Abstract: A method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument. The method includes providing a rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting the rotary drive motion to an upper axial motion and a lower axial motion at locations that are distal to the articulation joint. The method further includes applying the upper axial motion to an upper portion of a firing member and applying the lower axial motion to a lower portion of the firing member such that the upper axial motion and lower axial motion drives the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position. 0021680.

Abstract: A method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument. The method includes providing a rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting the rotary drive motion to an upper axial motion and a lower axial motion at locations that are distal to the articulation joint. The method further includes applying the upper axial motion to an upper portion of a firing member and applying the lower axial motion to a lower portion of the firing member such that the upper axial motion and lower axial motion drives the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position.

Abstract: Surgical instruments that include an articulation joint that is a configured to establish an upper pathway and a lower pathway through the articulation joint. The upper pathway and the lower pathway are parallel to each other when the surgical instrument is in an unarticulated position and the upper pathway and the lower pathway are concentric to each other when the surgical instrument is articulated. An upper flexible firing assembly slidably extends through the upper pathway and a lower flexible firing assembly slidably extends through the lower pathway. The upper and lower flexible firing assemblies interface with a firing member and a differential drive assembly configured to apply axial drive motions to the upper flexible firing assembly and the lower flexible firing assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, an end effector, and a lockout assembly. The end effector includes a cartridge jaw, an anvil jaw, a knife and a distal retainer. The lockout assembly includes a sensor and a lockout. The lockout is vertically constrained. The sensor is associated with a first pivot and a second pivot. The first pivot is grounded with respect to a channel. The second pivot is a moving pivot. The lockout assembly includes an unlocked and locked position. The second pivot is positioned above the first pivot when the lockout assembly is in the unlocked position with the lockout providing no interference with respect to actuation of the knife. The first pivot and the second pivot are positioned at substantially the same height when the lockout assembly is in the locked position.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body (700), a shaft (600A), an end effector (200), and a lockout assembly (1100). The end effector includes a cartridge jaw (202), an anvil jaw (204), a knife (206) and a distal retainer (1110). The lockout assembly includes a sensor (1120) and a lockout (1140). The lockout is vertically constrained. The sensor is associated with a first pivot (1124) and a second pivot. The first pivot is grounded with respect to a channel (1114). The second pivot is a moving pivot. The lockout assembly includes an unlocked and locked position. The second pivot is positioned above the first pivot when the lockout assembly is in the unlocked position with the lockout providing no interference with respect to actuation of the knife. The first pivot and the second pivot are positioned at substantially the same height when the lockout assembly is in the locked position.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body having an interior space sized and shaped to receive a surgical stapler end effector in an open state in combination with an adjunct applicator that includes an adjunct. The apparatus further includes a closure member movably coupled with the body. The closure member is actuatable to close the surgical stapler end effector onto the adjunct applicator so that the adjunct is applied to a stapling surface of the surgical stapler end effector.

Abstract: Surgical instruments that include an articulation joint that is a configured to establish an upper pathway and a lower pathway through the articulation joint. The upper pathway and the lower pathway are parallel to each other when the surgical instrument is in an unarticulated position and the upper pathway and the lower pathway are concentric to each other when the surgical instrument is articulated. An upper flexible firing assembly slidably extends through the upper pathway and a lower flexible firing assembly slidably extends through the lower pathway. The upper and lower flexible firing assemblies interface with a firing member and a differential drive assembly configured to apply axial drive motions to the upper flexible firing assembly and the lower flexible firing assembly.

Abstract: Surgical instruments that include an articulation joint that is a configured to establish an upper pathway and a lower pathway through the articulation joint. The upper pathway and the lower pathway are parallel to each other when the surgical instrument is in an unarticulated position and the upper pathway and the lower pathway are concentric to each other when the surgical instrument is articulated. An upper flexible firing assembly slidably extends through the upper pathway and a lower flexible firing assembly slidably extends through the lower pathway. The upper and lower flexible firing assemblies interface with a firing member and a differential drive assembly configured to apply axial drive motions to the upper flexible firing assembly and the lower flexible firing assembly.

Abstract: A method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument. The method includes providing a rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting the rotary drive motion to an upper axial motion and a lower axial motion at locations that are distal to the articulation joint. The method further includes applying the upper axial motion to an upper portion of a firing member and applying the lower axial motion to a lower portion of the firing member such that the upper axial motion and lower axial motion drives the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position.

Abstract: A method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument. The method includes providing a rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting the rotary drive motion to an upper axial motion and a lower axial motion at locations that are distal to the articulation joint. The method further includes applying the upper axial motion to an upper portion of a firing member and applying the lower axial motion to a lower portion of the firing member such that the upper axial motion and lower axial motion drives the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body having an interior space sized and shaped to receive a surgical stapler end effector in an open state in combination with an adjunct applicator that includes an adjunct. The apparatus further includes a closure member movably coupled with the body. The closure member is actuatable to close the surgical stapler end effector onto the adjunct applicator so that the adjunct is applied to a stapling surface of the surgical stapler end effector.

Abstract: Surgical instruments that include an articulation joint that is a configured to establish an upper pathway and a lower pathway through the articulation joint. The upper pathway and the lower pathway are parallel to each other when the surgical instrument is in an unarticulated position and the upper pathway and the lower pathway are concentric to each other when the surgical instrument is articulated. An upper flexible firing assembly slidably extends through the upper pathway and a lower flexible firing assembly slidably extends through the lower pathway. The upper and lower flexible firing assemblies interface with a firing member and a differential drive assembly configured to apply axial drive motions to the upper flexible firing assembly and the lower flexible firing assembly.

Abstract: A method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument. The method includes providing a rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting the rotary drive motion to an upper axial motion and a lower axial motion at locations that are distal to the articulation joint. The method further includes applying the upper axial motion to an upper portion of a firing member and applying the lower axial motion to a lower portion of the firing member such that the upper axial motion and lower axial motion drives the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position.