Method for testing a surgical tool

• US 9,585,660 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Laurent, Ryan J., Swensgard, Brett E., Smith, Bret W., Smith, Craig S., Kimball, Cory G., Kerr, Wendy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tecco, Andrew M
• Application Number:
  US14/076,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20140061279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• 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 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00707 Dummies, phantoms; Devices simulating patient or parts of patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 Calibration or performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00907 for light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/038 during shipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• 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 50/00 Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers drapes specially adapted for instruments A61B46/10

Abstract

In various embodiments, a method is provided. The method comprises obtaining a surgical tool configured to perform a surgical function, wherein the surgical tool comprises a firing member and a lockout, wherein an actuation movement of the firing member is configured to generate the surgical function, and wherein the lockout is configured to prevent the actuation movement of the firing member, engaging a test device with the surgical tool, permanently disabling the lockout while the test device is engaged with the surgical tool, and permanently preventing the surgical function while the test device is engaged with the surgical tool.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining a surgical tool configured to perform a surgical function, wherein the surgical tool comprises a firing member and a lockout, wherein an actuation movement of the firing member is configured to generate the surgical function, and wherein the lockout is configured to prevent the actuation movement of the firing member;

engaging a test device with the surgical tool;

permanently disabling the lockout while the test device is engaged with the surgical tool; and

permanently preventing the surgical function while the test device is engaged with the surgical tool.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising disengaging the test device from the surgical tool.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the lockout prevents the actuation movement of the firing member after disengaging the test device from the surgical tool.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

engaging a fastener cartridge with the surgical tool after disengaging the test device from the surgical tool;

actuating the firing member; and

generating the surgical function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging the test device with the surgical tool comprises positioning the test device at least partially around the surgical tool.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the lockout comprises a fixed lockout member, and wherein the test device is configured to disable the lockout by biasing the firing member out of engagement with the fixed lockout member.

7. A method, comprising:

obtaining a surgical tool configured to perform a surgical function, wherein the surgical tool comprises a firing member and a lockout member, wherein an actuation movement of the firing member is configured to generate the surgical function, and wherein the lockout member is configured to prevent the actuation movement of the firing member;

engaging a test device with the surgical tool such that the test device overcomes the lockout member;

actuating the firing member, wherein the test device permits the actuation movement of the firing member while preventing the surgical function; and

re-actuating the firing member without resetting the test device, wherein the test device permits the actuation movement of the firing member while preventing the surgical function.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the lockout member is non-resettable.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising disengaging the test device from the surgical tool.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising re-actuating the firing member after disengaging the test device from the surgical tool, wherein the lockout member prevents the actuation movement of the firing member.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

engaging a fastener cartridge with the surgical tool after disengaging the test device from the surgical tool;

actuating the firing member; and

generating the surgical function.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the lockout member is configured to contact the firing member to prevent the actuation movement.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the test device permanently biases the firing member out of contact with the lockout member when the test device is engaged with the surgical tool.

14. A method, comprising:

obtaining a surgical tool configured to perform a surgical function, wherein the surgical tool comprises a firing member and a non-resettable lockout member, wherein an actuation movement of the firing member is configured to generate the surgical function, and wherein the non-resettable lockout member is configured to engage the firing member to prevent the actuation movement;

engaging a test device with the surgical tool such that the test device biases the firing member out of engagement with the non-resettable lockout member; and

actuating the firing member, wherein the test device prevents the surgical function.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising re-actuating the firing member, wherein the test device again prevents the surgical function.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising disengaging the test device from the surgical tool.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising re-actuating the firing member after disengaging the test device from the surgical tool, wherein the non-resettable lockout member prevents the actuation movement of the firing member.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein engaging the test device with the surgical tool comprises positioning the test device around at least a portion of the surgical tool.