Patent ID: 9681870
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A surgical instrument, comprising: a surgical end effector comprising first and second end effector portions, wherein the second end effector portion is selectively movable relative to the first end effector portion in a first direction upon application of an opening motion to said second end effector portion, said second end effector portion being further selectively movable in a second direction upon application of a closing motion to said second end effector portion; an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis and operably coupled to said surgical end effector, said elongated shaft assembly including an articulation portion for facilitating selective articulation of said surgical end effector relative to said longitudinal tool axis in said first and second directions upon application of articulation motions to said surgical end effector; a firing member operably supported for operable movement within said surgical end effector upon application of firing and retraction motions thereto; a firing system configured to selectively apply said firing and retraction motions to said firing member, said firing system comprising: a closure system configured to selectively apply said opening and closing motions to said first and second end effector portions; and an articulation control system for applying said articulation motions to said surgical end effector.