeve 1622 and the proximal joint drive 1700. Clutch assembly 1620 further includes a switch drum 1630 that interfaces with locking sleeve 1622. Further details regarding the operation of the switch drum and lock sleeve 1622 are found in U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,086, currently published U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541, and U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,196. Issue. Switch drum 1630 can further include at least partially circumferential openings 1632 and 1634 defined therein, with openings 1632 and 1634 extending from nozzle halves 1302 and 1304. A circumferential mounting seat 1305 may be received to allow relative rotation between switch drum 1630 and proximal nozzle 1300 but not translation. Please refer to FIG. However, when the nozzle 1300 is rotated until the mounting seat reaches the end of the respective slot 1632 and 1634 in the switch drum 1630, the switch drum 1630 will rotate about the shaft axis SA. When switch drum 1630 rotates, lock sleeve 1622 will eventually move between its engaged and disengaged positions. Thus, in essence, the nozzles 1300 are U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 803,086, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which is now published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541. For operatively engaging and disengaging the articulation and firing drive systems in various manners, as described in more detail in US patent application Ser. No. 15 / 019,196. May be used.

  In the configuration shown, switch drum 1630 includes an L-shaped slot 1636 that extends into a distal opening 1637 in switch drum 1630. The distal opening 1637 receives the lateral pin 1639 of the shifter plate 1638. In one example, the shifter plate 1638 is received in a longitudinal slot (not shown) provided in the lock sleeve 1622 so that when the lock sleeve 1622 is engaged with the articulation drive 1700, the lock sleeve 1622 is Make it easy to move to. Further details regarding the operation of the shifter plate and shift drum mechanism are described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 868,718, filed September 28, 2015, entitled "SURGICAL," STAPLING INSTRUMENT WITH SHAFT RELEASE, POWERED FIRING AND POWERED ARTICULATION ".

  As also shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the interchangeable tool assembly 1000 conducts power to and / or communicates signals to and from the end effector 1100, for example, a handle assembly or A slip ring assembly 1640 can be provided that can be configured to return a signal to a microprocessor in the robot system controller. Slip ring assembly 1640 and associated connectors are further disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,086, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263541, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. , US patent application Ser. No. 15 / 019,196, and US patent application Ser. Can be explained in detail in the literature. As described in further detail in the aforementioned patent applications incorporated herein by reference, the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 also includes at least a switch configured to detect the position of the switch drum 1630. One sensor may also be provided.

  Referring again to FIG. 7, the chassis 1800 includes at least one, and preferably two, tapered mounting portions 1802 formed on the chassis 1800, wherein the tapered mounting portions 1802 include, as described above, a handle assembly. 500 is formed in the distal end of the frame 506 and is adapted to be received in a corresponding dovetail slot 507 above. As further illustrated in FIG. 7, a shaft mounting lug 1605 is formed at the proximal end of the intermediate firing shaft 1602. As will be described in greater detail below, when the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 is connected to the handle assembly 500, the shaft mounting lug 1605 is mounted on the firing shaft mounting cradle 542 formed at the distal end of the longitudinal drive member 540. Accepted. Please refer to FIG.

  Various interchangeable surgical tool assemblies use a latch system 1810 to removably couple the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 to the frame 506 of the handle assembly 500. As can be seen from FIG. 7, for example, in at least one form, the latch system 1810 includes a locking member or lock yoke 1812 movably coupled to the chassis 1800. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the lock yoke 1812 has a U-shape with two spaced apart, downwardly extending legs 1814. Each of the legs 1814 is formed with a pivot lug (not shown) formed in the chassis 1800 and adapted to be received in a corresponding hole 1816. With this configuration, it is easy to pivotally attach the lock yoke 1812 to the chassis 1800. Lock yoke 1812 may include two proximally projecting lock lugs 1818 that releasably engage with corresponding lock detents or grooves 509 at the distal end of frame 506 of handle assembly 500. Are configured to match. Please refer to FIG. In various forms, the lock yoke 1812 is biased proximally by a spring or biasing member 1819. Lock yoke 1812 may be actuated by a latch button 1820 slidably mounted on a latch actuator assembly 1822 mounted on chassis 1800. Latch button 1820 may be biased proximally relative to lock yoke 1812. Lock yoke 1812 may be moved to the unlocked position by biasing latch button 1820 in a distal direction, which also causes lock yoke 1812 to pivot to the distal end of frame 506 and to the distal end of frame 506. Is disengaged from the holding engagement. When locking yoke 1812 is in “retaining engagement” with the distal end of frame 506, locking lug 1818 is retained and fits within a corresponding locking detent or groove 509 at the distal end of frame 506. .

  In the configuration shown, the locking yoke 1812 includes at least one, and preferably two, locking hooks 1824, such that the locking hooks 1824 contact corresponding locking lug portions 1426 formed on the closure shuttle 1420. Have been adapted. When the closure shuttle 1420 is in the inoperative position, the locking yoke 1812 can be pivoted distally to unlock the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 from the handle assembly 500. In that position, the locking hook 1824 does not contact the locking lug portion 1426 on the closure shuttle 1420. However, when the closure shuttle 1420 is moved to the operative position, the lock yoke 1812 is prevented from pivoting to the unlocked position. In other words, if the clinician attempts to pivot lock yoke 1812 to the unlocked position, or, for example, such that lock yoke 1812 may otherwise pivot distally, If something inadvertently strikes or touches the lock yoke 1812, the lock hook 1824 on the lock yoke 1812 contacts the lock lug 1426 on the closure shuttle 1420, causing the lock yoke 1812 to move to the unlocked position. To prevent.

  Still referring to FIG. 10, the knife bar 1610 may include a stacked beam structure including at least two beam layers. Such beam layers may include, for example, stainless steel bands, which are welded to each other at their proximal ends and / or elsewhere in their longitudinal direction, for example. Or interconnected by pinning. In an alternative embodiment, the distal ends of the bands are not connected to each other, allowing the laminate or band to spread significantly relative to each other when the end effector is articulating. Such a configuration allows the knife bar 1610 to have sufficient flexibility to accommodate articulation of the end effector. Various laminated knife bar configurations are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,245. As also seen in FIG. 10, a central support member 1614 is used to provide lateral support to the knife bar 1610 as the knife bar 1610 flexes to accommodate the articulation of the surgical end effector 1100. . Further details regarding the central support member and alternative knife bar support configurations are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,245. As also seen in FIG. 10, a firing member or knife member 1620 is attached to the distal end of knife bar 1610.

  FIG. 11 illustrates one form of a firing member 1660 that can be used with the interchangeable tool assembly 1000. In one exemplary form, firing member 1660 includes a body portion 1662, which includes a proximally extending connector member 1663, which is at a distal end of knife bar 1610. , Are configured to be received within a correspondingly shaped connector opening 1614. Please refer to FIG. Connector 1663 may be retained within connector opening 1614 by frictional forces and / or by welding or a suitable adhesive or the like. The body portion 1662 projects through an elongated slot 1104 in the elongated channel 1102 and terminates in a laterally extending foot member 1664 on both sides of the body portion 1662. As firing member 1660 is driven distally through surgical staple cartridge 1110, foot member 1664 rides within passage 1105 in an elongated channel 1102 located below surgical staple cartridge 1110. As seen in FIG. 11, one form of the firing member 1660 may further include a laterally projecting central tab, pin, or retention mechanism 1680. As firing member 1660 is driven distally through surgical staple cartridge 1110, center retention mechanism 1680 rides on inner surface 1106 of elongate channel 1102. The body portion 1662 of the firing member 1660 further includes a tissue cutting edge or feature 1666 disposed between a distally projecting hook mechanism 1665 and a distally projecting upper nose portion 1670. . As further seen in FIG. 11, firing member 1660 may further include two laterally extending upper tabs, pins, or anvil engagement features 1665. As the firing member 1660 is driven distally, the top of the body 1662 extends through the centrally-located anvil slot 1138 and the upper anvil engagement mechanism 1672 connects both sides of the anvil slot 1134 Ride on the corresponding ledge 1136 formed at the bottom. Please refer to FIG. 13 and FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 10, the firing member 1660 is configured to operably interface with a sled assembly 1120 operably supported within the body 1111 of the surgical staple cartridge 1110. Sled assembly 1120 is slidable within surgical staple cartridge body 1111 from a proximal starting position adjacent proximal end 1112 of cartridge body 1111 to an end position adjacent distal end 1113 of cartridge body 1111. It can be displaced. The cartridge body 1111 operably supports therein a plurality of staple driving units (not shown) aligned with the rows on both sides of the centrally disposed slot 1114. The centrally located slot 1114 allows the firing member 1660 to pass through the slot, and thereby cut tissue clamped between the anvil 1130 and the staple cartridge 1110. The drives are associated with respective pockets 1116 that open through the upper deck surface 1115 of the cartridge body. Each of the staple drives supports one or more surgical staples or fasteners (not shown) thereon. The sled assembly 1120 includes a plurality of angled or wedge-shaped cams 1122, each cam 1122 corresponding to a particular row of fasteners or drives located on one side of the slot 1114. In the illustrated example, one cam 1122 is aligned with a row of “double” drives, each drive supporting two staples or fasteners thereon, while another cam 1122 is a slot Aligned with another row of "single" drives on the same side of 1114, each drive operably supports a single surgical staple or fastener, respectively. Thus, in the illustrated example, when the surgical staple cartridge 1110 is "fired", there will be three rows of staples on each outer side of the tissue cutting line. However, other staple / fastener configurations can be fired using other cartridge and driver configurations. Sled assembly 1120 has a central body portion 1124 configured to be engaged by hook portion 1665 of firing member 1660. Thus, when firing member 1660 is fired or driven in a distal direction, firing member 1660 also drives sled assembly 1120 in a distal direction. As the firing member 1660 moves distally through the cartridge 1110, a tissue cutting mechanism 1666 cuts tissue clamped between the anvil assembly 1130 and the cartridge 1110, and the sled assembly 1120 moves the drive to the cartridge. Within and drive the corresponding staple or fastener into forming contact with the anvil assembly 1130.

  In embodiments where the firing member includes a tissue cutting surface, if the unused staple cartridge is not properly supported within the elongated channel 1102 of the surgical end effector 1100, the firing member may be prevented from accidentally advancing. In some manner, it may be desirable for the elongate shaft assembly to be configured. For example, if there is no staple cartridge and the firing member is advanced distally through the end effector, the tissue is cut but not stapled. Similarly, if a used staple cartridge (ie, a staple cartridge in which at least some of the staples have already been fired) is present at the end effector and the firing member is advanced, the tissue will be cut, Stapling may not be complete, if at all. It will be appreciated that the occurrence of such a phenomenon can lead to undesirable and worst-case results during surgery. U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,649, title of the invention "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUGING SPACE INFORMATION PRODUCT INFORMATION WORKING SPACE INFORMATION CONFIGURATION And U.S. Patent No. 7,380,695; title of invention "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A SINGLE LOCKOUT MECHANISM FOR PREVENTION OF FIRING"; and U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,933; AL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING FIRING SYSTEM ACTUATION WHEN A CARTRIDGE IS SPENT OR MISSING " Each of these documents is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

  As used herein, when cartridge 1110 is "unfired," "unused," "new," or "new," cartridge 1110 has all of its fasteners in a "ready to fire position." Means that. When in that position, the sled assembly 1120 is in its starting position. The new cartridge 1110 may be retained within the elongate channel 1102 by a snap mechanism on the cartridge body configured to seat within the elongate channel 1102 and to engage a corresponding portion of the elongate channel 1102. 15 and 18 show a portion of a surgical end effector 1100 with a new or unfired surgical staple cartridge 1110 seated therein. As can be seen from these figures, the sled assembly 1120 is in the starting position. To prevent the firing system from activating until an unfired or new surgical staple cartridge is properly seated in the elongated channel 1102, or more precisely, the firing member 1660 is moved distally through the end effector 1110. To avoid being driven in the lateral direction, the illustrated interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 uses a firing member lockout system generally designated 1650.

  Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 15-19, in one form, the firing member lockout system 1650 includes a movable lock member 1652, wherein the surgical staple cartridge 1110 has a movable staple cartridge 1110 within the elongated channel 1102. When not properly seated, it is configured to retain and engage firing member 1660. The locking member 1652 includes at least one locking portion 1654 that moves laterally, and the locking portion 1654 retains a corresponding portion of the firing member when the sled assembly 1120 is not present in the cartridge 1110 in its starting position. It is constituted so that it may engage. In the configuration shown, the locking member 1652 uses two laterally moving locking portions 1654, each locking portion 1654 engaging a laterally extending portion of the firing member 1660.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the locking member 1652 comprises a generally U-shaped spring member, each laterally movable leg or each locking portion 1654 extending from the central spring portion 1653, and FIGS. It is configured to move in the horizontal direction, which is represented by “L” in FIG. It will be understood that the term "lateral" refers to a direction transverse to the shaft axis SA. The spring or locking member 1652 can be made from high strength spring steel or a similar material. The central spring portion 1653 may seat in a slot 1236 in the end effector mounting assembly 1230. Please refer to FIG. As seen in FIGS. 15-17, each of the laterally movable legs or locking portions 1654 has a distal end 1656 having a locking window 1658 therein. When the locking member 1652 is in the locked position, the lateral lateral center retention features 1680 extend into the corresponding locking window 1658 to allow the firing member to advance axially and distally. Prevent retention.

  The operation of the firing member lockout system will be described with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 15 and 18 show a portion of a surgical end effector 1100 with a new unfired cartridge 1110 properly mounted therein. As seen in these figures, the sled assembly 1120 includes an unlocking mechanism 1126 corresponding to each of the laterally movable locking portions 1654. In the illustrated configuration, an unlocking mechanism 1126 is provided on or extends proximally from each of the central wedge cams 1122. In an alternative configuration, the unlocking mechanism 1126 may include a proximally projecting portion of the corresponding wedge cam 1122. As seen in FIG. 18, when the sled assembly 1120 is in its starting position, the unlock mechanism 1124 engages the corresponding locking portion 1654 and traverses the corresponding locking portion in a direction transverse to the shaft axis SA. Energize. When the locking portions 1654 are in their unlocked orientation, the central retention mechanisms 1680 are not in retaining engagement with their corresponding locking windows 1658. When in these orientations, the firing member 1660 can be advanced (fired) distally in the axial direction. However, if the cartridge is not in the elongated channel 1102, or if the sled assembly has been moved from its starting position (meaning that the cartridge is partially or completely fired), the locking portion 1654 will be And engages with the firing member 1660. When in the position as shown in FIG. 19, the firing member 1660 cannot move distally.

  16 and 17 show the retraction of the firing member 1660 as it returns to the starting position after firing the cartridge 1110 and driving the sled assembly 1120 distally. FIG. 16 shows the initial re-engagement of the retaining mechanism 1680 with the corresponding lock window 1658. FIG. 17 shows the holding mechanism in the locked position when the firing member 1660 is fully retracted to its starting position. To assist in lateral displacement of the locking portions 1654, when the locking portions 1654 are each initially contacted by the proximally moving retaining mechanisms 1680, each of the retaining mechanisms 1680 faces proximally; It may be provided with a laterally tapered end. Such a lockout system prevents actuation of firing member 1660 when no new unfired cartridge is present or when a new unfired cartridge is present but is not properly seated in elongate channel 1102. In addition, the lockout system prevents a clinician from advancing the firing member distally when a used or partially fired cartridge is unintentionally but properly seated in the elongate channel. I can do it. Another advantage that can be provided by the lockout system 1650 is that other firing member locks that require the firing member to move into and out of alignment with the corresponding slot / passage in the staple cartridge. Unlike the out configuration, the firing member 1660 may remain aligned with the cartridge passage while in the locked and unlocked positions. The locking portions 1654 are designed to move laterally to engage and disengage on respective sides of the firing member. This lateral movement of one or more locking portions is distinguishable from other locking configurations that move vertically to engage and disengage portions of the firing member.

  Referring again to FIGS. 13 and 14, in one form, anvil 1130 includes an elongated anvil body portion 1132 and a proximal anvil attachment 1150. The elongate anvil body portion 1132 includes an outer surface 1134, which defines two downwardly extending tissue stop members 1136 adjacent the proximal anvil attachment 1150. Elongated anvil body portion 1132 also includes a lower surface 1135 that defines an elongated anvil slot 1138. In the exemplary configuration shown in FIG. 14, anvil slot 1138 is centrally located within lower surface 1135. The lower surface 1135 includes three rows 1140, 1141, 1142 of staple forming pockets 1143, 1144 and 1145 located on both sides of the anvil slot 1138. Adjacent to both sides of the anvil slot 1138 are two elongated anvil passages 1146. Each passage 1146 has a proximally sloped portion 1148. Please refer to FIG. As firing member 1660 advances distally, upper anvil engagement mechanism 1632 first enters corresponding proximal ramp portion 1148 and enters corresponding elongated anvil passageway 1146.

  Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, anvil slot 1138 and proximally sloped portion 1148 extend into anvil mounting 1150. In other words, the anvil slot 1138 divides or branches the anvil mounting portion 1150 into two anvil mounting flanges 1151. The anvil mounting flanges 1151 are joined together at their proximal ends by connecting bridges 1153. The connecting bridge 1153 serves to provide support to the anvil mounting flange 1151 and provides a more rigid condition for the anvil mounting 1150 than mounting portions of other anvil structures where the anvil mounting flange is not connected at the proximal end. Can function as if As also seen in FIGS. 12 and 14, anvil slot 1138 has an upper portion of firing member 1660 and a widened portion 1139 for receiving upper anvil engagement mechanism 1632.

  As seen in FIGS. 13 and 20-24, each of the anvil mounting flanges 1151 includes a lateral mounting hole 1156 and is configured to receive a pivot pin 1158 therethrough (FIGS. 10 and 20). . Anvil attachment 1150 is pivotally pinned to a proximal end 1103 of elongate channel 1102 by a pivot pin 1158, which includes a mounting hole 1107 and an anvil at a proximal end 1103 of elongate channel 1102. It extends through a mounting hole 1156 in the mounting 1150. Such a configuration helps to pivotally attach the anvil 1130 to the elongate channel 1102 for selective pivoting about a fixed anvil axis AA across the shaft axis SA. Please refer to FIG. The anvil mount 1150 also includes a cam surface 1152 that extends from the centrally located firing member stop area 1154 to the outer surface 1134 of the anvil body portion 1132.

  In the configuration shown, anvil 1130 is moved between an open position and a closed position by axially advancing and retracting distal closure tube segment 1430. As discussed in further detail below, the distal end portion of distal closure tube segment 1430 has an inner cam surface formed thereon, which inner cam surface is formed on anvil attachment 1150. It is configured for cam engagement with one or more cam surfaces 1552. FIG. 22 shows a cam surface 1152a formed on the anvil attachment 1150, for example, to establish a single contact path 1155a with the inner cam surface 1444 on the distal closure tube segment 1430. FIG. 23 illustrates a distal end of the distal closure tube segment 1430 between the cam surface 1152 on the anvil attachment 1150 and the inner cam surface 1444 on the distal closure tube segment 1430 so as to establish two separate and separate arcuate contact paths 1155b. Shown is a cam surface 1152b configured against an inner cam surface 1444 on the proximal closure tube segment. In addition to the other potential advantages discussed herein, such a configuration may serve to better distribute the closing force from the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 to the anvil 1130. FIG. 24 illustrates distal closure tube segment 1430 so as to establish three different contact zones 1155c and 1155d between the cam surface on anvil attachment 1150 and the cam surface on distal closure tube segment 1430. Shows a cam surface 1152c configured for the internal cam surface 1444 of FIG. Zones 1155c, 1155d establish a greater area of cam contact between one or more cam surfaces on distal closure tube segment 1430 and the cam surface on anvil attachment 1150 and close to anvil 1130 It can serve to better distribute the force.

  As the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 cams into the anvil attachment 1150 of the anvil 1130, the anvil 1130 is pivoted about the anvil axis AA, so that the distal end 1133 of the elongated anvil body portion 1132 is remote. The distal end pivots toward the surgical staple cartridge 1110 and the distal end 1105 of the elongate channel 1102. As the anvil body portion 1132 begins to pivot, the anvil body portion 1132 is the tissue to be cut and stapled, at which point the lower surface 1135 of the elongated anvil body portion 1132 and the deck 1116 of the surgical staple cartridge 1110 are in contact. Contact with tissue located between. As the anvil body portion 1132 is pressed onto the tissue, the anvil 1130 may experience a significant amount of resistance. These forces are overcome as distal closure tube 1430 continues to advance in its distal direction. However, depending on the magnitude of their resistance to the anvil body portion 1132 and the point at which it is applied, these resistances may have a tendency to cause some portions of the anvil 1130 to bend, which is generally the case. It may be undesirable. For example, such bending may cause a misalignment between the firing member 1660 and the passageways 1148, 1146 in the anvil 1130. If the bend is excessive, such a bend may significantly increase the magnitude of the firing force required to perform the firing of the instrument (i.e., the firing member 1660 may be in its starting position). To the end position through the tissue). Such excessive firing force can result in damage to the end effector, and / or the firing member, and / or the knife bar, and / or the firing drive system components. Accordingly, it may be advantageous for the anvil to be configured to resist such bending.

  25-27 illustrate an alternative anvil embodiment that includes features that may improve the stiffness of the anvil body and the resistance of the anvil body to bending forces that may be generated during the closing and / or firing processes. . The anvil 1130 'may have the same structure as the previously described anvil 1130 except for the differences described herein. As seen in these figures, anvil 1130 'has an elongated anvil body 1132' having an upper body portion 1165, and the upper body portion has an anvil cap 1170 attached thereto. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 25-27, the anvil cap 1170 is substantially rectangular in shape and has a cap periphery 1172. The outer periphery 1172 of the anvil cap 1170 is inserted through a correspondingly shaped opening 1137 formed in the upper body portion 1165 and extends in an axially extending inner shelf portion 1139 formed inside the upper body portion 1165. It is configured to be received on. See FIG. The inner shelf portion 1139 is configured to support a corresponding long side 1177 of the anvil cap 1170. In an alternative embodiment, the anvil cap 1170 may slide over the inner shelf portion 1139 through an opening (not shown) provided at the distal end 1133 of the anvil body 1132 '. In yet another embodiment, no internal shelf portion is provided. Anvil body 1132 'and anvil cap 1170 may be made from any suitable metal having the necessary conductivity for welding. The first weld 1178 may extend around the entire cap circumference 1172 of the anvil cap 1170, or may be located only along the long side 1177 of the anvil cap 1170 and the distal end 1173 of the anvil cap 1170. And / or may not be located at the proximal end 1175. The first weld 1178 may be continuous, or may be discontinuous or intermittent. In embodiments where the first weld 1178 is discontinuous or intermittent, the weld segments may be evenly distributed along the long side 1177 of the anvil cap 1170 or the weld segment may be It may be more closely spaced proximate the distal end, or may be more closely spaced proximate the proximal end of the long side 1177. In still other configurations, the weld segments may be more closely spaced in the central region of the long side 1177 of the anvil cap 1170.

  28-30 illustrate an anvil cap 1170 'configured to be "mechanically coupled" to an anvil body 1132' and welded to an upper body portion 1165. In this embodiment, a plurality of retention features 1182 are formed in the wall 1180 of the upper body portion 1165 that defines the opening 1137. As used in this context, the term “mechanically linked” refers to an anvil, regardless of the orientation of the elongated anvil body, and without any additional holding or fastening means such as, for example, welding and / or adhesive. It means that the cap remains fixed on the elongated anvil body. The holding formation 1182 may project inward from the opening wall 1180 into the opening 1137. The retaining formation 1182 may be integrally formed with the wall 1180, or may otherwise be attached to the wall 1180. The retaining formation 1182 frictionally engages with a corresponding portion of the anvil cap 1170 'when the anvil cap 1170' is mounted in the opening 1137 and the anvil cap 1170 'is retained in the opening 1127 by friction. Designed to be. In the illustrated embodiment, the retention formation 1182 projects inwardly into the opening 1137 and frictionally fits into a correspondingly shaped engagement area 1184 formed on the outer circumference 1172 'of the anvil cap 1170'. Is configured to be accepted by the In the configuration shown, the retention feature 1182 corresponds to only the long side 1177 'of the anvil cap 1170' and is provided on the portion of the wall 1180 corresponding to the distal end 1173 or the proximal end 1175 of the anvil cap 1170 '. I can't. In an alternative configuration, the retaining formation 1182 also corresponds to the distal end 1173 and the proximal end 1175 of the anvil cap 1170 ', in addition to the portion of the wall 1180 corresponding to the long side 1177' of the anvil cap 1170 '. A portion of wall 1180 may also be provided. In still other configurations, the retention formation 1182 may be provided only on portions of the wall 1180 corresponding to one or both of the distal end 1173 and the proximal end 1175 of the anvil cap 1170 '. In still other configurations, the retaining formation 1182 includes a portion of the wall 1180 corresponding to the long side 1177 'and a portion of the wall 1180 corresponding to only one of the proximal end 1175 and the distal end 1173 of the anvil cap 1170'. Parts. It will further be appreciated that the retaining projections in all of the foregoing embodiments may alternatively be formed on the anvil cap with the engagement area formed within the elongated anvil body.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 28-30, the retention features 1182 are evenly spaced or evenly distributed along a wall portion 1180 corresponding to the long side 1177 'of the anvil cap 1170'. In alternative embodiments, the retention features 1182 may be more closely spaced proximate the distal end of the long side 1177 ', or more closely proximate the proximal end of the long side 1177'. They may be spaced apart. In other words, the spacing between these retention features adjacent to the distal end, the spacing between these retention features adjacent to the proximal end, or their retention adjacent both the distal and proximal ends The spacing between the features may be smaller than the spacing between features located in the central portion of the anvil cap 1170 '. In still other configurations, the retaining features 1182 may be more closely spaced within the central region of the long side 1177 'of the anvil cap 1170'. Also, in alternative embodiments, a correspondingly shaped engagement area 1184 may not be provided on the outer circumference 1172 'of the anvil cap 1170' or on a portion of the outer circumference 1172 'of the anvil cap 1170'. In other embodiments, the retaining features and correspondingly shaped engagement regions may have different shapes and sizes. In an alternative configuration, the retention feature may be sized relative to the engagement area such that no interference fit occurs with the engagement area. In such a configuration, the anvil cap may be held in place by welding, adhesive, or the like.

  In the illustrated example, the weld 1178 'may extend around the entire circumference 1172' of the anvil cap 1170 ', or the weld 1178' may extend along the long side 1177 'of the anvil cap 1170'. And may not be located at its distal end 1173 and / or proximal end 1175. The weld 1178 'may be continuous or discontinuous or intermittent. In embodiments where the weld 1178 'is discontinuous or intermittent, the weld segments may be evenly distributed along the long side 1177' of the anvil cap 1170 'or the weld segment may be It may be more closely spaced near the distal end, or more closely spaced near the proximal end of long side 1177 '. In still other configurations, the weld segments may be more closely spaced in the central region of the long side 1177 'of the anvil cap 1170'.

