Pneumatically powered surgical cutting and fastening instrument with audible and visual feedback features
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument for use in connection with a pneumatically powered tool having a firing mechanism operably supported therein that is movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, said surgical instrument comprising:
- a handle assembly operably couplable to the pneumatically powered tool;
a pneumatically powered drive system at least partially supported by said handle assembly and operably communicating with the pneumatically powered tool, said pneumatically powered drive system being configured to selectively apply at least a firing force to the firing mechanism of the pneumatically powered tool of sufficient magnitude to cause the firing mechanism to move from the unactuated position to the actuated position in response to a flow of gas from a source of gas fluidically coupled to said pneumatically powered drive system; and
at least one feedback device operably supported by said handle assembly and communicating with said pneumatically powered drive system for providing feedback concerning;
(a) the magnitude of said firing force as said pneumatically powered drive system moves the firing mechanism from the unactuated to actuated position; and
(b) a relative position of the firing mechanism as the firing mechanism is pneumatically moved between the unactuated and actuated positions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument for use in connection with a pneumatically powered tool having a firing mechanism operably supported therein that is movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position. A pneumatically powered drive system operably communicates with the pneumatically powered tool and is configured to selectively apply at least a firing force to the firing mechanism of the pneumatically powered tool of sufficient magnitude to cause the firing mechanism to move from the unactuated position to the actuated position in response to a flow of gas from a source of gas that is fluidically coupled to the pneumatically powered drive system. At least one feedback device communicates with the pneumatically powered drive system for providing feedback concerning at least one of:
(a) the magnitude of the firing force as the pneumatically powered drive system moves the firing mechanism from the unactuated to actuated position; and
(b) a relative position of the firing mechanism as the firing mechanism is moved between the unactuated and actuated positions.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument for use in connection with a pneumatically powered tool having a firing mechanism operably supported therein that is movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, said surgical instrument comprising:
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a handle assembly operably couplable to the pneumatically powered tool; a pneumatically powered drive system at least partially supported by said handle assembly and operably communicating with the pneumatically powered tool, said pneumatically powered drive system being configured to selectively apply at least a firing force to the firing mechanism of the pneumatically powered tool of sufficient magnitude to cause the firing mechanism to move from the unactuated position to the actuated position in response to a flow of gas from a source of gas fluidically coupled to said pneumatically powered drive system; and at least one feedback device operably supported by said handle assembly and communicating with said pneumatically powered drive system for providing feedback concerning; (a) the magnitude of said firing force as said pneumatically powered drive system moves the firing mechanism from the unactuated to actuated position; and (b) a relative position of the firing mechanism as the firing mechanism is pneumatically moved between the unactuated and actuated positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical instrument for use in connection with a pneumatically powered tool having a firing mechanism operably supported therein that is movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position, said surgical instrument comprising:
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drive means for selectively applying at least a firing force to the firing mechanism of the pneumatically powered tool of sufficient magnitude to cause the firing mechanism to move from the unactuated position to the actuated position in response to a flow of gas from a source of gas fluidically coupled to said drive means; and means for providing feedback communicating with said drive means for providing feedback concerning; (a) the magnitude of said firing force as said drive means moves the firing mechanism from the unactuated to actuated position; and (b) a relative position of the firing mechanism as the firing mechanism is pneumatically moved between the unactuated and actuated positions.
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12. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a handle assembly; a closure drive operably supported by said handle assembly and configured to generate a closing motion and an opening motion; an elongate shaft assembly operably coupled to said handle assembly and communicating with said closure drive to transfer said opening and closing motions; a pneumatically powered drive system supported by at least one of said handle assembly and said elongate shaft assembly and being configured to selectively generate at least one of a firing force and a retraction force; an end effector coupled to said elongate shaft assembly, said end effector comprising; an elongate channel sized to receive a staple cartridge therein; an anvil pivotally coupled to said elongate channel and being pivotally responsive to said open and closing motions from said elongate shaft assembly; and a firing mechanism operably supported within one of said elongate channel and the staple cartridge and being movable from an unactuated position to an actuated position in response to an application of said firing force from said pneumatically powered drive system and being movable from said actuated position to said unactuated position in response to another application of said retraction force from said pneumatically powered drive system and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; at least one feedback device communicating with said drive system for providing feedback concerning; (a) a magnitude of said firing force as said drive system moves the firing mechanism from the unactuated to actuated position; and (b) a relative position of the firing mechanism as the firing mechanism is pneumatically moved between the unactuated and actuated positions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification