John V. Hunt;Robert J. Laird;Omar J. Vakharia;Richard W. Timm;Suzanne E. Thompson;Gavin M. Monson
发明人:
John V. Hunt,Robert J. Laird,Omar J. Vakharia,Richard W. Timm,Gavin M. Monson,Suzanne E. Thompson
申请号：
US12732992
公开号：
US08696665B2
申请日:
2010.03.26
申请国别(地区):
US
年份:
2014
代理人:
摘要：
A surgical instrument is provided that can comprise and end effector including two jaws and a cutting member configured to move between the jaws. In at least one embodiment, one or both of the jaws may be flexible, such that a jaw is configured to flex when gripping tissue. Further, at least one of the jaws may include a thin cross-sectional area such that the jaw flexes when gripping tissue. Additionally, in at least one embodiment, one or more compression elements may extend from the cutting member and may be configured to cause the jaws to close when the cutting member is advanced. The compression elements may comprise a roller and/or a low-friction material. Moreover, in at least one embodiment, one or both of the jaws may be precurved, away from the cutting member's longitudinal axis. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the overall force required to advance the cutting member and/or close the jaws may be reduced.