  Figures 31 and 32 show another anvil configuration 1130 "with an anvil cap 1170" attached. In the illustrated embodiment, the anvil cap 1170 "is substantially rectangular in shape and has a cap circumference 1172". The cap circumference 1172 "is inserted through a correspondingly shaped opening 1137" in the upper body portion 1165 of the anvil body 1132 "and over an axially extending inner shelf portion 1139" and 1190 "formed therein. See Figure 32. Shelf portions 1139 "and 1190" are configured to support corresponding long sides 1177 "of anvil cap 1170". In an embodiment, the anvil cap 1170 "can be slid onto the inner shelf portions 1139" and 1190 "through an opening (not shown) provided at the distal end 1133" of the anvil body 1132 '. 1132 "and anvil cap 1170" may be made from a metallic material having the necessary conductivity for welding. 78 "may extend around the entire circumference 1172" of the anvil cap 1170 ", or may be located only along the long side 1177" of the anvil cap 1170 "and the distal end 1173 of the anvil cap 1170". And / or may not be located at the proximal end (not shown). The weld 1178 ″ may be continuous, or discontinuous or intermittent. A continuous weld embodiment may be straight, such as an anvil cap shown in FIG. It will be appreciated that the irregularly shaped perimeter of the anvil cap 1170 "has more weld surface area as compared to embodiments having an outer perimeter of the anvil. In embodiments where the weld 1178 ″ is discontinuous or intermittent, the weld segments may be evenly distributed along the long side 1177 ″ of the anvil cap 1170 ″, or the weld segment may have a long side 1177 ″. It may be more closely spaced near the distal end, or more closely spaced near the proximal end of the long side 1177 ". In still other configurations, the weld segments may be The anvil cap 1170 "may be more closely spaced in the central region of the long side 1177".

  Still referring to FIGS. 31 and 32, the anvil cap 1170 "may be additionally welded to the anvil body 1132" by a plurality of second "deep" individual welds 1192 ". For example, each weld 1192 "may be located at the bottom of a corresponding hole or opening 1194" provided through the anvil cap 1170 ", such that the individual weld 1192" is a shelf portion 1190 ". And 1139 "between the anvil body 1132". See FIG. 32. The weld 1192 "is evenly distributed along the long side 1177" of the anvil cap 1170 ". Or the welds 1192 "may be more closely spaced near the distal end of the long side 1177", or more closely spaced near the proximal end of the long side 1177 ". In still other configurations, the welds 1192 "may be more closely spaced in the central region of the long side 1177" of the anvil cap 1170 ".

  FIG. 33 shows another anvil cap 1170 ″ ″ mechanically connected to the anvil body 1132 ″ ″ and configured to be welded to the upper body portion 1165. In this embodiment, a "tongue-and-groove" configuration is used along each long side 1177 "" of the anvil cap 1170 "". Specifically, a continuous or intermittent tab 1195 "" extending laterally protrudes from each of the long sides 1177 "" of the anvil cap 1170 "". Each tab 1195 "" corresponds to an axial slot 1197 "" formed in the anvil body 1132 "". An anvil cap 1170 "" has an opening at the distal end of the anvil body 1132 "". (Not shown), the anvil cap is “mechanically” secured to the anvil body 1132 ′ ″. Tabs 1195 "" and slots 1197 "" may be sized relative to each other to establish a sliding friction fit therebetween. In addition, anvil cap 1170 "" may be welded to anvil body 1132 "". The anvil body 1132 "" and the anvil cap 1170 "" may be made from a metal having the conductivity required for welding. The weld 1178 '' 'may extend around the entire circumference 1172' '' of the anvil cap 1170 '' 'or may be located only along the long side 1177' '' of the anvil cap 1170 '' '. May be done. The weld 1178 "" may be continuous or discontinuous or intermittent. In embodiments where the weld 1178 '' 'is discontinuous or intermittent, the weld segments may be evenly distributed along the long side 1177' '' of the anvil cap 1170 '' 'or , May be more closely spaced proximate the distal end of the long side 1177 ′ ″, or may be more closely spaced proximate the proximal end of the long side 1177 ′ ″. In still other configurations, the weld segments may be more closely spaced in the central region of the long side 1177 "" of the anvil cap 1170 "".

  The embodiments of an anvil with an anvil cap described herein may provide several advantages. For example, one advantage may be that the anvil and firing member assembly process may be easier. That is, the firing member may be installed through the opening in the anvil body while the anvil is attached to the elongate channel. Another advantage is that the top cap can improve the stiffness and resistance of the anvil to the aforementioned bending forces that can be experienced when clamping tissue. By resisting such bending, the frictional forces normally encountered by firing member 1660 may be reduced. Thus, the amount of firing force required to drive the firing member from its start position to the end position within the surgical staple may also be reduced.

  As described above, as the anvil 1130 begins to pivot, the anvil body 1132 is disposed between the underside of the elongated anvil body 1132 and the deck of the surgical staple cartridge 1110 and contacts tissue to be cut and stapled. . As the anvil body 1132 is pressed onto the tissue, the anvil 1130 may experience a significant amount of resistance. In order to continue the closing process, these resistive forces must be overcome by the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 as the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 comes into camming contact with the anvil attachment 1150. These resistive forces may generally be applied to the distal obturator segment 1430 in the vertical direction V, and if these forces are excessive, may cause the distal obturator segment 1430 to expand or extend vertically. (The distance ID in FIG. 31 can be increased). If the distal occlusion tube 1430 extends vertically, the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 may effectively close the anvil 1130 and may not be able to hold the anvil 1130 in a fully closed position. If that condition occurs, firing member 1660 may encounter dramatically higher resistance, such that a higher firing force is required to advance the firing member distally.

  34 and 35 illustrate one form of a closure member for applying a closure movement to a movable jaw of a surgical instrument. In the configuration shown, the closure member includes, for example, a distal closure tube segment 1430 having a closure body portion 1470. As described above, one form of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 is configured to facilitate selective articulation of the surgical end effector 1100. To facilitate such articulation, the distal closure tube segment 1430 is proximally closed by an upper tang 1434 and a lower tang 1436 and an upper double pivot link 1220 and a lower double pivot link 1222. It is movably connected to tube segment 1410. Please refer to FIG. In one configuration, the distal closure tube segment 1430 may be machined or otherwise formed, for example, from a round bar material made from a suitable metallic material. In the configuration shown, the closure body 1470 has an outer surface 1431 and an inner surface 1433, the inner surface 1433 having an upper wall portion 1440 having an upper wall cross section thickness UWT and a lower wall cross section thickness LWT. The lower wall portion 1442 to be determined. The upper wall portion 1440 is located above the shaft axis SA, and the lower wall portion 1442 is located below the shaft axis SA. The distal end 1441 of the upper wall portion 1440 has an internal cam surface 1444 formed thereon at a cam angle Θ. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the UWT is larger than the LWT (ie, UWT> LWT), which means that if the distal obturator segment has a uniform wall thickness, then UWT> LWT It serves to provide a longer inner cam surface 1444 than can be obtained. A long internal cam surface may be advantageous for transmitting a closing force to one or more cam surfaces on anvil attachment 1150. As also seen in FIGS. 34 and 35, transition sidewalls 1446 and 1448 located on both sides of shaft axis SA between upper wall portion 1440 and lower wall portion 1442 extend generally flat and vertically. With inner sidewall surfaces 1451 and 1453, inner sidewall surfaces 1451 and 1453 may be generally parallel to one another. Transition sidewalls 1446 and 1448 each have a wall thickness that transitions from an upper wall thickness to a lower wall thickness.

  In the configuration shown, the distal closure tube segment 1430 also includes a positive jaw or anvil opening mechanism 1462 corresponding to and projecting inwardly from each of the sidewalls 1446 and 1448. As seen in FIGS. 34 and 35, the anvil opening mechanism 1462 is formed on a lateral mounting body 1460 that transitions adjacent the distal end 1438 of the distal closure tube segment 1430. Sized to be received in correspondingly shaped cavities 1447 and 1449 machined or otherwise formed in sidewalls 1446 and 1448. Positive anvil opening mechanism 1462 extends inward through corresponding openings 1450 and 1452 in transition sidewalls 1446 and 1448. In the configuration shown, the lateral mounting body 1460 is welded to the distal closure tube segment 1430 at a weld 1454. In addition to or instead of a weld, the lateral mounting body 1460 may be held in place using a mechanical / friction fit, tongue-and-groove, adhesive or the like.

  36-41 illustrate one example of the use of the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 to move the anvil 1130 from a fully closed position to a fully open position. FIGS. 36 and 39 illustrate the position of the distal occlusion tube segment 1430, more specifically, one of the positive anvil opening mechanisms 1462 when the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 is in the fully closed position. Indicates the position. In the example shown, an anvil opening ramp 1162 is formed on the lower surface of each anvil mounting flange 1151. When the anvil 1130 and the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 are in the fully closed position shown in FIG. 36, each of the positive anvil opening mechanisms 1462 is established between the anvil opening ramp 1162 and the bottom of the elongated channel 1102. Located within the cavity 1164. When in the above position, positive anvil opening mechanism 1462 does not contact anvil mounting portion 1150 or at least does not apply significant opening movement or opening force thereto. FIGS. 37 and 40 show the position of anvil 1130 and distal obturator segment 1430 when a proximal PD opening motion is first applied to distal obturator segment 1430. As seen in FIG. 37, positive jaw opening mechanism 1462 first contacts anvil opening ramp 1164 to initiate pivoting of anvil 1130 to the open position. In the illustrated configuration, each of the positive anvil opening mechanisms 1462 has a beveled or rounded distal end 1463 to facilitate better cam contact with the corresponding anvil opening ramp 1162. In FIGS. 38 and 41, the distal closure tube segment 1430 has been retracted to the fully retracted position, which drives the positive anvil opening mechanism 1462 to the distal end of the anvil opening ramp 1162. , Thereby pivoting the anvil 1130 to its fully open position as shown in the figure. Other embodiments may not use a positive jaw opening mechanism, but bias the anvil to the open position when the distal occlusion tube segment is retracted to its most proximal start position. To this end, it may rely on a spring or other biasing configuration.

  42 and 43 show another closure member for applying a closure movement to the movable jaw of the surgical instrument. In this example, the closure member comprises a distal closure tube segment 1430 ', which has no positive anvil opening mechanism and is similar to the distal closure tube segment 1430. obtain. The distal closure tube segment 1430 'has a closure body 1470', the closure body 1470 'has an outer surface 1440' and an inner surface 1433 ', and the outer surface 1440' and the inner surface 1433 'are A wall portion 1440 'and a lower wall portion 1442' are defined. As noted above, it may be desirable to use the largest possible internal cam surface 1444 'to maximize cam contact with the cam surface on the anvil attachment 1150 and thereby effectively transmit the closing force. is there. Thus, the upper wall portion 1440 'of the distal occlusion tube segment 1430' may be provided with the thickest wall thickness UWT, and the lower portion of the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 'has the thinnest wall thickness LWT. May be. For reference purposes, the UWT and LWT are measured along a common axis extending through the central axis or point C of the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 '. Thus, if the UWT is diametrically opposed to the LWT, then UWT> LWT. Such a wall thickness configuration facilitates the formation of a longer internal cam surface 1444 '.

As seen in FIG. 43, the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 'has an outer surface 1431' having a circular cross-sectional shape. The distal closure tube segment 1430 'may be machined from a solid rod material. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner radius R ₁ from the first central axis A _inner extends to the inner surface 1433 ′ and the outer radius R ₂ from the second central axis A _outer is the outer surface R _2. 1431 '. In the illustrated embodiment, the axis A _inner is offset from the axis A _outer by a distance OR, and R ₂ > R ₁ .

  FIG. 44 shows another closure member for applying a closure movement to the movable jaw of the surgical instrument. In this embodiment, the closure member comprises a distal closure tube segment 1430 "having a closure body 1470". The closure body 1470 "has an outer surface 1431 'and an inner surface 1433', the outer surface 1431 'and the inner surface 1433' have an upper wall portion 1440" having an upper wall thickness UWT, and a lower wall thickness LWT. And two side wall portions 1435 'each having a side wall thickness SWT. In the illustrated embodiment, UWT> LWT. Also, SWT> UWT. SWT> UWT> LWT In the illustrated configuration, the plurality of sidewall portions 1435 ′ have the same sidewall thickness SWT.In other configurations, the plurality of sidewall portions 1435 ′ have different thicknesses, respectively. 44, each sidewall portion 1435 'defines an interior surface portion 1437' that extends vertically therein.In the illustrated embodiment, the sidewall portions 1435 'extend vertically. Such thicker vertical sidewall portions 1435 'prevent or at least minimize the distal obturator segment 1430 "from extending vertically during use. Can help you.

In the example shown in FIG. 45, R ₁ and R ₂ are measured from a common center point or center axis C, and R ₁ > R ₂ . Each of the side wall portions 1435 "of the closure body portion 1470""of the distal closure tube segment 1430""extending between the upper portions 1431" and 1433 "includes a UWT at a point along the horizontal reference line HR. The horizontal reference line HR extends through the central axis C and is perpendicular to a vertical reference line VR along which UWT and LWT can be measured and compared. Thus, SWT = UWT In another embodiment, SWT may be slightly smaller than UWT as measured along horizontal reference line HR, which has a lower wall with sidewall portion 1435 'constant. It may continue to decrease until it transitions to a lower portion 1433 'having a thickness LWT. Thus, the pair of inner sidewalls 1437 "are perpendicular to the horizontal reference axis HR and parallel to the vertical reference axis VR. When measured from the vertical reference axis VR 'that extends at an angle A _2.

