Surgical stapling instrument incorporating a two-piece E-beam firing mechanism

A surgical stapling instrument comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises an anvil and a cartridge jaw comprising a channel, wherein the channel comprises a lockout recess defined therein. A staple cartridge is replaceably seated in the channel. A firing member is configured to distally advance a sled during a staple firing stroke. The firing member comprises a first portion configured to engage the anvil, a second portion configured to engage the cartridge jaw, and a lockout portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion. The lockout portion is configured to engage the lockout recess when the sled is not in a proximal position prior to the staple firing stroke. The surgical stapling instrument is unable to perform the staple firing stroke when the lockout portion engages the lockout recess.

Surgical stapling instrument incorporating a two-piece firing mechanism

A surgical instrument comprising a replaceable staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a longitudinal slot and three longitudinal rows of staple cavities defined alongside the longitudinal slot with staples removably stored therein. A double staple driver supports one staple from the first row and one staple from the second row. A single staple driver supports one staple from the third row. A sled comprises a first camming surface configured to contact the double driver, a second camming surface configured to contact the single driver, and a central portion movable through the longitudinal slot during a staple firing stroke. The first camming surface comprises a first width, and the central portion comprises a third width. The third width is greater than the first width. The firing member translates into a lockout recess when the sled is not in a proximal position prior to performing the staple firing stroke.

Surgical stapling instrument comprising replaceable staple cartridge

A surgical stapling instrument comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises an anvil and a cartridge jaw comprising a channel. A staple cartridge is replaceably seated in the channel. The staple cartridge comprises a longitudinal slot extending from a proximal end toward a distal end, a first longitudinal row of staple cavities extending alongside the longitudinal slot, and second and third longitudinal rows of staple cavities extending alongside the first longitudinal row. Staples are removably positioned in the staple cavities. A double staple driver supports a staple from the first row and a staple from the second row. A single staple driver supports a staple from the third row. A sled comprises first and second camming surfaces configured to drive the double staple driver and the single staple driver toward the anvil, respectively. Distal ends of the first and second camming surfaces are staggered.

ARTICULATING SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING A TWO-PIECE E-BEAM FIRING MECHANISM

A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.

ARTICULATING SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING A TWO-PIECE E-BEAM FIRING MECHANISM

A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments.

Motor-driven surgical cutting and fastening instrument with tactile position feedback

A surgical instrument is disclosed including an end effector, a firing drive, and a mechanical closure system. The end effector includes a first jaw including a proximal end and a distal end, a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position, a staple cartridge including staples removably stored therein, and a cutting member movable toward the distal end during a staple firing stroke. The firing drive includes a drive shaft operable to move the cutting member through the staple firing stroke, a gear drive train operably coupled to the drive shaft, an electric motor configured to actuate the gear drive train, and a firing trigger actuatable to actuate the electric motor. The mechanical closure system includes a closure member movable distally to close the second jaw during a closure stroke and a closure trigger rotatable between an unactuated position and an actuated position to advance the closure member through the closure stroke. The firing trigger pivots from a recessed position to an exposed user-accessible position when the closure trigger is placed in the actuated position.

Motor-driven surgical cutting and fastening instrument with tactile position feedback

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector comprising an elongate channel, a clamping member pivotably connected to the channel, and a moveable cutting instrument for traversing the channel to cut an object clamped in the end effector by the clamping member when the clamping member is in a clamped position. The instrument may also comprise a main drive shaft assembly for actuating the cutting instrument in the end effector, a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly, and a motor for actuating the gear drive train. The instrument may also includes a closure trigger and a firing trigger, separate from the closure trigger, for actuating the motor when the firing trigger is retracted. Also, the instrument may comprise a mechanical closure system connected to the closure trigger and to the clamping member for causing the clamping member to pivot to the clamped position when the closure trigger is retracted.

Motor-driven surgical cutting and fastening instrument with tactile position feedback

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector comprising an elongate channel, a clamping member pivotably connected to the channel, and a moveable cutting instrument for traversing the channel to cut an object clamped in the end effector by the clamping member when the clamping member is in a clamped position. The instrument may also comprise a main drive shaft assembly for actuating the cutting instrument in the end effector, a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly, and a motor for actuating the gear drive train. The instrument may also includes a closure trigger and a firing trigger, separate from the closure trigger, for actuating the motor when the firing trigger is retracted. Also, the instrument may comprise a mechanical closure system connected to the closure trigger and to the clamping member for causing the clamping member to pivot to the clamped position when the closure trigger is retracted.

Motor-driven surgical cutting and fastening instrument with tactile position feedback

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector comprising an elongate channel, a clamping member pivotably connected to the channel, and a moveable cutting instrument for traversing the channel to cut an object clamped in the end effector by the clamping member when the clamping member is in a clamped position. The instrument may also comprise a main drive shaft assembly for actuating the cutting instrument in the end effector, a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly, and a motor for actuating the gear drive train. The instrument may also includes a closure trigger and a firing trigger, separate from the closure trigger, for actuating the motor when the firing trigger is retracted. Also, the instrument may comprise a mechanical closure system connected to the closure trigger and to the clamping member for causing the clamping member to pivot to the clamped position when the closure trigger is retracted.

SUBSTRATE SUPPORTING APPARATUS, SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME, AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD

A substrate processing method capable of stably loading a substrate regardless of a variation in pressure of a reaction space includes supplying an inert gas; and forming a thin film by sequentially and repeatedly supplying a source gas, supplying a reaction gas, and activating the reaction gas, wherein a center portion of a substrate and a center portion of a susceptor are spaced apart from each other to form a separate space, the reaction space above the substrate and the separate space communicate with each other via one or more channels, an inert gas is introduced to the separate space through the one or more channels during the supplying of the inert gas, and the inert gas prevents pressure imbalance between the separate space and the reaction space during a thin film deposition process.