Surgical tool assemblies with closure stroke reduction features
A surgical tool assembly that includes a surgical end effector that has first and second jaws that are movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other. A proximal closure member is configured to move through a first closure stroke distance upon application of a closure input motion thereto. A closure reduction linkage operably interfaces with the proximal closure member and a distal closure member such that when the proximal closure member moves through the first closure stroke distance, the closure reduction linkage causes the distal closure member to axially move through a second closure stroke distance that is less than the first closure stroke distance.
1. A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
a surgical end effector comprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other to move between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other upon application of closing and opening motions thereto;
a proximal closure member configured to move through a first linear closure stroke distance upon application of a closure input motion thereto;
a distal closure member operably interfacing with said surgical end effector; and
a closure stroke reduction assembly comprising a closure reduction linkage operably interfacing with said proximal closure member and said distal closure member such that when said proximal closure member moves through said first linear closure stroke distance, said closure reduction linkage causes said distal closure member to axially move through a second linear closure stroke distance that is less than said first linear closure stroke distance to thereby move at least one of said first and second jaws from said fully open position to said fully closed position.
2. The surgical tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein said surgical end effector is coupled to a shaft assembly comprising:
a shaft mounting portion configured for operable engagement with a source of said closure input motion; and
a spine assembly operably coupled to said surgical end effector and said shaft mounting portion, said spine assembly movably supporting said proximal and distal closure members thereon.
3. The surgical tool assembly of claim 2 , wherein said closure reduction linkage is operably coupled to a portion of said spine assembly and a mounting member movably supported for axial travel relative to said proximal closure member, said closure reduction linkage further communicating with said proximal closure member such that movement of said proximal closure member through an entire said first linear closure stroke distance moves said closure reduction linkage from a collapsed configuration to an extended configuration and wherein said mounting member is coupled to an intermediate closure member that is operably coupled to said distal closure member.
4. The surgical tool assembly of claim 3 , wherein said proximal closure member comprises a proximal closure tube that is axially supported on a portion of said spine assembly for selective axial travel thereon said entire first linear closure stroke distance and wherein said closure reduction linkage comprises:
a proximal closure link movably coupled to said portion of said spine assembly; and
a distal closure link movably coupled to said mounting member and pivotally coupled to said proximal closure link by an actuator member operably interfacing with said proximal closure tube.
5. The surgical tool assembly of claim 4 , wherein said actuator member comprises an actuator pin that is movably received within an actuator cam slot in said proximal closure tube.
6. The surgical tool assembly of claim 2 , wherein said surgical end effector is coupled to said shaft assembly by an articulation joint.
7. The surgical tool assembly of claim 6 , wherein said shaft assembly comprises:
an articulation system configured to apply articulation motions to said surgical end effector; and
a firing member assembly configured to axially advance a firing member through said surgical end effector.
8. The surgical tool assembly of claim 7 , wherein said articulation system is selectively engageable with said firing member assembly in an engaged configuration wherein movement of said firing member assembly causes said articulation system to articulate said surgical end effector relative to said shaft assembly and a disengaged configuration wherein said firing member assembly is movable without moving said articulation system, and wherein movement of said proximal closure member through said first linear closure stroke distance moves said articulation system and firing member assembly to said disengaged configuration.
9. The surgical tool assembly of claim 8 , wherein said first jaw comprises an elongate channel that is configured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.
10. The surgical tool assembly of claim 9 , wherein said firing member assembly comprises:
a proximal firing member;
a distal firing member slidably interfacing with said proximal firing member; and
an end effector firing member operably coupled to said distal firing member and configured to sever tissue and fire staples out of the surgical staple cartridge that is operably supported in said elongate channel when said firing member assembly is moved distally a predetermined firing distance.
11. The surgical tool assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first and second jaws are mounted relative to each other for selective pivotal travel about a fixed jaw axis.
12. The surgical tool assembly of claim 11 , wherein said first jaw comprises an elongate channel that is configured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.
13. A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
a surgical end effector comprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other to move between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other upon application of closing and opening motions thereto;
a shaft assembly coupled to said surgical end effector, said shaft assembly comprising:
a proximal closure member configured to move through a first linear closure stroke distance upon application of a closure input motion thereto;
a distal closure member operably interfacing with said surgical end effector; and
a closure stroke reduction assembly movably coupled to said proximal closure member and an intermediate closure member coupled to said distal closure member such that when said proximal closure member moves through said first linear closure stroke distance, said closure stroke reduction assembly moves said intermediate closure member and said distal closure member axially a second linear closure stroke distance that is less than said first linear closure stroke distance such that said distal closure member moves at least one of said first and second jaws from said fully open position to said fully closed position.
14. The surgical tool assembly of claim 13 , wherein said shaft assembly comprises:
a shaft mounting portion configured for operable engagement with a source of said closure input motion; and
a spine assembly operably coupled to said surgical end effector and said shaft mounting portion, said spine assembly movably supporting said proximal closure member, said intermediate closure member and said distal closure member thereon.
15. The surgical tool assembly of claim 13 , wherein said surgical end effector is coupled to said shaft assembly by an articulation joint.
16. The surgical tool assembly of claim 15 , wherein said shaft assembly comprises:
an articulation system configured to apply articulation motions to said surgical end effector; and
a firing member assembly configured to axially advance a firing member through said surgical end effector.
17. The surgical tool assembly of claim 16 , wherein said articulation system is selectively engageable with said firing member assembly in an engaged configuration wherein movement of said firing member assembly causes said articulation system to articulate said surgical end effector relative to said shaft assembly and a disengaged configuration wherein said firing member assembly is movable without moving said articulation system, and wherein movement of said proximal closure member through said first linear closure stroke distance moves said articulation system and firing member assembly to said disengaged configuration.
18. The surgical tool assembly of claim 16 , wherein said first jaw comprises an elongate channel that is configured to removably support a surgical staple cartridge therein and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.
19. The surgical tool assembly of claim 18 , wherein said firing member assembly comprises:
a proximal firing member;
a distal firing member slidably interfacing with said proximal firing member; and
an end effector firing member operably coupled to said distal firing member and configured to sever tissue and fire staples out of the surgical staple cartridge that is operably supported in said elongate channel when said firing member assembly is moved distally a predetermined firing distance.
20. A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
a surgical end effector comprising first and second jaws operably interfacing with each other to move about a fixed jaw axis between a fully open position and a fully closed position relative to each other upon application of closing and opening motions thereto;
a shaft assembly coupled to said surgical end effector, said shaft assembly comprising:
a proximal closure member configured to move through a first axial closure stroke distance upon application of a closure input motion thereto;
a distal closure member operably interfacing with said surgical end effector; and
closure stroke reduction means movably interfacing with said proximal closure member such that when said proximal closure member moves through said first axial closure stroke distance, said closure stroke reduction means moves from an unactuated configuration to an actuated configuration to thereby move said distal closure member axially a second axial closure stroke distance that is less than said first axial closure stroke distance so that said distal closure member moves said at least one of said first and second jaws from said fully open position to said fully closed position.