  FIG. 46 shows another closure member for applying a closure movement to the movable jaw of the surgical instrument. In this embodiment, the closure member includes a distal closure tube segment 1430 "having a closure body 1470" having a rounded outer surface 1431 "and a rectangular shaped internal passage 1439 extending through the member. The outer surface 1431 ″ is located at a distance R from the geometric center point or center axis C. When measured along a center point or vertical reference axis VR extending through the center axis C as shown, the upper wall thickness UWT is equal to the lower wall thickness LWT. When measured along a horizontal reference axis HR, which extends through the center point or center axis C and is perpendicular to the vertical reference axis VR, the thickness SWT of the sidewall portion 1437 "is equal to the upper wall thickness UWT and the lower wall thickness. The SWT is larger than the UWT and the LWT, in other words, the portion of the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 ″ that is located above the horizontal reference line HR is below the horizontal reference line HR. FIG. 27 is a mirror image of a portion of the located distal occlusion tube segment 1430 ″. In this embodiment, the sides 1437 ″ are thicker than the upper and lower wall portions and the distal occlusion tube segment is vertically elongated. There may be a tendency to prevent or minimize the tendency to become. An inner cam surface may be formed on the distal end of upper wall portion 1440 ".

  In the configuration shown, anvil 1130 is moved between an open position and a closed position by advancing distal closure tube segment 1430 distally. As seen in FIG. 41, when the anvil 1130 is in the fully open position, the distal end 1163 of the anvil mounting flange 1151 may extend above the deck surface 1116 of the staple cartridge 1110. When the closing process is initiated by advancing the distal closure tube segment in the distal direction DD, the distal end 1163 of the anvil mounting flange 1151 extends beyond the deck surface 1116 of the staple cartridge 1110 and This prevents tissue from intervening, which can interfere with the closing process. See FIG. When the anvil 1130 is moved to the fully closed position by the distal occlusion tube segment 1430, the distal end 1461 of the lateral attachment body on the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 may prevent tissue from penetrating. Also acts as a tissue stop. See FIG.

FIG. 47 illustrates a portion of a surgical end effector 110 'that may be similar to the surgical end effector 110 of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 100 of FIGS. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 47, anvil 114 includes an elongated body portion 190 and an anvil attachment 192. Anvil mounting portion 192 includes two spaced apart anvil mounting flanges 194 projecting proximally from elongated body portion 190. Each anvil mounting flange 194 has an outwardly extending trunnion 196 thereon. Each trunnion 196 is movably received in a corresponding kidney-shaped slot or elongated arcuate trunnion slot 197 provided in elongate channel 112. When the anvil 114 is in the “fully open” position, the trunnion 196 is generally located at the bottom 198 of the elongated arcuate trunnion slot 197. The anvil 114 can be moved to the closed position by advancing the distal obturator segment 142 in the distal direction DD so that the end 148 of the distal obturator segment 142 is moved to the anvil 114 of the anvil 114. It rides on a cam surface 193 formed on the mounting portion 192. As the distal end 148 of the distal closure tube segment 142 advances distally along the cam surface 193 on the anvil attachment 192, the distal closure tube segment 142 pivots the body portion 190 of the anvil 114. And moved axially relative to the surgical staple cartridge 116. When the distal occlusion tube segment 142 reaches the end of its closing stroke, the distal end 148 of the distal occlusion tube segment 142 abuts / contacts the raised anvil shelf portion 191 and is below the body portion 190. It serves to position the anvil 114 so that the side forming pocket (not shown) is properly aligned with the staples in the cartridge. Anvil shelf portion 191 is defined between cam surface 193 on anvil mounting portion 192 and elongated anvil body portion 190. In other words, in this configuration, the cam surface 193 does not extend to the outermost surface 195 of the anvil body 190. After the distal occlusion tube 142 reaches this fully extended position, any further closing movement / closing force applied to the anvil 114 may cause damage to the anvil and / or the closing system components. In this configuration, as seen in Figure 47, the closing force F _H is parallel to the shaft axis SA. Distance from the axis or plane T _A passes through the center of the trunnion 196 to a closed force vector F _H is expressed as the distance X _R. When multiplying this distance _{X R} and the closing force _{F H,} represents the closing moment _{C M} exerted on the anvil 114.

FIGS. 48 and 49 illustrate the closure force configuration of the interchangeable tool assembly 1000 with respect to the anvil 1130 of the surgical end effector 1100. As described above, anvil trunnion 1158 is pivotally mounted within hole 1154 of elongate channel 1102. Unlike the anvil 114, the anvil 1130 does not move in the axial direction. Instead, the anvil 1130 is constrained to only pivot about the anvil axis AA. As the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 advances in the distal direction DD under a horizontal occlusion force F _H1 , between the inner cam surface 1444 on the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 and the cam surface 1152 on the anvil attachment 1150 result of the interaction, the distal closure tube segment 1430 will be subject to closure force vertical component V _F. The resulting force vector F _N experienced by the cam surface 1152 on the anvil attachment 1150 is “perpendicular” to the inner cam surface 1444, ie, orthogonal to the inner cam surface 1444. The angle Θ shown in FIGS. 48 and 49 represents the angle between the cam surface 1152 and the inner cam surface 1440 with the horizontal plane. The distance between the axis or plane T _A extends through the center of the resulting force vector F _N and the anvil trunnion 1158 is represented as a moment arm M _A. Multiplying this moment arm distance M _A by the obtained force vector F _N represents the closing moment C _M1 applied to the anvil 1130. Therefore, in applications where the horizontal closing force F _H = F _H1 , M _A > X _{R and} , therefore, the closing moment applied to the anvil 1130 is greater than the closing moment applied to the anvil 114, and thus the addition to the anvil 1130 The actual amount of closing torque applied will be greater than the amount of closing torque applied to anvil 114. FIG. 49 also shows the resistance established by the tissue during the closure process. F _T represents the force produced by the tissue when the tissue is clamped between the anvil and the staple cartridge. Is applied to the anvil 1130 the "counter" moment _{M T} is the tissue force _{T F,} the distance _{X T} between the axis or plane _{T A} extends through the center of the anvil trunnions 1158, the power of the organization _{T F} Equal to multiply. Therefore, in order to achieve the anvil closure desired amount, C _M1 must be greater than M _T.

  Returning to the example shown in FIG. 47, the firing bar 170 is attached to the firing member 174, which, when in its starting or unfired position, is located within the elongated channel 112, and more specifically, It can be seen that the position is completely distal to the distal occlusion tube segment 142, ie, the top 175 of the firing member 174 is in contact with a portion of the anvil 114. In such a configuration, the anvil 114 may be completely or fully removed as the firing member 174 is positioned such that the upper portion 175 of the firing member 174 can contact the anvil as the anvil 114 moves to the closed position. A higher closing force may be required to move to the closed position. Additionally, if the firing system is activated, higher firing forces may be required to overcome frictional interference between the upper portion 175 of the firing member 174 and the anvil 114. Conversely, as seen in FIG. 48, within the end effector 1100, the firing member 1660 is "stopped" in a firing member stop region 1154 within the distal occlusion tube segment 1430. If the firing member 1660 is located within the firing member stop region 1154 within the distal closure tube segment 1430, a significant amount of friction between the firing member 1660 and the anvil cannot be generated. Thus, one of the benefits that can be achieved by stopping firing member 1660 completely within distal closure tube segment 1430 is a reduction in the amount of closing force required to close the anvil to the fully closed position, and And / or a reduction in the amount of firing force required to advance the firing member from a start position to an end position within the end effector. Stated another way, the firing member 1660 is completely proximal to the distal end of the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 and the inner cam surface 1444 thereon, and the firing member Stopping the firing member 1660 such that it is in a starting position where any frictional contact therebetween is eliminated or reduced, ultimately requires the necessary closing and firing forces generated for operation of the end effector to be reduced. Can be smaller.

  As mentioned above, excessive bending of the anvil during the closing and firing process may require an undesirably higher firing force. Therefore, a more rigid anvil configuration is generally desirable. Returning to FIGS. 20 and 21, another advantage that may be provided by the illustrated anvil 1130 and elongate channel 1102 is that the anvil attachment 1150 of the anvil 1130 is generally more rigid, so that other anvils and elongate channels may be provided. Is higher in rigidity than the configuration of the above. FIG. 50 illustrates the use of a reinforcing gusset 199 between the anvil mounting flange 194 and the elongated anvil body portion 190. A similar gusset configuration can be used between the anvil mounting flange 1151 of the anvil 1130 and the anvil body 1132 to further enhance the anvil stiffness.

As described above, the interchangeable surgical tool 1000 includes an elastic spine member 1520. As seen in FIGS. 6, 7, 7A, 8, and 51-54, the distal end 1522 of the elastic spine member 1520 is moved by a telescopic mechanism 1530 formed on the elastic spine member 1520. Separated from the proximal end 1524 of the. In addition, the telescoping restriction insert 1540 is held and supported between the distal end 1522 and the proximal end 1524. In various configurations, the elastic spine members 1520 may be made, for example, of a suitable polymeric material, rubber, etc., but they have a modulus of elasticity indicated by ME ₁ for reference purposes. The telescoping mechanism 1530 may include a plurality of telescoping cavities 1532. As seen in FIG. 7A, the illustrated telescoping mechanism 1530 includes four triangular shaped telescopic cavities 1532, with some of the telescopic cavities 1532 between them. Arranged to define a flexible wall segment 1534. Other shapes and numbers for the elastic cavities 1532 may be used. The elastic cavity 1532 may be formed, for example, by molding or machining the elastic spine member 1520.

Still 6, 7, and referring to FIG. 51 to 54, stretch restriction insert 1540 has an elastic modulus represented by ME ₂ for reference purposes, it comprises a body portion 1541. As seen in FIG. 6, body portion 1541 includes two downwardly extending mounting lugs 1542, each configured to seat within a mounting cavity 1535 formed in resilient spine member 1520. See also FIG. 7A. The body portion 1541 in the illustrated configuration is provided with a plurality of upper cavities 1543 to provide a desired amount of stretch capability and elasticity to the stretch restricting insert 1540. The illustrated embodiment includes four upper cavities 1543 that are relatively square or rectangular in shape and spaced apart to define a flexible wall 1544 therebetween. Other embodiments may include other numbers and shapes of upper cavities. The body portion 1541 of the illustrated telescoping restriction insert 1540 also includes a centrally located, downwardly projecting central lug portion 1545, which is seated within a central cavity 1536 above the telescoping mechanism 1530. Is configured. See FIG. 7A. In the illustrated embodiment, the central lug portions 1545 include a pair of central passages 1546 extending laterally therethrough, with a flexible wall 1547 defined between the pair of central passages 1546. I have.

Also, in the illustrated example, the telescoping restriction insert 1540 includes elongated lateral cavities 1548 disposed on each lateral side of the body portion 1541. Only one side cavity 1548 may be shown in FIGS. 6 and 51-54. Each elongated side cavity 1548 is configured to support a corresponding telescopic limiter 1550 therein. Thus, in the described embodiment, two telescoping limiters 1550 are used in telescoping limiting inserts 1540. In at least one configuration, the telescopic limiter 1550 includes an elongated body portion 1552 that terminates at each end with a downwardly extending mounting lug 1554. Each mounting lug 1554 is received in a corresponding lug cavity 1549 formed in body portion 1541. Stretch limiter can have a modulus of elasticity represented by ME ₃ for reference purposes. In at least one configuration, ME ₃ <ME ₂ <ME ₁ .

The operation of the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 when operatively attached to the handle assembly 500 will now be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 51 shows the anvil assembly 1130 in the open position. As can be seen in this figure, the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 is in its starting or inactive position, and the positive anvil opening mechanism 1462 has pivoted the anvil 1130 to the open position. In addition, the firing member 1660 is in the inactive or start position, and the upper portion, including the upper nose portion 1630, is stopped within the firing member stop area 1154 of the anvil attachment 1150. When the interchangeable tool assembly 1000 is in this non-actuated state, the telescoping restriction insert 1540 is in an unstretched state. The axial length of the expansion-constraining insert 1540 when in the unexpanded state is represented by the symbol _Lus in FIG. _Lus is the distance between a reference axis A corresponding to the proximal end of the body portion 1541 of the telescoping limit insert 1540 and a reference axis B corresponding to the distal end of the body portion 1541, as shown in FIG. Represents The axis labeled F corresponds to the location of the distal end of the staple cartridge 1110 properly seated in the elongated channel 1102. It will be appreciated that when the tool assembly 1000 is in this non-activated state, the elastic spine member 1520 is in a relaxed, unexpanded state.

