Patent attributes
A surgical device for stapling patient tissue is disclosed. The surgical device comprises a housing, a rotator operably supported in the housing, and an elongate shaft operably coupled to and extending from the housing. The elongate shaft defines a shaft axis and includes a flexible shaft portion. The surgical device further comprises an end effector operably coupled to the flexible shaft portion. The end effector comprises a staple cartridge and a firing member which is displaced distally to staple the patient tissue in response to at least one actuation motion applied at the housing. The surgical device further comprises a flexible actuator extending along the shaft axis such that selective actuation of the flexible actuator causes articulation of the end effector. The flexible actuator is operably coupled between the end effector and the rotator. The firing member extends through the elongate shaft.
