AXIALLY MOVABLE CLOSURE SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPLYING CLOSURE MOTIONS TO JAWS OF SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
A surgical tool assembly. The tool assembly includes a first jaw and a second jaw that is movably supported on the first jaw for selective movement relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position. The tool assembly further includes a shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. The shaft assembly includes an axially movable closure member that is configured to apply an initial closure motion to a cam surface on the second jaw in a first closure direction that is normal to the cam surface and an additional closure motion to the cam surface in a second closure direction that is parallel to the shaft axis.
1 . A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
a first jaw; and
a second jaw movably supported on said first jaw for selective movement relative to said first jaw between an open position and a closed position about a fixed pivot axis and wherein said surgical tool assembly further comprises a shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and comprises an axially movable closure member that is configured to apply an initial closure motion to a cam surface on said second jaw in a first closure direction that is normal to said cam surface and an additional closure motion to said cam surface in a second closure direction that is parallel to said shaft axis as said closure member is axially advanced on said cam surface.
2 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein said cam surface is formed on a second jaw mounting portion and wherein said second jaw further comprises first and second mounting walls that are each pivotally attached to said first jaw for selective pivotal travel about said pivot axis.
3 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein said axially movable closure member comprises a distal closure tube comprising a distal end surface and a distal camming surface configured to cammingly engage said cam surface on said second jaw.
4 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 3 , wherein said distal end surface is configured to apply said initial closure motion to said cam surface and said distal camming surface is configured to apply said additional closure motion to said cam surface.
5 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 4 , wherein said distal end surface comprises a portion of a cross-sectional thickness of said closure tube and wherein said camming surface extends from said distal end surface and comprises another portion of said cross-sectional thickness of said closure tube.
6 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 5 wherein said closure tube comprises:
an outer surface;
an inner surface; and
a distal end defining said distal end surface and wherein said distal camming surface extends from said distal end surface to said inner surface at an obtuse angle relative to said distal end surface.
7 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 2 , wherein said shaft assembly further comprises an axially movable firing member selectively axially movable between said first and second mounting walls between a starting position and an ending position.
8 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of said firing member is proximal to said cam surface when said firing member is in said starting position.
9 . A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
an end effector comprising:
an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; and
an anvil comprising an anvil mounting portion movably supported on said elongate channel for selective movement relative to said elongate channel about a fixed pivot axis between an open position and closed positions and wherein said surgical tool assembly further comprises:
a shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis and comprises an axially movable closure member that is configured to apply an initial closure motion to a cam surface on said anvil mounting portion in a first closure direction that is normal to said cam surface and an additional closure motion to said cam surface in a second closure direction that is parallel to said shaft axis as said closure member is axially advanced on said cam surface.
10 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 9 , wherein said anvil further comprises first and second anvil mounting walls that are each pivotally attached to said elongate channel for selective pivotal travel about said pivot axis.
11 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 9 , wherein said axially movable closure member comprises a distal closure tube comprising a distal end surface and a distal camming surface configured to cammingly engage said cam surface on said anvil mounting portion.
12 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 11 , wherein said distal end surface is configured to apply said initial closure motion to said cam surface and said distal camming surface is configured to apply said additional closure motion to said cam surface.
13 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 12 , wherein said distal end surface comprises a portion of a cross-sectional thickness of said closure tube and wherein said camming surface extends from said distal end surface and comprises another portion of said cross-sectional thickness of said closure tube.
14 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 10 , wherein said shaft assembly further comprises an axially movable firing member that is selectively axially movable between said first and second anvil mounting walls between a starting position and an ending position.
15 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of said firing member is proximal to said cam surface when said firing member is in said starting position.
16 . A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
an end effector comprising:
an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; and
an anvil movably comprising an anvil mounting portion supported on said elongate channel for selective movement relative to said elongate channel between an open position and a closed position and wherein said surgical tool assembly further comprises:
a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis and comprising an axially movable closure member;
first closure means on said closure member for applying an initial closure motion to a cam surface on said anvil mounting portion in a first closure direction that is normal to said cam surface; and
second closure means on said closure member for applying additional closure motion to said cam surface in a second closure direction that is parallel to said shaft axis as said closure member is axially advanced on said cam surface.
17 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 16 , wherein said first closure means comprises a distal cam surface on a portion of a distal end of said closure member and wherein said second closure means comprises a distal camming surface on another portion of said distal end and extending from said distal cam surface at an obtuse angle relative thereto.
18 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 16 , wherein said cam surface is formed on an anvil mounting portion and wherein said anvil further comprises first and second mounting walls that are each pivotally attached to said elongate channel for selective pivotal travel about said pivot axis.
19 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 18 , wherein said shaft assembly further comprises an axially movable firing member selectively axially movable between said first and second mounting walls between a starting position and an ending position.
20 . The surgical tool assembly of claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of said firing member is proximal to said cam surface when said firing member is in said starting position.