FIG. 52 shows the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 after the closure drive system 510 has been activated and the distal closure tube segment 1430 has been driven in the distal direction DD as described above. As the distal obturator segment 1430 moves distally, the cam surface 1444 on the distal end 1441 of the upper wall portion 1440 of the distal obturator segment 1430 becomes in contact with the cam surface 1152 on the anvil attachment 1150. Cam contact causes the anvil 1130 to pivot to the illustrated closed position. The closure drive system 510 moves the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 over the entire closure stroke distance and then stops, and the distal occlusion tube segment is axially locked by the occlusion drive system 510. Or otherwise held axially in that position. When the distal obturator segment 1430 contacts the anvil attachment 1150, the closing force created by the distal advancement of the distal obturator segment 1430 on the anvil 1130 also causes the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102 to move axially. To advance in the distal direction DD. The telescoping mechanism 1530 in the elastic spine 1520 begins to telescope to accommodate this distal advancement of the elongate channel 1102 and anvil 1130. The axis B shown in FIG. 52 is the reference axis of the expansion-constraining insert 1540 in the relaxed state or the unexpanded state. Axis C corresponds to the end of telescoping restriction insert 1540 after telescoping restriction insert 1540 has been telescoped to its maximum length. The distance L _s represents the maximum amount or length stretch limiting insert 1540 may be stretched. Axis G corresponds to the position of the distal end of surgical staple cartridge 1110 after anvil 1130 has been moved to its "first" closed position. Distance L _T between the reference axis F and G, during operation of the closure drive system 510, representing an elongated axial distance channel 1102 and anvil 1130 is moved. This distance _{L T,} during closure process, stretch restriction insert 1540 may be equal to the stretching distance _{L S} by expansion and contraction limiting insert 1540 is limited by the stretch limiter 1550.

  Referring back to FIG. 51, it can be noted that there is a space S between each mounting lug 1554 of the telescopic limiter 1550 and the respective inner wall 1551 of the lug cavity 1549 before the start of the closing process. As can be seen in FIG. 52, the space S disappears. That is, each mounting lug 1554 abuts a corresponding cavity wall 1549 in the telescoping limit insert 1540. Accordingly, the telescoping limiter 1550 serves to limit the amount of elongation received by the telescoping restricting insert 1540, which in turn causes the elongate channel 1102 and distal movement of the anvil 1130 relative to the proximal end 1524 of the elastic spine 1520. Limit the amount. Distal closure tube 1430 is locked in place axially by closure drive system 510. When the anvil 1130 is in that position, the anvil 1130 is held in a “first” closed position relative to the surgical staple cartridge 1110. Since firing drive system 530 has not yet been activated, firing member 1660 has not moved and remains stopped within firing member stop area 1154. The position of the lower surface of the anvil 1130 when in the "first" closed position is represented by the axis K in FIGS.

  FIG. 53 shows the position of firing member 1660 after firing drive system 530 has been initially activated. As can be seen in this figure, the firing member 1660 has advanced distally out of the firing member stop area 1154. The upper portion of firing member 1660, and more specifically, each of the upper anvil engagement features 1672, enters a proximally inclined portion 1138 of a corresponding axial passage 1146 in anvil 1130. At this point in the process, the anvil 1130 may be under substantial bending stress caused by tissue clamped between the underside of the anvil 1130 and the deck of the staple cartridge 1110. This bending stress, as well as the frictional resistance between the various portions of the firing member and the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102, may cause the elongate channel 1102 and the distal closure during the initial distal advancement of the firing member 1660. Serves to essentially hold the tube segment in a static state. During this period, the amount of force required to fire the firing member 1660, or, in other words, pushing the firing member 1660 distally through tissue clamped between the anvil 1130 and the cartridge 1110. The amount of force needed to increase. See line 1480 in FIG. Also during this period, the telescoping restriction insert attempts to retract elongate channel 1102 and anvil 1130 in the proximal direction PD and into distal obturator segment 1430. When the amount of friction between firing member 1660 and anvil 1130 and elongate channel 1102 is less than the retraction force generated by telescoping restricting insert 1540, telescoping restricting insert 1540 causes elongate channel 1102 and anvil 1130 to move distally. It will be retracted further proximally into occlusion tube segment 1430. The position of the distal end 1113 of the staple cartridge 1110 after the elongate channel 1102 and the anvil 1130 have moved in the proximal direction PD is represented as position H in FIG. The axial distance the elongate channel 1102 and anvil 1130 have moved in the proximal direction PD is represented in FIG. The proximal movement of the anvil 1130 and the elongate channel 1102 into the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 results in the distal occlusion tube segment 1430 exerting an additional closing force on the anvil 1130. Line M in FIG. 54 represents the “second” closed position of the anvil 1130. The distance between position K and position M, expressed as distance N, includes the vertical distance that distal end 1133 of anvil body 1132 moves between the first and second closed positions.

  When the anvil 1130 is in the second closed position and additional closing force is applied to the anvil 1130 by the distal occlusion tube segment 1430, the closing force is clamped between the anvil 1130 and the cartridge 1110. Resist the amount of bending force applied to the anvil 1130 by the tissue. Such a condition may result in better alignment between the passage in the anvil body 1130 and the firing member 1660, but this will ultimately cause the firing member 1660 to move distally through the end effector 1100. As one continues to advance, the amount of frictional resistance experienced by firing member 1660 can be reduced. Thus, the amount of firing force required to advance the firing member through the remainder of its firing stroke to the end position can be reduced. This reduction in firing force can be seen in the chart of FIG. The chart shown in FIG. 55 compares the firing force (energy) required to cause the firing member to perform a firing operation from the start to the end of the firing process. Line 1480 represents the amount of firing force required to move firing member 1660 from its start position to its end position when end effector 1100 is clamping tissue therein. Line 1482 represents the amount of firing force required to move the firing member, for example, using the interchangeable surgical tool assembly 1000 described above. Line 1482 represents the firing force required to move firing member 174 from its start to end position through tissue clamped in end effector 110 or 110 '. As can be seen from this chart, the firing force required by both surgical tool assemblies 100, 1000 will cause the elastic spine assembly 1510 of the interchangeable tool assembly 1000 to apply a second amount of closing force to the anvil. Up to point 1484, they are substantially the same or very similar. As seen in the chart of FIG. 55, when the anvil 1130 receives a second amount of closing force (point 1484), the amount of closing force required to complete the firing process is determined by the amount of closing force in the tool assembly 100. Less than the amount of closing force required to complete the process.

  FIG. 56 compares the amount of firing load required to move the firing members of various surgical end effectors from a start position (0.0) to an end position (1.0). The vertical axis represents the amount of the firing load, and the horizontal axis represents the distance that the firing member moves between the start position (0.0) and the end position (1.0) as a percentage. Line 1490 indicates, for example, the firing force required to fire the firing member of surgical tool assembly 100 or a similar tool assembly. Line 1492 is, for example, U.S. Pat. To fire a firing member of a surgical tool assembly employing various firing member improvements and configurations, which may be disclosed in the other aforementioned U.S. patent applications, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Indicates the required firing force. Line 1494 is necessary to fire the firing member of the surgical tool assembly from its starting position to its ending position using at least some of the features and configurations disclosed herein to reinforce the anvil. High firing force. Line 1496 is necessary to fire a surgical tool assembly employing, for example, an elastic spine configuration and employing at least some of the features and configurations disclosed herein to reinforce the anvil. Indicates the firing force. As seen in that figure, a surgical tool assembly employing an elastic spine configuration and at least some of the anvil reinforced configurations disclosed herein have much lower force versus firing requirements.

  Example 1 A surgical end effector with a first jaw configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge that operably supports a cam assembly therein. The cam assembly is axially movable through the surgical staple cartridge and ejects surgical staples from the surgical staple cartridge when the cam assembly is moved from the unfired position to the fired position. The firing member axially moves within the surgical staple cartridge between a start position proximal to the surgical staple cartridge and an end position within the staple cartridge when the firing and retracting motions are applied. Supported to move. A lockout system is supported within the surgical end effector and is laterally biased to laterally engage the firing member when the firing member is in the starting position, thereby retaining the firing member in the starting position. . The lockout system contacts the cam assembly of the surgical staple cartridge seated within the first jaw and is laterally biased to provide lateral retention when the surgical staple cartridge cam assembly is in the unfired position. It is configured to be disengaged.

  Example 2: The firing member comprises a body portion with a lateral side, and the lockout system comprises a lockout member with at least one laterally moving locking portion, wherein when the firing member is in the starting position, The surgical end effector of example 1, wherein the surgical end effector is configured to laterally retain and engage a corresponding one of the lateral sides of the body portion.

  Example 3: The surgical end effector of Example 2, wherein the lockout member comprises a spring with two laterally moving locking portions.

  Example 4: a first retaining mechanism in which a firing member projects laterally from a first lateral side of the lateral side of the body portion, and a second lateral direction of the lateral side of the body portion. A second retaining mechanism projecting laterally from the side, wherein the two laterally moving locking portions are configured to retainably engage the first retaining mechanism. A second laterally moving lock arm comprising a first laterally movable locking arm comprising a first end and a second distally end configured to retainably engage the second retaining mechanism. The surgical end effector of Example 3 comprising:

  Example 5: A first distal end includes a first locking window configured to retentively receive at least a portion of a first retention mechanism therein, and a second distal end includes: The surgical end effector of example 4, comprising a second locking window configured to hold at least a portion of the second locking mechanism therein.

  Example 6: further comprising a second jaw supported adjacent to the first jaw, wherein applying an opening motion and a closing motion to at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw. Examples 1 and 2, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is selectively movable with respect to the other of the first jaw and the second jaw. 3, 4, or 5 surgical end effectors.

  Example 7: The surgical end effector of Example 6, wherein the second jaw comprises an anvil.

  Example 8: The surgical end effector of Example 7, wherein the anvil comprises an anvil body having an axial slot therein for allowing a portion of the firing member to pass axially therethrough. The anvil body further includes an axial passage on each side of the axial slot.

  Example 9: A foot configured to slidably pass through a corresponding passage in a first jaw and a foot extending laterally from a top of a firing member body and an anvil body. And a laterally extending anvil engagement mechanism configured to pass through a corresponding one of the axial passages in the first and second axial passages, the first and second engagement mechanisms including a foot and a foot. The surgical end effector of Example 8 positioned between the anvil engagement mechanism.

  Example 10: A surgical stapling instrument with an elongate shaft defining a shaft axis. An elongate channel is operably connected to the elongate shaft. The stapling instrument further comprises a surgical staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body configured to removably seat within the elongate channel. A cam assembly is supported within the cartridge body and is axially movable through the cartridge body from an unfired position to a fired position. The surgical stapling instrument may also be configured such that when firing and retraction movements are applied, the surgical stapling cartridge may be moved between a start position proximal to the surgical staple cartridge and an end position within the surgical staple cartridge. And a firing member that is supported so as to move in the axial direction. A lockout system is supported within the surgical stapling instrument and is laterally biased to laterally engage the firing member when the firing member is in the starting position, thereby retaining the firing member in the starting position. I do. The lockout system is configured such that when the cam assembly is in contact with the cam assembly when the cam assembly is in the unfired position, the cam assembly is laterally biased out of the lateral retention engagement.

  Example 11: The surgical stapling instrument of Example 10, wherein the firing member comprises a firing member body having two lateral sides. The firing member body includes a tissue cutting mechanism. A lockout system includes a lockout member that includes at least one lock portion that is laterally movable across a shaft axis. The at least one locking portion is configured to laterally engage a corresponding one of the lateral sides of the firing member body portion when the firing member is in the starting position.

  Example 12: The lockout member comprises a U-shaped spring having a central spring portion, wherein at least one lock portion extends from the central spring portion and corresponds to one of the lateral sides of the firing member body. 12. The surgical stapling instrument of example 11, comprising one movable locking portion. A second movable locking portion extends from the central spring portion and corresponds to the other of the lateral sides of the firing member body.

  Example 13: The surgical stapling instrument of Example 12, wherein the firing member further comprises a first retaining mechanism that projects laterally from a first one of the lateral sides of the firing member body portion. The second retaining mechanism projects laterally from a second lateral side of the lateral sides of the firing member body portion, and the first movable lock portion retains and engages the first retaining mechanism. A first distal end configured and the second movable locking portion includes a second distal end configured to retain and engage a second retaining mechanism.

  Example 14: A first distal end includes a first locking window configured to retentively receive at least a portion of a first retention mechanism therein, and a second distal end includes: 14. The surgical stapling instrument of example 13, including a second locking window configured to retentively receive at least a portion of the second locking mechanism therein.

  Example 15: The cam assembly includes at least one unlocking mechanism configured to laterally bias the lockout system out of the lateral retention engagement when the cam assembly is in the unfired position. The surgical stapling instrument of Examples 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 comprising:

  Example 16: A cam assembly is configured to laterally bias a first distal end out of a retaining engagement with a first retaining mechanism when the cam assembly is in an unfired position. 14. The surgical stapling instrument of embodiment 13, comprising a first unlocking mechanism. The second unlocking mechanism is configured to laterally bias the second distal end out of a retaining engagement with the second retaining mechanism when the cam assembly is in the unfired position. I have.

  Example 17: A surgical end effector comprising a first jaw configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein. The firing member moves axially within the surgical staple cartridge between a start position proximal to the surgical staple cartridge and an end position within the staple cartridge when the firing and retraction movements are applied. It is supported to be. The surgical end effector further includes means for holding the firing member in the starting position unless an unfired surgical staple cartridge having a cam assembly therein in the unfired position is seated within the first jaw. Upon application of a firing motion to the firing member, the cam assembly laterally urges the means for retaining out of retaining engagement with the firing member, thereby causing the firing member to move the surgical staple cartridge. To advance axially therethrough.

  Example 18: When the surgical end effector defines a central axis and the means for retaining is biased out of the retaining engagement by the cam assembly, the means for retaining is at least transverse to the central axis. The surgical end effector of example 17, wherein the surgical end effector moves laterally relative to the firing member in one direction.

