SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING METHODS
First Claim
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1. A surgical method for treating target tissue within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- installing a hollow trocar port into a patient;
providing a surgical end effector comprising;
an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis;
a lower jaw operably coupled to the elongated shaft assembly, the lower jaw including elastic biasing means;
an upper jaw supported for movement relative to the lower jaw upon application of actuation motions thereto, the upper jaw being movable between a first insertion position wherein the upper jaw is compressible against the biasing means on the lower jaw to provide the surgical end effector with a smallest cross-sectional shape to facilitate passage of the surgical end effector through the hollow trocar port into the patient and a primary opened position whereupon application of an actuation motion thereto, the upper jaw is movable into a fully open position for admitting target tissue between the upper and lower jaws and upon application of another actuation motion to the upper jaw, the upper jaw is moved to a fully clamped position wherein the target tissue is clamped between the upper and lower jaws; and
a firing member operably supported for selective operable travel within the surgical end effector upon application of a firing motion thereto and wherein the surgical method further comprises;
inserting the surgical end effector into the hollow trocar port such that an inner surface of the hollow trocar port compresses the upper jaw into the insertion position until the surgical end effector has exited the distal end of the trocar port whereupon the biasing means moves the upper jaw into the primary opened position;
applying the actuation motion to the upper jaw to move the upper jaw to the fully opened position;
manipulating the end effector such that the target tissue is positioned between the upper and lower jaws;
applying the another actuation motion to the upper jaw to move the upper jaw into the fully clamped position; and
applying the firing motion to the firing member to cause the firing member to travel from a starting position to an ending position within the end effector.
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Abstract
Surgical methods for cutting and fastening tissue are disclosed. The methods may include employing a surgical end effector that includes a pair of jaws wherein an upper jaw is movable relative to a lower jaw that supports a surgical fastener cartridge. The methods may include manipulating the end effector to a compact configuration to facilitate its insertion through a trocar port and then manipulating and actuating the end effector to treat target tissue.
1499 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical method for treating target tissue within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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installing a hollow trocar port into a patient; providing a surgical end effector comprising; an elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis; a lower jaw operably coupled to the elongated shaft assembly, the lower jaw including elastic biasing means; an upper jaw supported for movement relative to the lower jaw upon application of actuation motions thereto, the upper jaw being movable between a first insertion position wherein the upper jaw is compressible against the biasing means on the lower jaw to provide the surgical end effector with a smallest cross-sectional shape to facilitate passage of the surgical end effector through the hollow trocar port into the patient and a primary opened position whereupon application of an actuation motion thereto, the upper jaw is movable into a fully open position for admitting target tissue between the upper and lower jaws and upon application of another actuation motion to the upper jaw, the upper jaw is moved to a fully clamped position wherein the target tissue is clamped between the upper and lower jaws; and a firing member operably supported for selective operable travel within the surgical end effector upon application of a firing motion thereto and wherein the surgical method further comprises; inserting the surgical end effector into the hollow trocar port such that an inner surface of the hollow trocar port compresses the upper jaw into the insertion position until the surgical end effector has exited the distal end of the trocar port whereupon the biasing means moves the upper jaw into the primary opened position; applying the actuation motion to the upper jaw to move the upper jaw to the fully opened position; manipulating the end effector such that the target tissue is positioned between the upper and lower jaws; applying the another actuation motion to the upper jaw to move the upper jaw into the fully clamped position; and applying the firing motion to the firing member to cause the firing member to travel from a starting position to an ending position within the end effector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical method for treating target tissue within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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installing a hollow trocar port into a patient; providing a surgical end effector comprising; an elongated shaft assembly; a lower jaw operably coupled to the elongated shaft assembly, the lower jaw including elastic biasing means; an upper jaw supported for movement relative to the lower jaw upon application of actuation motions thereto, the upper jaw being movable between a first insertion position wherein the upper jaw is compressible against the elastic biasing means to provide the surgical end effector with a smallest cross-sectional shape to facilitate passage of the surgical end effector through the trocar port into the patient and a primary opened position and whereupon application of an actuation motion thereto, the upper jaw is movable into a fully open position for admitting target tissue between the upper and lower jaws and upon application of another actuation motion thereto, the upper jaw is moved to a fully clamped position wherein the target tissue is clamped between the upper and lower jaws; a control insert operably supporting a portion of the upper jaw therein and being selectively movably supported in the lower jaw for travel between a first position corresponding to the insertion position and a second position corresponding to the primary opened position; means for moving the control insert between the first and second positions; and a firing member operably supported for selective operable travel within the surgical end effector upon application of a firing motion thereto and wherein the surgical method further comprises; moving the control insert into the first position; inserting the surgical end effector through the hollow trocar port into the patient; moving the control insert to the second position to enable the biasing means to move the upper jaw into the primary opened position; applying the actuation motion to the upper jaw to move the upper jaw to the fully opened position; manipulating the end effector such that the target tissue is positioned between the upper and lower jaws; applying the another actuation motion to the upper jaw to move the upper jaw into the fully clamped position; and applying the firing motion to the firing member to cause the firing member to travel from a starting position to an ending position within the end effector. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A surgical method for treating target tissue within a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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installing a hollow trocar port into a patient; providing a surgical end effector comprising; a lower jaw; an upper jaw supported for movement relative to the lower jaw between a first insertion position wherein the upper jaw is compressible against the lower jaw to provide the surgical end effector with a smallest cross-sectional shape to facilitate passage of the surgical end effector through the hollow trocar port into the patient and a primary opened position whereupon application of an actuation motion thereto, the upper jaw is movable into a fully open position for admitting target tissue between the upper and lower jaws and upon application of another actuation motion to the upper jaw, the upper jaw is moved to a fully clamped position wherein the target tissue is clamped between the upper and lower jaws; and a firing member operably supported for selective operable travel within the surgical end effector upon application of a firing motion thereto and wherein the surgical method further comprises; operably coupling an elongated shaft assembly to the surgical end effector, the elongated shaft assembly defining a longitudinal tool axis and including a distal closure tube portion supported for axial travel relative to the upper jaw to apply the actuation motions thereto, the distal closure tube portion including biasing means to automatically bias the upper jaw to the primary opened position upon exiting of the upper jaw from the trocar port; inserting the surgical end effector into the hollow trocar port such that an inner surface of the hollow trocar port compresses the upper jaw into the insertion position until the surgical end effector has exited the distal end of the trocar port whereupon the biasing means moves the upper jaw into the primary opened position; applying the actuation motion to the upper jaw to move the upper jaw to the fully opened position; manipulating the end effector such that the target tissue is positioned between the upper and lower jaws; applying the another actuation motion to the upper jaw to move the upper jaw into the fully clamped position; and applying the firing motion to the firing member to cause the firing member to travel from a starting position to an ending position within the end effector. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification