Method of applying an annular array of staples to tissue

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, an anvil, an anvil adjustment assembly, a trigger, and a lockout assembly. The stapling head assembly is operable to drive an annular array of staples. The anvil is configured to couple with the stapling head assembly. The anvil adjustment assembly includes a translating member, which translates relative to the body to thereby adjust the longitudinal position of the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. The trigger is operable to actuate the stapling head assembly. The lockout assembly includes an electrically powered braking feature. A method of operating the surgical instrument includes providing the lockout assembly in a first state to permit translation of the translating member. The translating member is then translated. The lockout assembly is then transitioned to a second state to prevent further translation of the translating member.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 (a) a body;   (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body;   (c) a stapling head assembly located at the distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the stapling head assembly is configured to drive an annular array of staples through tissue;   (d) an anvil configured to cooperate with the stapling head assembly to deform the annular array of staples driven through tissue by the stapling head assembly;   (e) a power source;   (f) a firing assembly that includes a motor configured to receive power from the power source, wherein the firing assembly is configured to actuate the stapling head assembly through a predetermined linear range of motion to provide a full and uninterrupted firing stroke to drive the annular array of staples through the tissue;   (g) a control module in communication with the power source and the motor of the firing assembly; and   (h) an audible, visual, or tactile indicator in communication with the control module, wherein the audible, visual, or tactile indicator is configured to indicate successful completion of the full and uninterrupted firing stroke.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the stapling head assembly further comprises a knife configured to cut the tissue, wherein the firing assembly is configured to actuate the stapling head assembly through the predetermined linear range of motion to provide the full and uninterrupted firing stroke to drive the annular array of staples and the knife through the tissue, wherein the audible, visual, or tactile indicator is configured to indicate successful completion of the full and uninterrupted firing stroke that drives the annular array of staples and the knife through the tissue. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical instrument of  claim 22 , wherein the body further comprises a cam member and a cam follower, wherein the cam follower is operably coupled to the cam member and the stapling head assembly, wherein the cam member is configured to rotate to a predetermined angular position in response to activation of the motor, wherein the cam member is rotatable from a home position to a fired position to actuate the stapling head assembly through the predetermined linear range of motion to provide the full and uninterrupted firing stroke to drive the annular array of staples and the knife through the tissue. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the firing assembly comprises a translating assembly, wherein the translating assembly comprises:
 (i) a first portion,   (ii) a second portion, and   (iii) a resilient member interposed between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the resilient member is configured to deform based on a load in the firing assembly.   
     
     
         25 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the firing assembly comprises a translating member, wherein the surgical instrument further comprises:
 (a) a control module in communication with the power source and the motor; and   (b) at least one sensor in communication with the control module, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense one or both of:
 (i) a load in the firing assembly while the firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly indicating the full and uninterrupted firing stroke in response to actuation of the firing assembly, and 
 (ii) a longitudinal position of the translatable member while the firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly indicating the full and uninterrupted firing stroke in response to actuation of the firing assembly. 
   
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a switch that is configured to detect the longitudinal position of the translatable member indicating the full and uninterrupted firing stroke in response to actuation of the firing assembly. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a load sensor configured to sense a longitudinally oriented load in the translatable member while the firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly indicating the full and uninterrupted firing stroke in response to actuation of the firing assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , wherein the control module is configured to maintain activation of the motor through the completion of the full and uninterrupted firing stroke in the event that a firing switch transitions back to an open state prior to completion of the full and uninterrupted firing stroke. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , further comprising an indicator in communication with the control module, wherein the control module is configured to monitor electrical current communicated from the power source to the motor, wherein the control module is configured to activate the indicator in response to the electrical current indicating the full and uninterrupted firing stroke in response to actuation of the firing assembly. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical instrument of  claim 29 , wherein the indicator comprises a strain gauge. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a position sensor configured to sense a position of the translatable member of the firing assembly. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical instrument of  claim 31 , wherein the position sensor comprises:
 (i) a magnet fixedly secured to the translatable member, and   (ii) a first Hall Effect sensor fixedly secured relative to the body.   
     
     
         33 . The surgical instrument of  claim 32 , wherein the position sensor further comprises a second Hall Effect sensor fixedly secured relative to the body, wherein the first Hall Effect sensor is configured to sense distal positioning of the translatable member, wherein the second Hall Effect Sensor is configured to sense proximal positioning of the translatable member. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises both a load sensor and a position sensor, wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a processing module in communication with the load sensor and in communication with the position sensor, wherein the processing module is configured to drive the indicator based on data from the load sensor and based on data from the position sensor. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a position sensor, wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a processing module in communication with a position sensor, wherein the processing module is configured to drive the indicator based on data from the position sensor indicating that the translatable member did not travel a sufficient longitudinal distance in relation to the anvil during the firing stroke of the firing assembly. 
     
     
         36 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 (a) a body;   (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body;   (c) a stapling head assembly located at the distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the stapling head assembly is configured to drive an annular array of staples through tissue;   (d) an anvil configured to cooperate with the stapling head assembly to deform the annular array of staples driven through the tissue by the stapling head assembly;   (e) a power source;   (f) a firing assembly that includes a motor configured to receive power from the power source, wherein the firing assembly is configured to actuate the stapling head assembly through a predetermined linear range of motion to provide a full and uninterrupted firing stroke to drive the annular array of staples toward the anvil and through the tissue; and   (g) a control module in communication with the power source and the motor, wherein the control module is configured to maintain activation of the motor through the completion of the full and uninterrupted firing stroke even in the event that a firing switch transitions back to an open state prior to completion of the full and uninterrupted firing stroke   
     
     
         37 . The surgical instrument of  claim 36 , wherein the stapling head assembly further comprises a knife configured to cut the tissue, wherein the firing assembly is configured to actuate the stapling head assembly through the predetermined linear range of motion to provide the full and uninterrupted firing stroke to drive the annular array of staples and the knife through the tissue, 
     
     
         38 . A method of operating a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
 (a) a shaft assembly;   (b) a stapling head assembly located at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the stapling head assembly is configured to drive an annular array of staples through tissue;   (c) an anvil configured to cooperate with the stapling head assembly to deform the annular array of staples driven through the tissue by the stapling head assembly;   (d) a power source;   (e) a firing assembly that includes a motor configured to receive power from the power source, wherein the firing assembly is configured to actuate the stapling head assembly to drive the annular array of staples toward the anvil; and   (f) a control module in communication with the power source and the motor, wherein the method comprises:   (a) actuating the firing assembly to actuate the stapling head assembly through a predetermined linear range of motion to provide a full and uninterrupted firing stroke to drive the annular array of staples through the tissue; and   (b) maintaining activation of the motor through the completion of the full and uninterrupted firing stroke using the control module even in the event that a firing switch transitions back to an open state prior to completion of the full and uninterrupted firing stroke.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the stapling head assembly further comprises a knife configured to cut the tissue, wherein maintaining activation of the motor through the completion of the full and uninterrupted firing stroke further comprises maintaining activation of the motor through the completion of the full and uninterrupted firing stroke using the control module to complete the full and uninterrupted firing stroke to drive the annular array of staples and the knife through the tissue even in the event that the firing switch transitions back to the open state prior to completion of the full and uninterrupted firing stroke. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising sensing one or each of:
 (i) a load in the firing assembly indicating completion of the firing stroke by the stapling head assembly, and   (ii) a longitudinal position of the translatable member indicating the completion of the firing stroke by the stapling head assembly.