Surgical instrument with axially movable closure member
A surgical instrument that includes a first jaw and a second jaw that is coupled to the first jaw for selective pivotal travel relative thereto between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A closure member is configured to apply closure motions to the second jaw as the closure member is axially movable in a distal direction from a starting position corresponding to the fully open position of the second jaw to an ending position corresponding to the fully closed position of the second jaw. The closure member is configured to move distally from the starting position through an initial predetermined axial closure distance before applying the closure motion to the second jaw.
1. A surgical system, comprising:
a housing operably supporting a closure system;
an interchangeable surgical tool assembly comprising:
an elongate shaft assembly operably and removably couplable to said housing such that a proximal closure portion thereof is configured to receive axial closure motions from said closure system; and
a surgical end effector operably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly, said surgical end effector comprising:
an elongate channel coupled to said elongate shaft assembly and configured to operably support a surgical fastener cartridge therein;
an anvil coupled to said elongate channel for selective pivotal travel relative thereto between a fully open position and a fully closed position wherein said elongate shaft assembly comprises:
an axially movable proximal closure member configured to receive said axial closure motions; and
a distal closure member operably coupled to said axially movable proximal closure member and configured to apply said axial closure motions to said anvil as said distal closure member is axially moved in a distal direction from a starting position corresponding to said fully open position of said anvil to an ending position corresponding to said fully closed position of said anvil, said distal closure member configured to move distally from said starting position an initial predetermined axial closure distance before applying said axial closure motions to said anvil, and wherein said distal closure member further comprises:
a first jaw opening feature on said distal closure member on one side of a shaft axis, wherein said first jaw opening feature is configured to apply a first amount of jaw opening motion to said anvil as said distal closure member is axially moved from said ending position to an intermediate axial position between said ending position and said starting position; and
a second jaw opening feature on said distal closure member on another side of said shaft axis, wherein said second jaw opening feature is axially spaced from said first jaw opening feature, and wherein said second jaw opening feature is configured to apply a second amount of jaw opening motion to said anvil as said distal closure member is axially moved from said intermediate axial position to said starting position.
2. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein said distal closure member is configured to distally move through a final predetermined axial closure distance after said anvil has been moved to said fully closed position.
3. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein said initial predetermined axial closure distance is 0.020 inches.
4. The surgical system of claim 2 , wherein said final predetermined axial closure distance is 0.040 inches.
5. The surgical system of claim 2 , wherein said distal closure member is configured to apply said axial closure motions to said anvil as said distal closure member moves distally through an intermediate predetermined axial closure distance after said distal closure member traveled said initial predetermined axial closure distance and prior to traveling said final predetermined axial closure distance.
6. The surgical system of claim 5 , wherein said intermediate predetermined axial closure distance is 0.200 inches.
7. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein said distal closure member comprises a closure camming surface configured to cammingly engage an anvil camming surface on said anvil to apply said axial closure motions thereto.
8. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw coupled to said first jaw for selective pivotal travel relative thereto between a fully open position and a fully closed position; and
a closure member configured to apply closure motions to said second jaw as said closure member is axially movable in a distal direction from a starting position corresponding to said fully open position of said second jaw to an ending position corresponding to said fully closed position of said second jaw, wherein said closure member is configured to move distally from said starting position an initial predetermined axial closure distance before applying said closure motion to said second jaw, wherein said closure member comprises at least one jaw opening feature on said closure member for applying opening motions to said second jaw as said closure member axially moves in a proximal direction from said ending position to said starting position, and wherein said at least one jaw opening feature comprises:
a first jaw opening feature on said closure member and configured to apply a first amount of jaw opening motion to said second jaw as said closure member is axially moved from said ending position to an intermediate axial position between said ending position and said starting position; and
a second jaw opening feature on said closure member axially spaced from said first jaw opening feature and configured to apply a second amount of jaw opening motion to said second jaw as said closure member is axially moved from said intermediate position to said starting position.
9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein said initial predetermined axial closure distance is 0.020 inches.
10. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein said closure member is configured to distally move through a final predetermined axial closure distance after said second jaw has been moved to said fully closed position.
11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein said final predetermined axial closure distance is 0.040 inches.
12. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein said closure member is configured to apply said closure motions to said second jaw as said closure member moves distally through an intermediate predetermined axial closure distance after said closure member traveled said initial predetermined axial closure distance and prior to traveling said final predetermined axial closure distance.
13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein said intermediate predetermined axial closure distance is 0.200 inches.
14. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein said closure member comprises a closure camming surface configured to cammingly engage a jaw camming surface on said second jaw to apply said closure motions thereto.
15. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple/fastener cartridge therein;
an anvil pivotally supported on said elongated channel for selective pivotal travel relative thereto between a fully open position and a fully closed position; and
a closure member configured to apply closure motions to said anvil as said closure member is axially movable in a distal direction from a starting position corresponding to said fully open position of said anvil to an ending position corresponding to said fully closed position of said anvil, said closure member configured to move distally from said starting position an initial predetermined axial closure distance before applying said closure motion to said anvil, wherein said closure member comprises means on said closure member for applying opening motions to said anvil as said closure member axially moves in a proximal direction from said ending position to said starting position, and wherein said means for applying opening motions comprises:
a first jaw opening feature on said closure member and configured to apply a first amount of jaw opening motion to said anvil as said closure member is axially moved from said ending position to an intermediate axial position between said ending position and said starting position; and
a second jaw opening feature on said closure member axially spaced from said first jaw opening feature and configured to apply a second amount of j aw opening motion to said anvil as said closure member is axially moved from said intermediate axial position to said starting position.
16. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said initial predetermined axial closure distance is 0.020 inches.
17. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said closure member is configured to distally move through a final predetermined axial closure distance after said anvil has been moved to said fully closed position.
18. The surgical instrument of claim 17 , wherein said final predetermined axial closure distance is 0.040 inches.
19. The surgical instrument of claim 17 , wherein said closure member is configured to apply said closure motions to said anvil as said closure member moves distally through an intermediate predetermined axial closure distance after said closure member traveled said initial predetermined axial closure distance and prior to traveling said final predetermined axial closure distance.
20. The surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein said intermediate predetermined axial closure distance is 0.200 inches.
21. The surgical instrument of claim 17 , wherein said closure member comprises a closure camming surface configured to cammingly engage an anvil camming surface on an anvil mounting portion of said anvil to apply said closure motions thereto.