Patent ID: 7559452
Filing Date: 2009-07-14
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle operably configured to produce closure actuation and opening actuation; an elongate shaft attached to the handle and defining a longitudinal axis; an end effector distally attached to the elongate shaft and comprising a pair of pivoting members opposingly contacting tissue, wherein the lower pivoting member comprises a staple channel and the upper pivoting member comprises an anvil, and each pivoting member including a respective proximally projecting lever constrained to pivot relative to the other lever about a pivot connection, wherein the lever projecting proximally from the staple channel comprises a frame of the elongate shaft attached to the handle and the lever projecting proximally from the anvil comprises an anvil lever; a staple cartridge received in the staple channel; a firing bar slidingly received in the elongate channel and distally movable through the closed end effector to effect severing and stapling of clamped tissue; an outer sheath encompassing the frame of the elongate shaft and the lever of the anvil; and a fluid actuated closure mechanism comprising: