Devices and methods are provided for facilitating closing and clamping of an end effector of a surgical device. In general, the devices and methods can be configured to increase a moment arm of the end effector, thereby increasing a closure force of the end effector. In an exemplary embodiment, a surgical device can include a closure mechanism configured to provide an increased moment arm at the device's end effector, such as at a proximal end thereof.

An apparatus includes a body assembly, a shaft defining a longitudinal axis extending from the body assembly, an acoustic waveguide having a flexible portion, and an articulation section coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section has a first member and a second member translatable relative to the first member. An end effector has an ultrasonic blade that is in communication with the waveguide. An articulating control assembly has a motor. The motor is operable to translate the first and second members to thereby deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis at the articulation section.

A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly and an articulation control assembly. The shaft assembly includes an articulation section that is configured to deflect a distal end portion from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly includes an articulation control member and a transmission assembly. The articulation control member is rotatably mounted relative to the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is operatively connected between the articulation control member and the articulation section of the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is configured to transmit selective manipulation of the articulation control member to the articulation section and selectively actuate the articulation section. The articulation control assembly is configured to lock without selective manipulation of the articulation control member to thereby inhibit actuation of the articulation section and unlock with selective manipulation of the articulation control member to thereby actuate the articulation section.

A surgical instrument has an end-effector located on the end of a rotatable shaft, the shaft projecting from a handle. A thumbwheel is provided at the proximal end of the handle, which controls the rotation of the shaft, and hence the rotational orientation of the end-effector. The end-effector is capable of grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a switch located on the upper surface of the proximal end of the handle. The switch is oriented on the handle to be generally above the thumbwheel, in a relative position to the thumbwheel so that both the thumbwheel and the switch may be activated by the user's thumb, without the user having to alter his grip on the handle. In one embodiment of the invention the switch is therefore vertically oriented above the thumbwheel.

An end effector of a surgical instrument may generally comprise a blade, and a clamp arm assembly comprising a clamp arm movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the blade, and at least one camming member rotationally attached to the clamp arm, wherein the at least one camming member is configured to rotate relative to the blade as the clamp arm moves from the open position to the closed position.

In various embodiments, a surgical instrument can comprise an end effector including a staple cartridge and a datum portion positioned proximal to the staple cartridge. The surgical instrument can further comprise a shaft and an articulation joint configured to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft. In addition, the surgical instrument can further comprise a firing member configured to deploy a plurality of staples from the staple cartridge and a drive assembly including a drive member configured to move the firing member. The drive assembly may also include a stop configured to engage the datum portion to limit the movement of the drive member after the plurality of staples are fired.

A handle of a device such as an endoscopic surgical appliance is provided with a grip for actuation of an effector mechanism positioned at a distal end. A grip force attenuator within the handle absorbs excessive force after the grip force required to fully actuate the effector mechanism has been reached. The handle includes a first spring which deflects in response to hand grip force up to a predetermined level for actuation of the effector mechanism and a second spring which deflects in response to hand grip force which exceeds the predetermined level without applying such excess force to the first spring.

Described here are devices, systems, and methods for providing remote traction to tissue. Generally, the systems may include a grasper and a delivery device configured to releasably couple to the grasper. The grasper may have a first jaw and a second jaw and a main body having a barrel portion. The barrel portion may have a lumen extending therethrough, and a portion of the delivery device may be advanced through the lumen to rotate one or both of the jaws. The delivery devices may include a handle, a shaft, and a distal engagement portion. The delivery devices may further include an actuation rod which may be advanced through a barrel portion of a grasper to actuate the grasper. In some instances, the delivery device may further include a locking sheath, wherein the locking sheath is configured to temporarily couple to a grasper.

A surgical instrument with improved end-effector gripping force. The instrument comprises a shaft, which may be inserted into a body of a patient. The articulated end-effector is mounted on the distal extremity of the instrument shaft and comprises a plurality of links interconnected by a plurality of joints, whose movements are remotely actuated by the surgeon's hands. This remote actuation is accomplished through mechanical transmission, mainly along flexible elements, which are able to deliver motion from a set of actuation elements, placed at a proximal extremity of the shaft, to the instrument's articulated end-effector. The articulated end-effector further comprises one or more cam-and-follower mechanisms that are able to amplify the force transmitted by the flexible elements so that the actuation force at the instrument jaws is maximized and the tension on the transmission elements minimized, thus increasing the fatigue resistance and life of the instrument.

A surgical instrument, operable to compress, staple, and cut tissue, includes a body, a shaft, and an end effector with a pair of jaws. A placement tip that is bent, angled, or curved and extends distally from one of the jaws of the end effector. The placement tip is elastically deformable when the placement tip is subject to a clamping force, such as when the end effector is closed with the jaws in contact or when tissue is clamped between the jaws of the end effector. When the placement tip deflects, relative angles defined in part by the placement tip vary compared to an initial state without the clamping force. Furthermore, a distal end of the placement tip may change position based on the state of deflection of the placement tip in response to the clamping force.