Surgical end effector with two separate cooperating opening features for opening and closing end effector jaws

Abstract

A surgical tool assembly that includes first and second jaws. The second jaw includes a second jaw body portion and a second jaw mounting portion that is movably coupled to the first jaw. A closure member that has at least one opening cam formed thereon is axially movable in response to closing and opening motions. The opening cam is configured to movably engage a corresponding cam surface that is formed on the second jaw body portion to move the second jaw to an open position.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
 a surgical end effector comprising:
 a first jaw; and 
 a second jaw comprising a second jaw body portion and a second jaw mounting portion, wherein said second jaw mounting portion is movably coupled to said first jaw for selective movement relative thereto between an open position and a closed position and wherein said surgical tool assembly further comprises: 
   a closure member axially movable in response to a closing motion and an opening motion applied thereto, said closure member comprising:   an opening cam configured to cammingly engage a cam surface on said second jaw body portion, wherein upon application of said opening motion to said closure member, said opening cam movably engages said cam surface to move said second jaw to said open position, and wherein upon application of said closing motion to said closure member, said closure member engages said second jaw to move said second jaw to said closed position; and   a biasing member associated with said opening cam, wherein said biasing member is configured to apply additional opening motion to said second jaw when said opening motion is applied to said closure member.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 21 , wherein said cam surface is formed on an anvil opening ramp on said second jaw body portion, wherein said opening cam comprises a hook-shaped tab formed on said closure member, and wherein said biasing member is positioned between said anvil opening ramp and said hook-shaped tab. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said biasing member comprises a leaf spring. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said leaf spring comprises an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 23 , wherein said leaf spring comprises a V-shape. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said biasing member comprises a compliant member formed on said hook-shaped tab. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said a closure member further comprises:
 another opening cam configured to cammingly engage another cam surface on said second jaw body portion, wherein upon application of said opening motion to said closure member, said another opening cam movably engages said another cam surface to move said second jaw to said open position; and   another biasing member associated with said another opening cam, wherein said another biasing member is configured to apply other additional opening motions to said second jaw when said opening motion is applied to said closure member.   
     
     
         28 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 27 , wherein said another cam surface is formed on another anvil opening ramp on said second jaw body portion, wherein said another opening cam comprises another hook-shaped tab formed on said closure member, and wherein said another biasing member is positioned between said another anvil opening ramp and said another hook-shaped tab. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said another biasing member comprises another leaf spring. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 29 , wherein said another leaf spring comprises an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 29 , wherein said another leaf spring comprises a V-shape. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said another biasing member comprises another compliant member formed on said another hook-shaped tab. 
     
     
         33 . A surgical tool assembly, comprising:
 a surgical end effector comprising:
 an elongate channel configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge therein; and 
 an anvil comprising an anvil body portion and an anvil mounting portion, wherein said anvil mounting portion is pivotally supported on said elongate channel for selective movement relative thereto between an open position and a closed position and wherein said surgical tool assembly further comprises: 
   a closure member axially movable in response to a closing motion and an opening motion applied thereto, said closure member comprising:   a first opening cam corresponding to a first cam surface on said anvil body;   a second opening cam corresponding to a second cam surface on said anvil body, wherein   
       upon application of said opening motion to said closure member, said first opening cam movably engages said first cam surface and said second opening cam movably engages said second cam surface to move said anvil to said open position, and wherein upon application of said closure motion to said closure member, said closure member engages said anvil to move said anvil to said closed position;
 a first biasing member associated with said first opening cam; and 
 a second biasing member associated with said second opening cam, wherein said first biasing member and said second biasing member are configured to apply additional opening motions to said anvil jaw when said opening motion is applied to said closure member. 
 
     
     
         34 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 33 , wherein said first cam surface is formed on a first anvil opening ramp on said anvil body portion, wherein said first opening cam comprises a first hook-shaped tab formed on said closure member, wherein said second cam surface is formed on a second anvil opening ramp on said anvil body portion, and wherein said second opening cam comprises a second hook-shaped tab formed on said closure member. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 34 , wherein said first biasing member is positioned between said first anvil opening ramp and said first hook-shaped tab, and wherein said second biasing member is positioned between said second anvil opening ramp and said second hook-shaped tab. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 35 , wherein said first biasing member comprises a first leaf spring, and wherein, said second biasing member comprises a second leaf spring. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said first leaf spring comprises a first arcuate shape, and wherein said second leaf spring comprises a second arcuate shape. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 36 , wherein said first leaf spring comprises a first V-shape, and wherein said second leaf spring comprises a second V-shape. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 35 , wherein said first biasing member comprises a first compliant member formed on said first hook-shaped tab, and wherein said second biasing member comprises a second compliant member formed on said second hook-shaped tab. 
     
     
         40 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 33 , wherein said anvil body portion comprises an upper anvil surface, wherein said anvil mounting portion comprises an anvil closure ramp that extends proximally from said anvil upper surface without forming a step therebetween, and wherein a distal portion of said closure member is configured to cammingly engage said anvil closure ramp upon said application of said closure motion to said closure member to move said anvil from said open position to said closed position. 
     
     
         41 . The surgical tool assembly of  claim 33 , further comprising an anvil opening feature on said anvil mounting portion, wherein said anvil opening feature is configured to be contacted by an anvil opening tab formed in said closure member upon said application of said opening motion to said closure member.