  Example 19: The surgical end effector of Example 18, wherein the firing member comprises two lateral sides and the means for retaining engage features on both lateral sides of the firing member.

  Example 20: When the firing member is in the starting position and until it contacts the cam assembly to urge the first and second retaining portions in opposite lateral directions and disengage the retaining member from the firing member. 20. The surgical end effector of embodiment 19, wherein the first and second retaining portions are biased into engagement with a corresponding one of the lateral sides of the firing member.

  Example 21: Anvil for a surgical stapler. The anvil comprises an elongated anvil body having an upper body portion and a staple forming lower surface. The anvil further comprises an anvil attachment adjacent the elongated anvil body and configured to movably support the anvil on a portion of the surgical stapler. The anvil cap is configured to be mechanically coupled to the upper body portion of the elongated anvil body. At least one weld is provided between the anvil cap and the upper body portion of the elongated anvil body.

  Example 22: The anvil of Example 21, wherein the upper body portion defines an opening through the upper surface and the anvil cap is mechanically coupled within the opening.

  Example 23: The anvil of Example 22, further comprising a shelf extending around at least a portion of the opening in the upper body portion, wherein the anvil cap is supported on the shelf.

  Example 24: The anvil of Examples 21, 22 or 23, wherein the anvil cap includes a perimeter and at least one weld extends around at least a portion of the perimeter.

  Example 25: An anvil cap including a proximal end, a distal end, and two long sides extending therebetween, at least one weld corresponding to at least a portion of each of the long sides. , Examples 21, 22, 23 or 24.

  Example 26: An upper body portion defines an opening perimeter, and the upper body portion is formed in the opening perimeter and frictionally engages a corresponding portion of the anvil cap when the anvil cap is positioned in the opening. 23. The anvil of example 22 including a plurality of retention features configured to perform the operation.

  Example 27: A corresponding portion of the anvil cap includes an engagement area formed on the cap periphery of the anvil cap, each of the engagement areas being shaped to frictionally engage with a respective corresponding retention feature. The anvil of Example 26.

  Example 28: An anvil cap including a proximal end, a distal end, and two long sides extending therebetween, wherein an upper body portion forms an open perimeter and provides a frictional engagement. 23. The anvil of embodiment 22 including a plurality of retaining features formed in a portion of the opening periphery corresponding to at least a portion of each of the long sides of the intended anvil cap.

  Example 29: An anvil cap including a proximal end, a distal end, and two long sides extending therebetween, an upper body portion defining an opening perimeter, and an anvil cap including an anvil cap. Embodiment 22 further comprising at least one retention feature on each of the long sides of the opening and configured to frictionally engage a corresponding portion of the aperture periphery for frictional engagement. Anvil.

  Example 30: The anvil of Examples 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28 or 29, wherein the anvil cap is connected to the upper body portion of the elongated anvil body by at least one tongue and groove arrangement.

  Example 31: An anvil cap comprising a central cap body comprising a cap body periphery, wherein at least one weld is between at least a portion of the cap body periphery and a corresponding portion of an upper body portion of the anvil body. 31. The anvil of any of embodiments 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30 including a first weld that extends. At least one second discrete weld extends between the central cap body and the upper body portion of the anvil body.

  Example 32: A first plurality of spaced apart second individual welds, wherein at least one second individual weld penetrates the central cap body at a location adjacent one long side of the central cap body. 32. The anvil of embodiment 31, including a second plurality of spaced apart second individual welds extending through the central cap body at a location adjacent the other long side of the central cap body.

  Example 33: A first plurality of spaced apart second individual welds are positioned closer to one another at a location adjacent a distal end of a central cap body, and a second plurality of spaced apart second welds. 32. The anvil of embodiment 32, wherein the individual welds of the anvil are spaced closer together at a location adjacent the distal end of the central cap body.

  Example 34: A first plurality of spaced apart second welds are spaced closer to one another at a location adjacent a proximal end of a central cap body and a second plurality of spaced apart second welds. 32. The anvil of embodiment 32, wherein the individual welds of the anvil are spaced closer together at a location adjacent the proximal end of the central cap body.

  Example 35: A first plurality of spaced-apart second individual welds are spaced closer to one another at a position adjacent a proximal end and a distal end of a central cap body, and 33. The anvil of embodiment 32, wherein the spaced apart second welds are spaced closer together at a location adjacent the proximal and distal ends of the central cap body.

  Example 36: Anvil for a surgical stapler. The anvil comprises an elongated anvil body having an upper body portion and a staple forming lower surface. An anvil attachment is provided adjacent the elongated anvil body and is configured to movably support the anvil on a portion of the surgical stapler. The anvil further comprises an anvil cap comprising a central anvil cap body and a cap periphery extending therearound. The first weld is provided between at least a portion of the cap periphery and the top of the elongated anvil body portion. At least one second discrete weld extends between the central cap body and the upper body portion of the anvil body.

  Example 37: The anvil of Example 36, wherein the first weld extends intermittently around at least a portion of the cap periphery.

  Example 38: At least one second individual weld penetrates the central cap body and a first row of second individual welds spaced apart from each other, and a second column penetrates the central cap body and spaced apart from each other. The anvil of embodiment 36 or 37, comprising a second row of individual welds.

  Example 39: Anvil for a surgical stapler. The anvil comprises an elongated anvil body having an upper body portion and a staple forming lower surface. The elongated anvil body defines an opening extending through its upper surface. The anvil further comprises an anvil attachment adjacent the elongated anvil body and configured to movably support the anvil on a portion of the surgical stapler. The anvil cap is configured to be mechanically coupled to the upper body portion of the elongate anvil body to fill the opening. The anvil cap comprises a central cap body and a cap periphery extending therearound. At least one first weld is provided between at least a portion of the cap periphery and the upper body portion of the elongated anvil body. At least one second discrete weld extends between the central cap body and the upper body portion of the anvil body.

  Example 40: Example 39 wherein an anvil cap is mechanically coupled to an upper body portion of an elongate anvil body by a tongue and groove arrangement between a portion of the cap periphery and an upper body portion of the elongate anvil body. Anvil.

  Example 41: Closure member for applying a closure movement to a movable jaw of a surgical instrument. The closure member includes a closure body defining an outer surface and an inner surface. The closure body further defines an upper portion having an upper wall thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface, and a lower portion having a lower wall thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface. Is different from the lower wall thickness. A cam surface is formed on the upper portion for selective cam contact with a portion of the movable jaw.

  Example 42: an outer surface is at a first radial distance from a first central axis, and an inner surface is at a second radial distance from a second central axis offset from the first central axis. And the closing member of Example 41.

  Example 43: The closure of Examples 41 or 42, wherein the upper wall thickness is greater than the lower wall thickness.

  Example 44: further comprising a diametrically opposed sidewall portion extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the sidewall portions each have a different sidewall thickness from the upper wall thickness and the lower wall thickness. 45. The closure member of Examples 41, 42 or 43.

  Example 45: The closure of Example 44, wherein the sidewall thickness is greater than the upper and lower wall thicknesses.

  Example 46: The closure of Examples 44 or 45, wherein the sidewall portion defines an inner sidewall, and one of the sidewall portions is parallel to an inner sidewall of the other sidewall portion.

  Example 47: The closure of Example 43, wherein the upper wall thickness and the lower wall thickness are each measured along a common vertical axis extending through the central axis of the closure body.

  Example 48: The movable jaw can be moved from an open position to a closed position if the closure body is in cam contact with a portion of the movable jaw when the closure body is moved in the first direction; Embodiments 41, 42, 43 wherein at least one other portion of the closure member is configured to move the movable jaw from a closed position to an open position when the closure body is moved in the second direction. , 44, 45, 46 or 47 closure member.

  Example 49: Extending inward from an inner surface and configured to contact another portion of the movable jaw when the closure member moves in the second direction to move the movable jaw to the open position. 50. The closure member of embodiment 48, further comprising at least one positive jaw opening mechanism.

  Example 50: The closure member of Example 49, wherein each of the positive jaw opening mechanisms includes at least two positive jaw opening mechanisms diametrically opposed to each other and projecting inward from an inner surface.

  Example 51: Example 50 wherein at least one of the positive jaw opening mechanisms extends from a mounting plate attached to a corresponding side wall portion of the closure body extending between the upper and lower portions. Closing member.

  Example 52: A surgical instrument comprising first and second jaws, wherein at least one of the first and second jaws is configured to be closed when a closing motion and a releasing motion are applied. A surgical instrument movable with respect to the other of the jaw and the second jaw between an open direction and a closed direction. An upper portion defining an outer surface and an inner surface, the upper portion having an upper wall thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface; and a lower portion having a lower wall thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface. Wherein the upper wall thickness is different from the lower wall thickness and the closure body is movable with a portion of at least one of the first and second jaws that are movable. A cam surface is formed on the upper portion for selective cam contact.

  Example 53: the outer surface is located at a first radial distance from the central axis of the closure body, the inner surface is located at a second radial distance from the central axis, and the first radial distance is at a second radial distance. 53. The surgical instrument of embodiment 52, wherein the surgical instrument is greater than the radial distance, so that the upper wall thickness is greater than the lower wall thickness.

  Example 54: further comprising a diametrically opposed sidewall portion extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the sidewall portions each have a different sidewall thickness from the upper wall thickness and the lower wall thickness. The surgical instrument of Example 52 or 53.

  Example 55: The surgical instrument of Examples 52, 53 or 54, wherein the sidewall thickness is equal to the upper wall thickness and greater than the lower wall thickness.

  Example 56: The surgical instrument of Examples 52, 53, 54, or 55, wherein each of the sidewall portions defines an interior sidewall surface and the interior sidewall surfaces are not parallel to one another.

  Example 57: The surgery of Examples 52, 53, 54, 55, or 56, wherein the upper wall thickness and the lower wall thickness are each measured along a common vertical axis extending through the center of the closure body. Appliances.

  Example 58: At least one of a first jaw and a second jaw is moved from an open position to a closed position when cammed by the closure body as the closure body is moved in the first direction. And at least one other portion of the closure member closes at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw when the closure body is moved in the second direction. A closure member extending inwardly from the inner surface, and the first and second jaws when the closure member is moved in a second direction. 58. The surgical instrument of any of embodiments 52, 53, 54, 55, 55 or 57 further comprising at least one positive jaw opening mechanism configured to contact at least one other portion of the surgical instrument.

  Example 59: Closure member for applying a closure movement to a movable jaw of a surgical instrument. The closure member comprises a hollow closure body defining an outer surface and an inner surface. The closure body further defines an upper portion having an upper wall thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface, and a lower portion having a lower wall thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface. And the lower wall thickness are equal to each other, and the inner surface and the outer surface define a sidewall portion having a sidewall thickness greater than the upper wall thickness and the lower wall thickness, respectively. A cam surface is formed on the upper portion for selective cam contact with a portion of the movable jaw.

  Example 60: The closure of Example 59, wherein the inner surface defines a rectangular shaped passage extending through the closure body.

  Example 61: A first jaw and a second jaw movably supported relative to the first jaw to selectively move between an open position and a closed position relative to the first jaw. A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector comprising: two jaws; The surgical instrument further comprises a hollow closure member configured to move axially between an inoperative position and a closed position, wherein the hollow closure member applies a closing motion to the movable second jaw. . A closure system is configured to apply a closing actuation motion to the hollow closure member. A firing member is supported for axial movement between a start position completely located within the hollow closure member and an end position within the surgical end effector. The firing system is configured to move the firing member from the start position to the end position by selectively applying a firing motion to the firing member, such that the closure system is operable without activating the firing system.

  Example 62: Example 61 comprising a mounting portion pivotally secured to a first jaw such that the second jaw selectively pivots relative to the first jaw. Surgical instruments.

  Example 63: A mounting portion on a second jaw comprises a first cam surface and a hollow closure member comprises a second cam surface configured to be in cam contact with the first cam surface. The surgical instrument of Example 62.

  Example 64: The surgical instrument of Example 63, wherein the hollow closure member comprises a distal end and the second cam surface comprises an inner cam surface formed adjacent the distal end.

  Example 65: Examples 61, 62, 63 wherein the second jaw comprises an anvil and the first jaw comprises a channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein. Or 64 surgical instruments.

  Example 66: The surgical of Example 65, wherein the firing member comprises a firing member body having at least one channel engagement feature on the firing member body and at least one anvil engagement feature on the firing member body. Appliances.

  Embodiment 67: Embodiment 63, 64, 65 or wherein the anvil comprises an elongated anvil body protruding from the mounting portion, wherein the elongated anvil body comprises an outer anvil surface and the first cam surface extends to the outer anvil surface. 66 surgical instruments.

  Example 68: Examples 60, 61, 62, 63, wherein the hollow closing member is configured to apply an opening motion to the second jaw upon applying an opening actuation motion to the hollow closing member by the closing system. 64, 65, 66 or 67 surgical instruments.

  Embodiment 69: An embodiment wherein the hollow closure member further comprises at least one positive jaw opening mechanism for selectively contacting the second jaw when an opening actuation motion is applied to the closure member. 68 surgical instruments.

  Example 70: A surgical instrument with an elongated shaft that defines a shaft axis. A channel is operably connected to the elongate shaft and the channel is configured to operably support the surgical staple cartridge therein. The anvil is movably connected to the channel and is selectively movable with respect to the channel between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A closure member is configured to move axially between a non-actuated position and an actuated position, and a distal end portion of the closure member is in cam contact with the anvil to apply a closing motion to the anvil. A closure system is operably interfaced with the closure member to selectively apply a closure control motion to the closure member. A firing member is supported for axial movement between a start position and an end position, which are located completely proximal to the distal end of the closure member. A firing system is configured to selectively apply a firing motion to the firing member and move the firing member from a start position to an end position, such that the closure system is operable without activating the firing system.

