METHOD FOR RESETTING A FUSE OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SHAFT

• US 20180168597A1
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Published: 06/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Fanelli, Nicholas, Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Hensel, Adam D., Rector, Jason M., Wang, Bingshi, Overmyer, Mark D.
• Granted Patent: US 11,090,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00991 Telescopic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07235 containing different staples, e.g. staples of different shapes, sizes or materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 : characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 : characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 : characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 : characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 : pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0808 : for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 : for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

Methods for resetting a fuse in a surgical instrument are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for operating a surgical instrument comprising a firing assembly including a fuse, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

advancing the firing assembly to perform a staple firing stroke and apply a firing load to a staple cartridge assembly;

stopping the firing assembly if the fuse in the firing assembly fails from an excessive firing load; and

retracting the firing assembly to reset the fuse.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of completing the staple firing stroke after said retracting step.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of retracting the firing assembly to an unfired position instead of completing the staple firing stroke.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument comprises an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a missing staple cartridge lockout, and wherein the firing load becomes an excessive firing load when the firing assembly abuts the missing staple cartridge lockout.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument comprises an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a spent staple cartridge lockout, and wherein the firing load becomes an excessive firing load when the firing assembly abuts the spent staple cartridge lockout.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a lockout configured to perform said stopping step.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of replacing the staple cartridge assembly with an unspent staple cartridge assembly and completing the staple firing stroke after said stopping step.

8. A method for operating a surgical instrument comprising a firing assembly including a fuse, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

advancing the firing assembly within a staple cartridge assembly to perform a staple firing stroke and apply a firing load to the staple cartridge assembly;

completing the staple firing stroke if the fuse in the firing assembly enters into a first failed state; and

stopping the staple firing stroke if the fuse in the firing assembly enters into a second failed state after entering into the first failed state.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of resetting the fuse after said stopping step.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said resetting step comprises the step of retracting the firing assembly.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said completing step comprises the steps of retracting the firing assembly and then advancing the firing assembly.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the fuse enters into the first failed state when the firing load exceeds a first force threshold, and wherein the fuse enters into the second failed state when the firing load exceeds a second force threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first force threshold is different than the second force threshold.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second force threshold is higher than the first force threshold.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a lockout configured to perform said stopping step.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of replacing the staple cartridge assembly with an unspent staple cartridge assembly and completing the staple firing stroke after said stopping step.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of resetting the fuse from the second failed state to the first failed state after said stopping step.

18. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of resetting the fuse from second failed state to an unfailed state after said stopping step.

19. A method for operating a surgical instrument comprising a firing assembly including a fuse, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

advancing the firing assembly to perform a staple firing stroke and apply a firing load to a staple cartridge assembly;

stopping the firing assembly if the fuse in the firing assembly changes state; and

resetting the fuse to an unfailed state.