Surgical stapling instrument incorporating a firing mechanism having a linked rack transmission

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A surgical stapling and severing instrument particularly suited to endoscopic procedures incorporates a handle that produces separate closing and firing motions to actuate an end effector. In particular the handle produces multiple firing strokes in order to reduce the required amount of force required to fire (i.e. staple and sever) the end effector. A linked transmission reduces the required handle longitudinal length yet achieves a rigid, strong configuration when straightened for firing. A traction biased firing mechanism avoids binding in driving this straightened linked rack in cooperation with an anti- backup mechanism with a lockout mechanism that prevents releasing the closure …