Powered surgical stapler

Abstract

A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a motor, and a shaft extending from the handle. The handle and/or the shaft can define a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein, an anvil configured to deform the fasteners, a closure drive configured to move the anvil toward and away from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and a firing drive configured to deploy the fasteners from the fastener cartridge which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can further comprise a transmission comprising a first operating configuration which connects the motor to the closure drive and a second operating configuration which connects the motor to the firing drive.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a handle comprising an electric motor, wherein said electric motor comprises a rotatable output;   a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft defines a longitudinal axis;   a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein;   an anvil configured to deform said fasteners;   a closure drive configured to move said anvil toward and away from said fastener cartridge, wherein said closure drive comprises a rotatable closure drive portion which is rotatable about said longitudinal axis;   a firing drive configured to deploy said fasteners from said fastener cartridge, wherein said firing drive comprises a rotatable firing drive portion which is rotatable about said longitudinal axis; and   a transmission, comprising:
 a first operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said closure drive; 
 a second operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said firing drive; and 
 a switch configured to switch said transmission between said first operating configuration and said second operating configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said rotatable closure drive portion comprises an aperture extending therethrough, and wherein said firing drive portion extends through said aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said transmission further comprises a slidable collar, wherein said switch extends from said slidable collar, wherein said switch comprises a gripping portion, and wherein said slidable collar is slidable in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said transmission further comprises a slidable collar, wherein said collar comprises a first set of splines configured to engage said rotatable closure drive portion when said transmission is in said first operating configuration, and wherein said collar comprises a second set of splines configured to engage said rotatable firing drive portion when said transmission is in said second operating configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said handle comprises:
 a first actuator configured to operate said electric motor when said transmission is in said first operating configuration; and   a second actuator configured to operate said electric motor when said transmission is in said second operating configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument of  claim 5 , wherein said first actuator is rotatable in a first direction to rotate said rotatable output of said electric motor in a first direction, and wherein said first actuator is rotatable in a second direction to rotate said rotatable output of said electric motor in a second direction. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first sensor configured to detect the operation of said first actuator;   a second sensor configured to detect the operation of said second actuator; and   a processor configured to receive signals from said first sensor and said second sensor, wherein said processor is configured to ignore signals from said second sensor when said transmission is in said first operating configuration, and wherein said processor is configured to ignore signals from said first sensor when said transmission is in said second operating configuration.   
     
     
         8 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a handle comprising an electric motor, wherein said electric motor comprises a rotatable output;   a shaft extending from said handle;   a fastener cartridge comprising a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein;   an anvil configured to deform said fasteners;   a closure drive configured to move said anvil toward and away from said fastener cartridge, wherein said closure drive comprises a rotatable closure drive portion;   a rotatable actuator knob configured to be rotated in a first direction to rotate said electric motor in a first direction and move said anvil toward said fastener cartridge and a second direction to rotate said electric motor in a second direction and move said anvil away from said fastener cartridge; and   a firing drive configured to deploy said fasteners from said fastener cartridge.   
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument of  claim 8 , wherein said rotatable actuator knob is rotatable about said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first sensor configured to detect the rotation of said rotatable actuator knob in said first direction; and   a second sensor configured to detect the rotation of said rotatable actuator knob in said second direction.   
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , further comprising a processor, wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are in signal communication with said processor, wherein said processor is configured to operate said electric motor in said first direction when said processor receives a signal from said first sensor, and wherein said processor is configured to operate said electric motor in said second direction when said processor receives a signal from said second sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument of  claim 8 , further comprising a transmission, comprising:
 a first operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said closure drive;   a second operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said firing drive; and   a switch configured to switch said transmission between said first operating configuration and said second operating configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument of  claim 12 , wherein said rotatable actuator knob is configured to operate said electric motor when said transmission is in said first operating configuration, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a firing actuator, and wherein said firing actuator is configured to operate said electric motor when said transmission is in said second operating configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first sensor configured to detect the operation of said rotatable actuator knob;   a second sensor configured to detect the operation of said firing actuator; and   a processor configured to receive signals from said first sensor and said second sensor, wherein said processor is configured to ignore signals from said second sensor when said transmission is in said first operating configuration, and wherein said processor is configured to ignore signals from said first sensor when said transmission is in said second operating configuration.   
     
     
         15 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a handle, comprising:
 an electric motor, wherein said electric motor comprises a rotatable output; and 
 a longitudinal axis; 
   a shaft extending from said handle;   an end effector extending from said shaft;   a first drive configured to perform a first end effector function, wherein said closure drive comprises a rotatable first drive portion which is rotatable about said longitudinal axis;   a second drive configured to perform a second end effector function, wherein said firing drive comprises a rotatable second drive portion which is rotatable about said longitudinal axis; and   a transmission, comprising:
 a first operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said first drive; 
 a second operating configuration in which said transmission operably connects said rotatable output to said second drive; and 
 a switch configured to switch said transmission between said first operating configuration and said second operating configuration. 
   
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said handle comprises:
 a first actuator configured to operate said electric motor when said transmission is in said first operating configuration; and   a second actuator configured to operate said electric motor when said transmission is in said second operating configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument of  claim 16 , wherein said first actuator is rotatable in a first direction to rotate said rotatable output of said electric motor in a first direction, and wherein said first actuator is rotatable in a second direction to rotate said rotatable output of said electric motor in a second direction. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first sensor configured to detect the operation of said first actuator;   a second sensor configured to detect the operation of said second actuator; and   a processor configured to receive signals from said first sensor and said second sensor, wherein said processor is configured to ignore signals from said second sensor when said transmission is in said first operating configuration, and wherein said processor is configured to ignore signals from said first sensor when said transmission is in said second operating configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said end effector comprises a fastener cartridge.