| abstract |
A surgical instrument comprising a shaft, an end effector, and an articulation joint is disclosed. The end effector is rotatably connected to the shaft about the articulation joint, wherein the end effector is rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the shaft comprises a longitudinal axis and the end effector comprises a tissue gap, wherein the tissue gap faces the longitudinal axis when the end effector is in its first orientation, and wherein the tissue gap extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis when the end effector is in its second orientation. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation drive system configured to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft and a dampener configured to prevent the end effector from being back-driven from its second orientation into its first orientation. |