US 7,455,208 B2
Surgical instrument with articulating shaft with rigid firing bar supports
Kenneth S. Wales, Mason, Ohio (US); and Chad P. Boudreaux, Cincinnati, Ohio (US)
Assigned to Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio (US)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/238,358.
Application 11/238358 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/061908, filed on Feb. 18, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2006/0190031 A1, Aug. 24, 2006
Int. Cl. A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/115 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 227—178.1  [227/180.1; 227/19] 42 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An articulating surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle;
a shaft extending distally from the handle and defining a longitudinal axis;
an end effector moveably attached to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector moveable through an articulation angle from a first position in alignment with the longitudinal axis to a second position at an angle with the longitudinal axis;
a bendable firing member extending from the handle to the end effector for actuation of the end effector, the bendable firing member moveable proximally and distally within the surgical instrument; and
a link member moveably connected to the end effector and the shaft, the link member moving to a link angle relative to the longitudinal axis in response to articulating movement of the end effector and including a link slot to support at least a portion of the bendable firing member between the shaft and the end effector at any articulation angle;
a single pivot proximal frame ground member located within the shaft and rotatably attached to the handle and pivotally attached to the end effector at a single pivot, the single pivot proximal frame ground member including a guide slot for the bendable firing member; and
wherein the shaft further comprises an articulating sleeve assembly having a proximal closure tube portion longitudinally moveable distally and proximally over the single pivot frame ground member, the articulating sleeve assembly further comprising a distal tube portion movable distally and proximally over the end effector, and at least one closure link pivotally connecting the proximal tube portion to the distal tube portion and movable distally and proximally over the single pivot, the at least one closure link distally pivotally attached to the distal tube portion and proximally pivotally attached to the proximal tube portion.