Motor-driven surgical cutting and fastening instrument with drive screw

Abstract

An end effector for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw pivotably coupled to said first jaw. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a closed position. The end effector further comprises a replaceable staple cartridge, a wedge sled assembly comprising a knife, and a drive screw extending longitudinally through the end effector, wherein a rotation of the drive screw in a first direction distally-advances the wedge sled assembly through the end effector during a staple firing stroke. A bearing rotatably supports a distal portion of the drive screw.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument, said end effector comprising:
 a cartridge channel;   an anvil pivotably coupled to said cartridge channel, wherein said anvil is movable relative to said cartridge channel between an open position and a closed position;   a replaceable staple cartridge positionable within said cartridge channel, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises:
 staple cavities; and 
 staples positioned within said staple cavities; 
   a wedge sled assembly configured to drive said staples from said staple cavities during a staple firing stroke, wherein said wedge sled assembly comprises:
 a plurality of distal-facing camming ramps; and 
 a distal-facing knife edge; 
   a drive screw extending longitudinally within said cartridge channel; and   a bearing, wherein said bearing receives a distal portion of said drive screw, and wherein said bearing permits said drive screw to rotate freely with respect to said cartridge channel.   
     
     
         22 . The end effector of  claim 21 , further comprising a pan attached to said replaceable staple cartridge. 
     
     
         23 . The end effector of  claim 22 , wherein said pan comprises:
 a first lateral sidewall comprising a first window defined therein;   a second lateral sidewall comprising a second window defined therein; and   a base extending between said first lateral sidewall and said second lateral sidewall.   
     
     
         24 . The end effector of  claim 21 , wherein said drive screw projects proximally beyond said cartridge body. 
     
     
         25 . The end effector of  claim 21 , wherein said drive screw comprises a helical thread. 
     
     
         26 . The end effector of  claim 25 , wherein a portion of said wedge sled assembly is threadably mounted to said drive screw. 
     
     
         27 . The end effector of  claim 26 , wherein a rotation of said drive screw in a first direction causes said wedge sled assembly to translate distally through a staple firing stroke. 
     
     
         28 . An end effector, comprising:
 a first jaw;   a second jaw pivotably coupled to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw between an open position and a closed position;   a replaceable staple cartridge, comprising:
 a plurality of staple cavities; and 
 a plurality of staples positioned within said plurality of staple cavities; 
   a wedge sled assembly comprising a knife;   a drive screw extending longitudinally through said end effector; and   a bearing, wherein said bearing receives a distal end of said drive screw, and wherein said bearing permits said drive screw to rotate freely with respect to said cartridge channel.   
     
     
         29 . The end effector of  claim 28 , wherein said knife comprises a distal-facing cutting edge. 
     
     
         30 . The end effector of  claim 29 , wherein said wedge sled assembly comprising a plurality of distal-facing ramps positioned to drive said plurality of staples out of said plurality of staple cavities as said wedge sled assembly is distally-advanced during a staple firing stroke. 
     
     
         31 . The end effector of  claim 28 , further comprising a pan attached to said replaceable staple cartridge. 
     
     
         32 . The end effector of  claim 28 , wherein said drive screw projects proximally beyond said cartridge body. 
     
     
         33 . The end effector of  claim 32 , wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises a deck, wherein said plurality of staple cavities are defined in said deck in at least six longitudinal rows, and wherein said deck comprises a stepped-up portion. 
     
     
         34 . The end effector of  claim 33 , wherein said first jaw comprises a channel, and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil. 
     
     
         35 . An end effector, comprising:
 a first jaw;   a second jaw pivotably coupled to said first jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw between an open position and a closed position;   a replaceable staple cartridge, comprising:
 a plurality of staple cavities; and 
 a plurality of staples positioned within said plurality of staple cavities; 
   a wedge sled assembly comprising a knife;   a drive screw extending longitudinally through said end effector, wherein a rotation of said drive screw in a first direction distally-advances said wedge sled assembly through said end effector during a staple firing stroke; and   a bearing, wherein said bearing rotatably supports a distal portion of said drive screw.   
     
     
         36 . The end effector of  claim 35 , wherein said drive screw extends proximally beyond said cartridge body. 
     
     
         37 . The end effector of  claim 36 , wherein said knife comprising a distal-facing cutting edge. 
     
     
         38 . The end effector of  claim 37 , wherein said first jaw comprises a channel, and wherein said second jaw comprises an anvil. 
     
     
         39 . The end effector of  claim 38 , wherein said replaceable staple cartridge further comprises a cartridge body, and wherein said surgical stapling assembly further comprises a pan attached to said cartridge body. 
     
     
         40 . The end effector of  claim 39 , wherein said pan comprises:
 a first lateral sidewall comprising a first through hole defined therein;   a second lateral sidewall; and   a base extending between said first lateral sidewall and said second lateral sidewall.