Methods for controlling a powered surgical stapler that has separate rotary closure and firing systems
AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Chad P. Boudreaux, Gregory J. Bakos, Chester O. Baxter, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for controlling a powered surgical stapler that includes an end effector with jaws that are movable between an open and a closed position and a firing member that is movable between a starting position and an ending position within the end effector. The jaws and firing member are controlled by separate rotary systems and the end effector includes a firing member lockout system that prevents axial movement of the firing member unless the surgical staple cartridge is in ready to fire condition.
Claims18
A method for controlling a powered surgical stapler that includes an end effector with a second jaw that is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to a first jaw of the end effector, wherein the first jaw comprises an onboard rotary drive shaft configured to drive a firing member that is movable between a starting position and an ending position within the end effector, and wherein said method comprises:
- installing a surgical staple cartridge in the first jaw of the end effector such that a camming assembly that is movably supported in the surgical staple cartridge for axial travel therein between an unfired position and a fired position is positioned to drivingly engage the onboard rotary drive shaft in the first jaw;
- generating a first rotary control motion;
- converting the first rotary control motion to a first axial motion;
- converting the first axial motion to a pivoting closure motion;
- applying the pivoting closure motion to the second jaw to pivot the second jaw to the closed position;
- generating a second rotary control motion;
- applying the second rotary control motion to the onboard rotary drive shaft, wherein said generating the first rotary control motion is maintained during said applying the second rotary control motion to the onboard rotary drive shaft;
- and
- preventing axial movement of the firing member from the starting position to the ending position unless the camming assembly in the installed surgical staple cartridge is in the unfired position.
A method for controlling a powered surgical stapler that includes an end effector with jaws that are movable between an open position and a closed position by an axially movable closure member, wherein a first jaw of the jaws comprises a rotary drive shaft configured to axially drive a firing member between a starting position and an ending position within the end effector, and wherein said method comprises:
- installing a surgical staple cartridge in the first jaw of the jaws such that a camming assembly that is axially movable between an unfired position and a fired position within the surgical staple cartridge drivingly engages the rotary drive shaft;
- applying a first rotary control motion to the axially movable closure member to cause the axially movable closure member to apply a closure motion to the jaws to move the jaws to the closed position;
- applying a second rotary control motion to the firing member, wherein said applying the first rotary control motion is maintained during said applying the second rotary control motion to the firing member;
- and
- preventing axial movement of the firing member from the starting position to the ending position unless the camming assembly in the installed surgical staple cartridge is in the unfired position.
A method for controlling a powered surgical stapler that includes an end effector with jaws that are movable between an open position and a closed position by an axially movable closure member, wherein a first jaw of the jaws comprises a rotary drive shaft configured to axially drive a firing member between a starting position and an ending position within the end effector, and wherein said method comprises:
- installing a surgical staple cartridge in the first jaw of the jaws such that a camming assembly that is axially movable between an unfired position and a fired position within the surgical staple cartridge drivingly engages the rotary drive shaft;
- applying a first rotary control motion to the axially movable closure member to cause the axially movable closure member to apply a closure motion to the jaws to move the jaws to the closed position;
- applying a second rotary control motion to the firing member, wherein said applying the first rotary control motion is periodically maintained during said applying the second rotary control motion to the firing member while the firing member moves from the starting position to the ending position within the end effector;
- and
- preventing axial movement of the firing member from the starting position to the ending position unless the camming assembly in the installed surgical staple cartridge is in the unfired position.
A method for controlling a powered surgical stapler that includes an end effector with jaws that are movable between an open position and a closed position by an axially movable closure member, wherein a first jaw of the jaws comprises a rotary drive shaft configured to axially drive a firing member between a starting position and an ending position within the end effector, and wherein said method comprises:
- installing a surgical staple cartridge in the first jaw of the jaws such that a camming assembly that is axially movable between an unfired position and a fired position within the surgical staple cartridge drivingly engages the rotary drive shaft;
- applying a first rotary control motion to the axially movable closure member to cause the axially movable closure member to apply a closure motion to the jaws to move the jaws to the closed position, wherein said applying the first rotary control motion comprises energizing a closure motor to apply a rotary closure motion to a rotary closure shaft that rotatably interfaces with the axially movable closure member;
- applying a second rotary control motion to the firing member, wherein said applying the second rotary control motion to the firing member comprises energizing a firing motor to apply a rotary firing motion to the rotary drive shaft;
- preventing axial movement of the firing member from the starting position to the ending position unless the camming assembly in the installed surgical staple cartridge is in the unfired position;
- discontinuing said energizing of the closure motor after the axially movable closure member has moved the jaws to the closed position;
- monitoring an amount of current drawn by the firing motor while the firing member is moved from the starting position to the ending position;
- and
- re-energizing the closure motor to apply other rotary closure motions to the axially movable closure member when the amount of current drawn by the firing motor exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.