SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OPEN AND CLOSABLE JAWS AND AXIALLY MOVABLE FIRING MEMBER THAT IS INITIALLY PARKED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE JAWS PRIOR TO FIRING

摘要

A surgical instrument, comprising an articulatable end effector that is selectively articulatable about an articulation axis. The end effector comprises first and second jaws wherein the second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw about a jaw pivot axis. The instrument includes an axially movably firing member that includes at least one jaw engagement feature that is configured to apply a closure motion to the second end effector jaw as the axially movable firing member is moved from a starting position to an end position within the first end effector jaw. Each jaw engagement feature is configured such that a portion thereof is positioned between the jaw pivot axis and the articulation axis when the axially movable firing member is in the starting position.