  Example 71: The surgical instrument of Example 70, wherein the anvil is attached to the channel and is constrained to pivot relative to the channel about an anvil axis transverse to the shaft axis.

  Embodiment 72: An anvil is pivotally connected to a channel and includes an anvil mounting portion including a first cam surface thereon, and the closure member is configured to be in cam contact with the first cam surface. The surgical instrument of any of embodiments 70 or 71, comprising a hollow closure tube with a distal end having a second inner cam surface thereon.

  Example 73: The embodiment 70, 71 or 72, wherein the firing member comprises a firing member body having at least one channel engagement feature on the firing member body and at least one anvil engagement feature on the firing member body. Surgical instruments.

  Example 74: The surgical instrument of Example 72, wherein the anvil comprises an elongated anvil body protruding from the mounting portion. The elongated anvil body includes an outer anvil surface, and the first cam surface extends to the outer anvil surface.

  Example 75: The surgical of Examples 70, 71, 72, 73 or 74, wherein the closure member comprises a hollow closure tube and the firing member is completely located within the hollow closure tube when the firing member is in the starting position. Appliances.

  Embodiment 76: An embodiment wherein the closure member further comprises at least one positive jaw opening mechanism formed thereon to selectively contact the anvil when the opening actuation motion is applied to the closure member. 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 or 75 surgical instrument.

  Example 77: First jaw and selective movement between an open position and a closed position relative to the first jaw when a closing motion is applied to a cam surface on the second jaw. A surgical instrument comprising a surgical end effector comprising a second jaw movably supported with respect to a first jaw. The surgical instrument further comprises an axially movable closure member having a closure cam surface thereon configured to apply a closure movement to the cam surface on the second jaw. . A firing member is supported for axial movement between a tissue cutting surface thereon and a starting position where the tissue cutting surface is located proximal to the closure cam surface on the closure member. The closure member and the firing member are selectively operable independently of each other.

  Example 78: The surgical instrument of Example 77, wherein the second jaw includes a mounting portion pivotally connected to the first jaw, the mounting portion including a cam surface thereon.

  Example 79: Example 77 wherein the axially movable closure member and mounting portion define a firing member stop area between which at least a portion of the firing member is supported when the firing member is in the starting position. Or 78 surgical instruments.

  Example 80: The surgical instrument of Examples 77, 78 or 79, wherein the first jaw comprises a channel and the second jaw comprises an anvil. The firing member includes a firing member body having at least one channel engagement mechanism on the firing member body and at least one anvil engagement mechanism on the firing member body.

  Example 81: A proximal spine portion and a distally resiliently connected to the proximal spine portion to move axially between a neutral position and an extended position relative to the proximal spine portion. A surgical instrument comprising an elastic spine assembly comprising: A first jaw is mounted on the distal spine portion, and a second jaw is movably supported with respect to the first jaw and is in an open position and a closed position with respect to the first jaw. And selectively move between them. The closure system is configured to apply a closing motion to the second jaw to move the distal spine portion from the neutral position to the extended position when activated. The firing system, when activated, axially advances the firing member from a start position to an end position within the first jaw, allowing the distal spine portion to return to the neutral position, thereby allowing the second jaw to move forward. It is configured to increase the closing movement applied.

  Example 82: A closure system moves a distal spine portion from an inoperative position corresponding to a neutral position of a distal spine portion to an extended position, and moves a second jaw to a first of the closed positions. The surgical instrument of example 81, comprising a closure member configured to move axially relative to the distal spine portion to a first closed position, moved to the closed position.

  Example 83: The surgical instrument of Examples 81 or 82, wherein the closure member is hollow and configured to receive the mounting portion of the second jaw therein.

  Example 84: The mounting portion has a first cam surface thereon and the hollow closure member is configured to move the second jaw from the open position to the first closed position when the closure system is actuated to the first position. 83. The surgical instrument of embodiment 83 having a second cam surface thereon configured to be in cam contact with the cam surface of the second embodiment.

  Example 85: The surgical instrument of Example 84, wherein the cam contact between the first cam surface and the second cam surface increases as the distal spine portion moves from the extended position to the neutral position.

  Example 86: The surgical instrument of Examples 81, 82, 83, 84, or 85, wherein the distal spine portion is interconnected to the proximal spine portion by a stretchable central spine portion.

  Example 87: The surgical instrument of Example 86, wherein the elastic spine assembly further comprises a means for limiting the stretchable central spine portion to a predetermined amount of expansion.

  Example 88: A means for restricting a stretchable body member dimensioned to extend between a distal spine portion and a proximal spine portion, and limiting the stretchable body to a predetermined amount of extension. The surgical instrument of embodiment 87 comprising:

  Example 89: The elastic body member has a first elastic modulus and the restricting means comprises at least one elastic limiter member supported by the elastic body, wherein the restricting means is more than the first elastic modulus. 90. The surgical instrument of embodiment 88, also having a low second modulus.

  Example 90: A surgical instrument comprising an elastic spine assembly configured to extend between a first neutral position and a second extended position. A first jaw is attached to the elastic spine assembly. A second jaw is movably supported relative to the first jaw and is adapted to selectively move between an open position and a closed position relative to the first jaw. The surgical instrument applies a first amount of closing force to the second jaw to move the second jaw from the open position to the first closed position, and move the resilient spine assembly to the second extended position. The system further comprises a closure system comprising a closure member configured to extend. A firing member is supported for axial movement within the first jaw between a start position and an end position. A firing system is operably interfaced with the firing member to selectively advance the firing member from a start position to an end position, wherein movement of the firing member from the start position to the end position causes the resilient spine to move to the first neutral position. , So that the closure member applies a second amount of closing force to the second jaw, thereby moving the second jaw to the second closed position.

  Example 91: an embodiment wherein the second jaw includes a mounting portion pivotally pinned to the first jaw and is adapted to pivot between an open position and a closed position. The surgical instrument of Example 90.

  Example 92: The mounting portion has a first cam surface above, the closure member has a second cam surface above, and the second cam surface moves from the open position to the first closed position. 92. The surgical instrument of embodiment 91, wherein the surgical instrument is configured to be in cam contact with the first cam surface when the closure system is actuated to move the second jaw.

  Example 93: Examples 89, 90 wherein movement of a resilient spine assembly from a second extended position to a first neutral position increases cam contact between the first and second cam surfaces. Or 91 surgical instruments.

  Example 94: A proximal spine portion and a distally resiliently connected to the proximal spine portion to move axially between a neutral position and an extended position relative to the proximal spine portion. A surgical instrument comprising an elastic spine assembly comprising: The elongate channel is configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein. An elongate channel is attached to the distal spine portion. The anvil is pivotally connected to the elongate channel and selectively pivots relative to the elongate channel between an open position and a closed position about a fixed pivot axis. The closure system is configured to apply a closure movement to the anvil and move the distal spine portion from a neutral position to an extended position. The firing system, when activated, advances the firing member axially from a start position to an end position in the elongate channel, thereby allowing the distal spine portion to return to the neutral position, thereby applying to the anvil. It is configured to increase the closing movement.

  Example 95: The surgical instrument of Example 94, wherein the distal spine portion is interconnected to the proximal spine portion by a stretchable central spine portion.

  Example 96: The elastic spine assembly further comprises a telescoping restricting insert, the telescoping restricting insert defining a body member sized to extend between a distal spine portion and a proximal spine portion, and defining the body. Means for limiting the amount of extension of the surgical instrument.

  Example 97: The surgical instrument of Example 96, wherein the body member is made of an elastomeric material and the limiting means is made of metal.

  Example 98: A body member configured for mounting engagement with a proximal spine portion, and a first mounting lug formed therein and configured for mounting engagement with a distal spine portion. A second mounting lug formed therein, wherein the limiting means extends between the first mounting lug and the second mounting lug and includes a first mounting end and a second mounting lug. At least one telescopic limiter comprising an elongate body comprising a mounting end of a first mounting lug movably received within a cavity in a first mounting lug; 97. The surgical instrument of embodiment 97, movably received within a second cavity within the second mounting lug.

  Example 99: The mounting portion of an anvil is pivotally pinned to an elongate channel and includes a first cam surface thereon, wherein the closure system comprises a closure member, wherein the closure member has a second cam surface thereon. Wherein the second cam surface is configured to be in cam contact with the first cam surface when the closing system is actuated to move the second jaw from the open position to the first closed position. , The surgical instrument of Examples 94, 95, 96, 97 or 98.

  Example 100: Examples 94, 95, 96, 97, wherein the cam contact between the first and second cam surfaces increases as the distal spine portion moves from the extended position to the neutral position. 98 or 99 surgical instruments.

  Example 101: A first jaw and movably supported relative to the first jaw and selected for the first jaw about a fixed pivot axis between an open position and a closed position. A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, comprising: a second jaw adapted to pivotally move. A firing member is movably supported to selectively move axially in at least one of the first and second jaws between a start position and an end position. The firing member includes a body portion and a first flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the first jaw. The second flange assembly projects from the body portion and is configured to slidably engage the second jaw. The surgical instrument also includes an elongate shaft assembly operably connected to the surgical end effector. The elongate shaft assembly includes a firing system operably interfaced with the firing member to selectively move the firing member axially between a start position and an end position. The closure system is operably interfaced with the second jaw to move the second jaw between an open position and a closed position without activating the firing system and the firing member.

  Example 102: The surgical instrument of Example 101, wherein the elongate shaft assembly defines a shaft axis, and the fixed pivot axis traverses the shaft axis.

  Example 103: The surgical instrument of Examples 101 or 102, wherein the closure system is configured to cam engage the second jaw when the closure system applies a closing motion to the second jaw.

  Example 104: A second jaw having a first cam surface thereon, and the closure system is supported to be selectively axially moved relative to the second jaw in an axial movement. 104. The surgical instrument of embodiment 103 comprising a possible closure member. The closure member includes a second cam surface configured to cam engage the first cam surface.

  Example 105: The surgical instrument of Example 102, wherein the second jaw comprises a mounting portion pivotally connected to the first jaw about a pivot axis. The mounting portion includes a first cam surface thereon.

  Example 106: The embodiment 101, 102, 103, 104 or wherein the axially movable closure member and the mounting portion support at least a portion of the firing member when the firing member is in the starting position. 105 surgical instruments.

  Example 107: The surgical instrument of Example 104, wherein the closure member comprises a closure body defining an outer surface and an inner surface. The closure body further defines an upper portion having an upper wall thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface, and a lower portion having a lower wall thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface. However, unlike the lower wall thickness, a second cam surface is formed in the upper portion for selective cam contact with the first cam surface.

  Example 108: The outer surface is at a first radial distance from a first central axis and the inner surface is at a second radial distance from a second central axis offset from the first central axis. The surgical instrument of Example 107.

  Example 109: The surgical instrument of Example 107, wherein the upper wall thickness is greater than the lower wall thickness.

  Example 110: The closure member further comprises diametrically opposed sidewall portions extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein the sidewall portions differ from the upper wall thickness and the lower wall thickness, respectively. 108. The surgical instrument of Example 107 having a height.

  Example 111: The surgical instrument of Example 110, wherein the sidewall thickness is greater than the upper wall thickness and the lower wall thickness.

  Example 112: The surgical instrument of Example 110, wherein each of the sidewall portions defines an interior sidewall, wherein one of the sidewall portions is parallel to the other interior sidewall of the sidewall portion.

  Example 113: The surgical instrument of Examples 104, 106, or 107, wherein the closure member is hollow and configured to receive the mounting portion of the second jaw therein.

  Example 114: Examples 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, wherein the first jaw comprises a channel and the second jaw comprises an anvil. 113 surgical instruments.

  Example 115: Surgery of Examples 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 or 114, wherein the firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface on the body portion. Appliances.

  Example 116: A first jaw and movably supported relative to the first jaw, between an open position and a closed position, relative to the first jaw about a fixed pivot axis. And a second jaw adapted to selectively pivot. A firing member is movably supported to selectively move axially within at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw between a start position and an end position. . The firing member includes a body portion and a first flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the first jaw. The second flange assembly projects from the body portion and is configured to slidably engage the second jaw. An elongate shaft assembly is operably connected to the surgical end effector, the firing means for selectively axially moving the firing member between a start position and an end position, and without activating the firing means. , Closing means for moving the second jaw between an open position and a closed position.

  Example 117: The surgical instrument of Example 116, wherein the elongate shaft assembly defines a shaft axis and the fixed pivot axis traverses the shaft axis.

  Example 118: The surgical instrument of Examples 116 or 117, wherein the first jaw comprises a channel and the second jaw comprises an anvil.

  Example 119: A surgical instrument comprising an elongated channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein. An anvil is movably supported relative to the elongate channel for selective pivotal movement relative to the elongate channel between an open position and a closed position about a fixed pivot axis. A firing member is movably supported for selective axial movement within the elongated channel between a start position and an end position. The firing member includes a body portion and a first flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the elongate channel. A second flange assembly projects from the body portion and is configured to slidably engage the anvil. An elongate firing bar is coupled to the body portion and is configured to move axially relative to the elongate channel in response to a firing motion applied to it by a firing motion source. The closure member is supported for selective axial movement with respect to the anvil and moves the anvil between an open position and a closed position in response to a closing motion applied to the anvil by a closing motion source, The anvil is movable between an open position and a closed position without moving the firing member.

