Firing drive arrangements for surgical systems
An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The end effector assembly comprises a first jaw defining a channel therein, a second jaw, and a threaded rod extending within the channel. The end effector assembly further comprises a replaceable staple cartridge comprising a sled, wherein the replaceable staple cartridge is configured to be seated in the channel, and a firing member operably engaged with the threaded rod, wherein the sled and the firing member are configured to move from a proximal position toward a distal position when the threaded rod is rotated in a first direction.
1. An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said end effector assembly comprises:
a first jaw defining a channel therein;
a second jaw;
a threaded rod extending within said channel;
a replaceable staple cartridge comprising a sled, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge is configured to be seated in said channel, and wherein said sled comprises a pair of downward projections sized to receive at least a portion of said threaded rod therebetween when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said channel; and
a firing member operably engaged with said threaded rod, wherein said sled and said firing member are configured to move from a proximal position toward a distal position when said threaded rod is rotated in a first direction.
2. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said firing member is configured to move from said distal position toward said proximal position when said threaded rod is rotated in a second direction, and wherein said sled does not move from said distal position toward said proximal position when said threaded rod is rotated in said second direction.
3. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said firing member is configured to engage said second jaw during a staple firing stroke.
4. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said sled is snap-fit onto said threaded rod when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said channel.
5. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said sled is configured to threadably engage said threaded rod when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said channel.
6. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said firing member is operably engaged with said threaded rod prior to seating of said replaceable staple cartridge in said channel.
7. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said firing member comprises a tissue cutting member.
8. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said sled comprises a bottom surface configured to interface with said threaded rod when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said channel, and wherein at least a portion of said bottom surface comprises a sled thread.
9. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first jaw comprises a mounting bracket in said channel, and wherein said mounting bracket is configured to receive at least a portion of said threaded rod.
10. The end effector assembly of claim 1 , wherein said sled is releasably coupled to said firing member when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said channel.
11. An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said end effector assembly comprises:
a first jaw defining a channel therein;
a second jaw;
a threaded rod extending within said channel;
a replaceable staple cartridge comprising a sled, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge is configured to be seated in said channel, wherein said sled comprises a bottom surface configured to interface with said threaded rod when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said channel, wherein at least a portion of said bottom surface comprises a sled thread, wherein said sled thread comprises a first side configured to engage said threaded rod when said threaded rod is rotated in a first direction, wherein said sled thread comprises a second side configured to slip over said threaded rod when said threaded rod is rotated in a second direction, wherein said first side comprises a sharp edge, and wherein said second side comprises a rounded edge; and
a firing member operably engaged with said threaded rod, wherein said sled and said firing member are configured to move from a proximal position toward a distal position when said threaded rod is rotated in said first direction.
12. An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said end effector assembly comprises:
a first jaw defining a channel therein;
a second jaw;
a threaded rod extending within said channel;
a replaceable staple cartridge comprising a sled, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge is configured to be seated in said channel, wherein said sled comprises a bottom surface configured to interface with said threaded rod when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said channel, wherein at least a portion of said bottom surface comprises a sled thread, wherein said threaded rod comprises a rod thread, wherein said rod thread comprises a first side configured to engage said sled thread when said threaded rod is rotated in a first direction, wherein said rod thread comprises a second side configured to slip over said sled thread when said threaded rod is rotated in a second direction, wherein said first side comprises a sharp edge, and wherein said second side comprises a rounded edge; and
a firing member operably engaged with said threaded rod, wherein said sled and said firing member are configured to move from a proximal position toward a distal position when said threaded rod is rotated in said first direction.
13. The end effector assembly of claim 12 , wherein said rounded edge comprises a degree of curvature, and wherein said degree of curvature varies along a length of said threaded rod.
14. An end effector assembly, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw;
a rotatable drive screw extending within said first jaw;
a replaceable staple cartridge configured to be seated in said first jaw, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises a sled, wherein at least a portion of said rotatable drive screw is received by said sled when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw; and
a firing member configured to operably engage said rotatable drive screw, wherein said sled is configured to be positioned distal to said firing member on said rotatable drive screw when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw, and wherein said firing member is configured to push said sled from a proximal position toward a distal position when said rotatable drive screw is rotated in a first direction.
15. The end effector assembly of claim 14 , wherein said rotatable drive screw is mounted within said first jaw prior to seating said replaceable staple cartridge in said first jaw.
16. The end effector assembly of claim 14 , wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises a clearance, and wherein at least a portion of said rotatable drive screw is positioned in said clearance when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw.
17. The end effector assembly of claim 14 , wherein said firing member is configured to move from said distal position toward said proximal position when said rotatable drive screw is rotated in a second direction, and wherein said sled does not move from said distal position toward said proximal position when said rotatable drive screw is rotated in said second direction.
18. The end effector assembly of claim 14 , wherein said sled comprises a bottom surface configured to interface with said rotatable drive screw when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw, and wherein at least a portion of said bottom surface comprises a sled thread.
19. An end effector assembly, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw;
a rotatable drive screw extending within said first jaw;
a replaceable staple cartridge configured to be seated in said first jaw, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises a sled, wherein said sled comprises a bottom surface configured to interface with said rotatable drive screw when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw, wherein at least a portion of said bottom surface comprises a sled thread, wherein said sled thread comprises a first side configured to engage said rotatable drive screw when said rotatable drive screw is rotated in a first direction, wherein said sled thread comprises a second side configured to allow said sled to slip with respect to said rotatable drive screw when said rotatable drive screw is rotated in a second direction, wherein said first side comprises a sharp edge, and wherein said second side comprises a rounded edge; and
a firing member configured to operably engage said rotatable drive screw, wherein said sled is configured to be positioned distal to said firing member on said rotatable drive screw when said replaceable staple cartridge is seated in said first jaw, and wherein said firing member is configured to push said sled from a proximal position toward a distal position when said rotatable drive screw is rotated in said first direction.
20. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
a cartridge body comprising a distal end;
staples removably stored in said cartridge body;
drivers configured to drive said staples out of said cartridge body; and
a sled configured to be positioned on a threaded rod of the surgical stapling instrument when said staple cartridge is seated in a staple cartridge jaw of an end effector of the surgical stapling instrument, wherein said sled comprises a pair of downward projections sized to receive the threaded rod of the surgical stapling instrument therebetween when said staple cartridge is seated in the staple cartridge jaw of the end effector, and wherein said sled is driven distally by the threaded rod when the threaded rod is rotated.