Patent ID: 11857182
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a shaft assembly defining a shaft axis;
a surgical end effector operably coupled to said shaft assembly by an articulation joint, wherein said surgical end effector comprises:
an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; and
an anvil pivotally supported relative to said elongate channel, wherein said anvil is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said articulation joint comprises:

a distal joint member coupled to said elongate channel;
a central joint member operably interfacing with said distal joint member such that said distal joint member is selectively articulatable relative to said central joint member about a distal articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis; and
a proximal joint member coupled to said shaft assembly, wherein said proximal joint member operably interfaces with said central joint member such that said central joint member is selectively articulatable relative to said proximal joint member about a proximal articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and the distal articulation axis, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises an articulation control system comprising a plurality of actuators coupled to a closure pulley unit that operably interfaces with said surgical end effector, wherein actuation of a first combination of at least some of said actuators applies articulation motions to said surgical end effector to selectively articulate said surgical end effector about the distal articulation axis, and wherein actuation of a second combination of said actuators causes said closure pulley unit to apply closure motions to said anvil of said surgical end effector.