  Example 120: The surgical instrument of Example 119, wherein the firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface on the body portion.

  Although many of the surgical instrument systems described herein operate with electric motors, the surgical instrument systems described herein can operate in any suitable manner. In various cases, the surgical instrument systems described herein can operate, for example, with a manually operated trigger. In certain examples, the motors disclosed herein may include portions of a robot control system. Further, any of the end effector and / or tool assemblies disclosed herein can be utilized with a robotic surgical instrument system. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 118,241, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,072,535), describes some robotic surgical instrument systems. Examples are disclosed in more detail.

  Although the surgical instrument system described herein has been described in connection with staple deployment and deformation, the embodiments described herein are not so limited. Various embodiments are envisioned for deploying fasteners other than staples, such as clamps or tacks. Furthermore, various embodiments are envisioned that utilize any suitable means for sealing tissue. For example, an end effector according to various embodiments may include an electrode configured to heat and seal tissue. Also, for example, an end effector according to certain embodiments can apply vibrational energy to seal tissue.

The entire disclosure below is incorporated herein by reference.
-U.S. Patent No. 5,403,312, issued April 4, 1995, entitled "Electrosurgical Hemosatic Device",
-U.S. Patent No. 7,000,818, issued February 21, 2006, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING SEPARATE DISTING CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS";
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-U.S. Patent No. 7,464,849, issued December 16, 2008, entitled "Electro-Mechanical Surgical Installation Without Closing System And Anvil Aliment Components";
U.S. Patent No. 7,670,334, issued March 2, 2010, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING AN ARTICULATING END EFFECTOR",
U.S. Pat. No. 7,753,245 issued Jul. 13, 2010, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS",
U.S. Patent No. 8,393,514 issued March 12, 2013, titled "SELECTIVELY ORIENTABLE IMPLANTABLE FASTENER CARTRIDGE",
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 343,803, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING RECORDING CAPABILITIES", currently published as U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,537;
-U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 031,573, filed Feb. 14, 2008, entitled "SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT HAVING RF ELECTRODES",
-U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 031,873, filed February 15, 2008, entitled "END EFFECTORS FOR A SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING INSTRUMENT", now issued as U.S. Patent No. 7,980,443. Literature
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  Although various instruments have been described herein with particular embodiments, modifications and changes may be made to those embodiments. Certain features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment, may be combined in whole or in part with the features, structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation. Good. Also, while materials are disclosed with respect to particular components, other materials may be used. Further, according to various embodiments, a single component may be replaced with multiple components to perform a given function (s), and multiple components may be replaced with a single component. It may be replaced. The above description and the following claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations.

  The devices disclosed herein can be designed to be disposed of after a single use, or they can be designed to be used multiple times. However, in either case, the device may be reconditioned for reuse after at least one use. Reconditioning can include, but is not limited to, any combination of the steps of disassembly of the device, subsequent cleaning or replacement of certain parts of the device, and subsequent reassembly of the device. Specifically, the reconditioning facility and / or surgical team can disassemble the device, clean and / or replace certain parts of the device, and then reassemble the device for future use. Can be. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that reconditioning of a device may utilize various techniques for disassembly, cleaning / replacement, and reassembly. Use of such techniques, and the resulting reconditioned device, are all within the scope of the present application.

  The devices disclosed herein can be processed before surgery. Initially, new or used instruments may be obtained and optionally cleaned. The instrument can then be sterilized. In one sterilization technique, the instrument is placed in a closed and sealed container, such as a plastic or TYVEK bag. The container and instrument can then be placed in a radiation field that can penetrate the container, such as gamma rays, x-rays, and / or high energy electrons. Radiation can kill bacteria on instruments and in containers. The sterilized instrument can then be stored in a sterile container. The sealed container can keep the instrument sterile until it is opened at the medical facility. The device can also be sterilized using any other technique known in the art, including, but not limited to, beta, gamma, ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide plasma, and / or water vapor.

  Although the present invention has been described as having a representative design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles.

  All patents, publications, or other disclosures which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety or in part, are subject to the existing definitions, descriptions, or other disclosures in which the material incorporated therein is described in this disclosure. It shall be incorporated herein only to the extent not inconsistent with the content. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting description incorporated herein by reference. Any content inconsistent with the current definition, views, or other disclosures contained herein, or portions thereof, is hereby incorporated by reference herein, but the content of the reference and current disclosure Shall be referenced only to the extent that there is no conflict between

(Embodiment)
(1) A surgical instrument,
A surgical end effector,
A first jaw;
A second jaw movably supported relative to the first jaw, the second jaw being selected with respect to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position about a fixed pivot axis. A second jaw adapted to pivotally move;
A firing member movably supported to selectively move axially in at least one of the first and second jaws between a start position and an end position;
Body part,
A first flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the first jaw;
A firing member comprising a second flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the second jaw; and a surgical end effector comprising: Tools are
An elongate shaft assembly operably connected to the surgical end effector,
A firing system operably interfaced with the firing member to selectively move the firing member axially between the start position and the end position;
A closure system operably interfaced with the second jaw to move the second jaw between the open position and the closed position without activating the firing system and the firing member; A surgical instrument further comprising an elongated shaft assembly comprising:
The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft assembly defines a shaft axis, and wherein the fixed pivot axis traverses the shaft axis.
The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the closure system is configured to cam engage the second jaw when the closure system applies a closure movement to the second jaw. Appliances.
(4) the second jaw has a first cam surface thereon;
The closure system includes an axially movable closure member supported for selective axial movement with respect to the second jaw, wherein the closure member comprises a first cam surface; 4. The surgical instrument of embodiment 3, comprising a second cam surface configured for cam engagement.
(5) the second jaw includes a mounting portion pivotally connected to the first jaw about the pivot axis, wherein the mounting portion defines the first cam surface; The surgical instrument according to embodiment 4, comprising above.

(6) the axially movable closure member and the mounting portion define therebetween a firing member stop area in which at least a portion of the firing member is supported when the firing member is in the starting position. The surgical instrument according to claim 5.
(7) the closure member comprises a closure body defining an outer surface and an inner surface, the closure body having an upper wall thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface; and the outer surface. And a lower portion having a lower wall thickness between the inner surface and the inner surface;
The upper wall thickness is different from the lower wall thickness,
The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the second cam surface is formed on the upper portion for selective cam contact with the first cam surface.
(8) the outer surface is at a first radial distance from a first central axis, and the inner surface is a second radial direction from a second central axis offset from the first central axis; The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the surgical instrument is at a distance.
(9) The surgical instrument according to embodiment 7, wherein the upper wall thickness is larger than the lower wall thickness.
(10) the closure member further comprises diametrically opposed side wall portions extending between the upper portion and the lower portion;
The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the sidewall portions each have a different sidewall thickness than the upper wall thickness and the lower wall thickness.

(11) The surgical instrument according to embodiment 10, wherein the side wall thickness is larger than the upper wall thickness and the lower wall thickness.
12. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein each of the sidewall portions defines an interior sidewall, wherein the interior sidewall of one of the sidewall portions is parallel to the other interior sidewall of the sidewall portion. Appliances.
The surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the closure member is hollow and configured to receive a mounting portion of the second jaw therein.
(14) the first jaw includes a channel;
The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second jaw comprises an anvil.
The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface on the body portion.

(16) A surgical instrument,
A surgical end effector,
A first jaw;
A second jaw movably supported with respect to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the first jaw about a fixed pivot axis. A second jaw adapted to selectively pivot;
A firing member movably supported to selectively move axially within at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw between a start position and an end position. And
Body part,
A first flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the first jaw;
A firing member comprising a second flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the second jaw; and a surgical end effector comprising: Tools are
An elongate shaft assembly operatively connected to the surgical end effector,
Firing means for selectively moving the firing member axially between the start position and the end position,
A surgical instrument further comprising an elongated shaft assembly comprising: closing means for moving the second jaw between the open position and the closed position without activating the firing means.
(17) the elongated shaft assembly defines a shaft axis;
17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the fixed pivot axis is transverse to the shaft axis.
(18) the first jaw includes a channel;
17. The surgical instrument according to embodiment 16, wherein the second jaw comprises an anvil.
(19) A surgical instrument,
An elongated channel configured to operably support the surgical staple cartridge therein;
An anvil movably supported with respect to the elongate channel for selectively pivoting with respect to the elongate channel between an open position and a closed position about a fixed pivot axis;
A firing member movably supported to selectively move axially between a start position and an end position within the elongate channel;
Body part,
A first flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the elongate channel;
A second flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the anvil.
An elongate firing bar coupled to the body portion, the elongate firing bar being configured to move axially with respect to the elongate channel in response to a firing motion applied thereto by a firing motion source; ,
A closing member supported for selective axial movement with respect to the anvil, wherein the anvil moves between the open position and the closed position in response to a closing motion applied thereto by a closing motion source; A closure member, wherein the anvil is movable between an open position and a closed position without moving the firing member.
20. The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein the firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface on the body portion.

Claims (20)

A surgical instrument,
A surgical end effector,
A first jaw;
A second jaw movably supported relative to the first jaw, the second jaw being selected with respect to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position about a fixed pivot axis. A second jaw adapted to pivotally move;
A firing member movably supported to selectively move axially in at least one of the first and second jaws between a start position and an end position;
Body part,
A first flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the first jaw;
A firing member comprising a second flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the second jaw; and a surgical end effector comprising: Tools are
An elongate shaft assembly operably connected to the surgical end effector,
A firing system operably interfaced with the firing member to selectively move the firing member axially between the start position and the end position;
A closure system operably interfaced with the second jaw to move the second jaw between the open position and the closed position without activating the firing system and the firing member; A surgical instrument further comprising an elongated shaft assembly comprising:   The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft assembly defines a shaft axis, and wherein the fixed pivot axis traverses the shaft axis.   The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the closure system is configured to cam engage the second jaw when the closure system applies a closure movement to the second jaw. Said second jaw having a first cam surface thereon;
The closure system includes an axially movable closure member supported for selective axial movement with respect to the second jaw, wherein the closure member includes a first cam surface and a first cam surface. The surgical instrument according to claim 3, comprising a second cam surface configured for cam engagement.   The second jaw includes a mounting portion pivotally connected to the first jaw about the pivot axis, the mounting portion including the first cam surface thereon. The surgical instrument according to claim 4.   The axially movable closure member and the mounting portion define between them a firing member stop area on which at least a portion of the firing member is supported when the firing member is in the starting position. 6. The surgical instrument according to claim 5. The closure member includes a closure body defining an outer surface and an inner surface, the closure body having an upper portion having an upper wall thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface; and the outer surface and the inner surface. A lower portion having a lower wall thickness between the surface and the lower portion;
The upper wall thickness is different from the lower wall thickness,
The surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the second cam surface is formed on the upper portion for selective cam contact with the first cam surface.   The outer surface is at a first radial distance from a first central axis, and the inner surface is at a second radial distance from a second central axis offset from the first central axis. The surgical instrument according to claim 7.   The surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the upper wall thickness is greater than the lower wall thickness. The closure member further comprises diametrically opposed side wall portions extending between the upper portion and the lower portion;
The surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the sidewall portions each have a different sidewall thickness than the upper wall thickness and the lower wall thickness.   The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the sidewall thickness is greater than the upper wall thickness and the lower wall thickness.   The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein each of the sidewall portions defines an interior sidewall, wherein the interior sidewall of one of the sidewall portions is parallel to the other interior sidewall of the sidewall portion.   The surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the closure member is hollow and configured to receive a mounting portion of the second jaw therein. The first jaw comprises a channel;
The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the second jaw comprises an anvil.   The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface on the body portion. A surgical instrument,
A surgical end effector,
A first jaw;
A second jaw movably supported with respect to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the first jaw about a fixed pivot axis. A second jaw adapted to selectively pivot;
A firing member movably supported to selectively move axially within at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw between a start position and an end position. And
Body part,
A first flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the first jaw;
A firing member comprising a second flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the second jaw; and a surgical end effector comprising: Tools are
An elongate shaft assembly operatively connected to the surgical end effector,
Firing means for selectively moving the firing member axially between the start position and the end position,
A surgical instrument further comprising an elongated shaft assembly comprising: closing means for moving the second jaw between the open position and the closed position without activating the firing means. The elongate shaft assembly defines a shaft axis;
17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the fixed pivot axis traverses the shaft axis. The first jaw comprises a channel;
17. The surgical instrument according to claim 16, wherein the second jaw comprises an anvil. A surgical instrument,
An elongated channel configured to operably support the surgical staple cartridge therein;
An anvil movably supported with respect to the elongate channel for selectively pivoting with respect to the elongate channel between an open position and a closed position about a fixed pivot axis;
A firing member movably supported to selectively move axially between a start position and an end position within the elongate channel;
Body part,
A first flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the elongate channel;
A second flange assembly protruding from the body portion and configured to slidably engage the anvil.
An elongate firing bar coupled to the body portion, the elongate firing bar being configured to move axially with respect to the elongate channel in response to a firing motion applied thereto by a firing motion source; ,
A closing member supported for selective axial movement with respect to the anvil, wherein the anvil moves between the open position and the closed position in response to a closing motion applied thereto by a closing motion source; A closure member, wherein the anvil is movable between an open position and a closed position without moving the firing member.   20. The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein the firing member further comprises a tissue cutting surface on the body portion.

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