SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH DUAL CAM ACTUATED JAW CLOSING FEATURES

摘要

A surgical instrument comprising an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. An end effector mounting assembly may be movably coupled to the elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis. First and second jaws may be movably coupled to the end effector mounting assembly such that the first and second jaws are each movable relative to each other and the shaft axis about a common pivot axis between an open position and closed positions. The first and second jaws may close at different closure rates upon the simultaneous application of closure motions thereto.

主权项

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an elongate shaft assembly defining a shaft axis; an end effector mounting assembly movably coupled to said elongate shaft assembly for selective articulation about an articulation axis that is transverse to said shaft axis; first and second jaws movably coupled to said end effector mounting assembly such that said first and second jaws are each movable relative to each other and said shaft axis about a common pivot axis between an open position and closed positions, said first jaw comprising a first point and said second jaw comprising a second point wherein said first and second points lie along a common axis that is perpendicular to said shaft axis and wherein said first point is a first distance from said shaft axis when said first jaw is in said open position and wherein said second point is a second distance from said shaft axis when said second jaw is in said open position and wherein said second distance is different from said first distance; means for biasing said first and second jaws away from each other to said open position; and means for applying closure motions to said first and second jaws to move said first and second jaws toward each other to said closed positions.