Protection measures for robotic electrosurgical instruments

A method of operating a surgical tool, comprising:

• positioning the surgical tool adjacent a patient for operation, the surgical tool including:
• a wrist having a distal clevis rotatably coupled to a proximal clevis;
• a shaft coupled to the proximal clevis and providing a radial shoulder;
• and
• an end effector having one or more jaw members rotatably mounted to the distal clevis;
• insulating the wrist and a portion of the end effector with a protective sleeve having opposing distal and proximal ends and defining an aperture at the distal end through which the one or more jaw members protrude, the protective sleeve being made entirely of a same flexible material from the distal end to the proximal end, and an inner surface of the protective sleeve being smooth and forming an interference fit with an outer surface of the shaft;
• operating the end effector and thereby moving the protective sleeve axially from an assembled position, where the proximal end of the protective sleeve engages the radial shoulder, to a migrated position;
• and
• providing a positive indicator discernible during use of the surgical tool when the protective sleeve moves to the migrated position.