SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH PROGRESSIVE JAW CLOSURE ARRANGEMENTS
A surgical instrument that includes a first jaw and a second jaw that are movable between a closed position and an open position. An axially movable closure member is supported relative to the jaws to apply closing and opening motions thereto. A closure actuator operably interfaces with the closure member and is movable from an unactuated position corresponding to the open position in a closure direction during a closure procedure. A first control system is configured to apply an opening control motion to the closure actuator to return the closure actuator to the unactuated position upon completion of the closure procedure. A second control system is configured to apply a variable closure force to the closure member as the closure actuator is moved in the closure direction.
1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw operably supported relative to said first jaw such that said first and second jaws are movable between a closed position and an open position;
an axially movable closure member supported relative to said first and second jaws to apply closing and opening motions to at least one of said first and second jaws;
a closure actuator operably interfacing with said axially movable closure member and being movable from an unactuated position corresponding to said open position in a closure direction during a closure procedure to cause said closure member to apply said closing motion to said at least one of said first and second jaws;
a first means for applying an opening control motion to said closure actuator to return said closure actuator to said unactuated position upon completion of said closure procedure; and
a second means for applying a variable closure force to said closure member as said closure actuator is moved in said closure direction.
2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said first means for applying comprises a first biasing member interfacing with said closure actuator to return said closure actuator in an opening direction to said unactuated position after completion of said closure procedure.
3 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein said second means for applying a variable closure force to said closure member comprises a second biasing member between said closure member and said closure actuator to apply said variable closure force to said closure member as said closure actuator is moved in said closure direction.
4 . The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein said first biasing member comprises a first compression spring and wherein said second biasing member comprises a second compression spring.
5 . The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein said first compression spring comprises a first spring coefficient and wherein said second compression spring comprises a second spring coefficient that is greater than said first spring coefficient.
6 . The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein said second spring coefficient is up to ten times greater than said first spring coefficient.
7 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said first jaw comprises a surgical staple cartridge and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.
8 . The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein said second jaw comprises an elongated channel configured to removably support said surgical staple cartridge therein.
9 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said closure member comprises:
at least one actuator surface therein configured to cammingly contact at least one cam surface on said one of said first and second jaws; and
at least one opening feature configured to engage a corresponding opening portion on said one of said first and second jaws to apply said opening motion thereto when said closure member is moved in an opening direction.
10 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said closure actuator comprises:
an axially movable shuttle member operably interfacing with said closure member; and
a closure system operably interfacing with said axially movable shuttle member to selectively move said axially movable shuttle member in said closing direction.
11 . The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein said closure system comprises a closure trigger.
12 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw pivotally supported relative to said first jaw and being movable between an open position and a closed position relative to said first jaw upon application of opening and closing motions to said first jaw;
an axially movable closure member supported relative to said first and second jaws to apply said closing and opening motions to said second jaw;
a closure system comprising a closure actuator operably interfacing with said axially movable closure member and being movable from an unactuated position corresponding to said open position of said second jaw in a first closure direction during a closure procedure to cause said closure member to apply said closure motion to said second jaw;
a first means for applying an opening motion to said closure actuator to return said closure actuator to said unactuated position upon completion of said closure procedure; and
a second means for varying an amount of a closure force applied to said closure member by said closure actuator in relation to an amount of closure resistance experienced by said second jaw during said closure procedure.
13 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein said first jaw comprises a surgical staple cartridge and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil.
14 . The surgical instrument of claim 13 , wherein said first jaw comprises an elongated channel configured to removably support said surgical staple cartridge therein.
15 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a surgical end effector, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw operably supported relative to said first jaw such that said first and second jaws are movable between a closed position and an open position and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises:
an elongated shaft assembly operably coupled to said surgical end effector and comprising an axially movable closure member configured to apply closing and opening motions to at least one of said first and second jaws; and
a housing operably coupled to said elongated shaft assembly, said housing comprising:
a closure actuator operably interfacing with said axially movable closure member and being movable from an unactuated position corresponding to said open position in a closure direction during a closure procedure to cause said closure member to apply said closing motion to said at least one of said first and second jaws;
a first means for applying an opening control motion to said closure actuator to return said closure actuator to said unactuated position upon completion of said closure procedure; and
a second means for applying a variable closure force to said closure member as said closure actuator is moved in said closure direction.
16 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein said closure actuator comprises:
a shuttle member movably supported in said housing and operably interfacing with said closure member; and
a closure system supported by said housing and operably interfacing with said shuttle member to selectively move said shuttle member in said closure direction.
17 . The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein said closure system comprises a closure trigger movably supported by said housing.
18 . The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein said first means for applying comprises a first biasing member supported between a portion of said housing and said shuttle member to move said shuttle member in an opening direction after said completion of said closure procedure and wherein said second means for applying a variable closure force to said closure member comprises a second biasing member supported between said closure member and said shuttle member.
19 . The surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein said first biasing member comprises a first compression spring and wherein said second biasing member comprises a second compression spring.
20 . The surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein said first compression spring comprises a first spring coefficient and wherein said second compression spring comprises a second spring coefficient that is greater than said first spring coefficient.