Patent ID: 7784662

Claim:
A surgical instrument, comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the elongate shaft further comprising a frame assembly and an articulating closure sleeve; an end effector comprising a lower jaw and a pivotally attached upper jaw, wherein the pivotally attached upper jaw comprises an anvil presenting a staple forming surface; an articulation joint of the frame assembly, the articulation joint of the frame assembly comprising: i) a distal frame ground portion fixedly attached to the lower jaw of the end effector, ii) a proximal frame ground portion, and iii) a frame link bridging a longitudinal gap between the distal frame ground portion and the proximal frame ground portion, the frame link being pivotally attached to the distal frame ground portion to define a first pivot point, the frame link being further pivotally attached to the proximal frame ground portion to define a second pivot point, wherein the distal frame ground portion is pivotable relative to the proximal frame ground portion about the first pivot point, wherein the distal frame ground portion is further pivotable relative to the proximal frame ground portion about the second pivot point, wherein the first pivot point is longitudinally spaced distal to the second pivot point; a handle portion attached to a proximal end of the proximal frame ground portion for pivotal attachment of the end effector to the handle with the frame assembly, the handle portion being further operatively configured to longitudinally couple a closure motion to the upper jaw with the articulating closure sleeve; a firing bar guided within the elongate shaft and longitudinally reciprocated by the handle portion; and a staple cartridge received within the end effector responsive to the distal movement of the firing bar; wherein the articulating closure sleeve comprises an articulating sleeve portion positioned to traverse over and encompass at least a portion of the frame link, and to distally engage with the upper jaw to effect pivoting of the upper jaw, wherein the articulating closure sleeve comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion pivotally coupled together by a closure sleeve articulation joint, wherein the closure sleeve articulation joint defines a third pivot point, wherein the proximal portion of the articulating closure sleeve is pivotable relative to the distal portion of the articulation closure sleeve about the third pivot point, wherein the closure sleeve articulation joint is operable to translate relative to the articulation joint of the frame assembly.