Devices, systems, and methods for grasping, treating, and dividing tissue

Abstract

A surgical system includes an end effector assembly, a motor assembly, an energy source, and a controller. The controller activates the motor assembly, once it is determined that tissue is present between jaw members of the end effector assembly, to move the jaw members from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position to grasp tissue. The controller further activates the energy source, once tissue is grasped between the jaw members, to supply energy to the jaw members to seal tissue grasped between the jaw members. The controller further activates the motor assembly, once it is determined that tissue sealing is complete, to move the jaw members from the approximated position to the spaced-apart position to release sealed tissue. The system may further be configured to cut tissue once it is determined that tissue sealing is complete but before moving the jaw members to the spaced-apart position.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical system, comprising:
 an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members and a cutting mechanism, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other of the first or second jaw members between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue between the first and second jaw members; and   a controller configured to control the end effector assembly in a first mode and a second mode, wherein:
 in response to receipt of a first activation input in the first mode, and without requiring further user input, the controller is configured to provide instructions to supply energy to the first and second jaw members to seal tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members and activate the cutting mechanism to cut the sealed tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members, and 
 in response to receipt of a second activation input in the second mode, the controller is configured to provide instructions to supply energy to the first and second jaw members to seal tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members without providing instructions to activate the cutting mechanism unless further user input is received. 
   
     
     
         22 . The surgical system according to  claim 21 , wherein, after providing the instructions to supply energy to the first and second jaw members to seal the tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members in the second mode, and in response to receipt of a third activation input in the second mode, the controller is configured to provide instructions to activate the cutting mechanism to cut the sealed tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical system according to  claim 21 , further comprising an electrosurgical generator electrically coupled to the first and second jaw members, wherein the controller is configured to provide the instructions to supply energy to the first and second jaw members to the electrosurgical generator 
     
     
         24 . The surgical system according to  claim 21 , wherein the cutting mechanism includes a knife selectively advanceable between the first and second jaw members to cut tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical system according to  claim 24 , wherein the controller is configured to provide the instructions to activate the cutting mechanism to a motor configured to advance the knife between the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical system according to  claim 21 , wherein the cutting mechanism includes an energizable cutting member disposed on one of the first or second jaw members. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical system according to  claim 25 , further comprising an electrosurgical generator electrically coupled to the energizable cutting member, wherein the controller is configured to provide the instructions to activate the cutting mechanism to the electrosurgical generator. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical system according to  claim 21 , further comprising a motor operably coupled to the at least one of the first or second jaw members, wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to the motor to move the at least one of the first or second jaw members from the spaced-apart position to the approximated position to grasp tissue between the first and second jaw members prior to providing the instructions to supply energy to the first and second jaw members to seal tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members in at least one of the first mode or the second mode. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical system according to  claim 21 , further comprising a motor operably coupled to the at least one of the first or second jaw members, wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to the motor to move the at least one of the first or second jaw members from the approximated position to the spaced-apart position after at least one of: the sealing and cutting of tissue in the first mode or the sealing of tissue in the second mode. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical system according to  claim 21 , further comprising a user interface configured to receive a user input selection of the first mode or the second mode, wherein the controller is in communication with the user interface and configured to receive the user input selection from the user interface. 
     
     
         31 . A surgical controller including a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for execution by the processor for performing the method of:
 receiving a user input instruction selected from a first user input instruction corresponding to a first mode or a second user input instruction corresponding to a second mode;   in response to receipt of the first user input instruction corresponding the first mode, providing instructions to supply energy to the first and second jaw members to seal tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members and activate a cutting mechanism to cut the sealed tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members, and   in response to receipt of the second user instruction corresponding to the second mode, providing instructions to supply energy to the first and second jaw members to seal tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members without providing instructions to activate the cutting mechanism unless further user input is received.   
     
     
         32 . The surgical controller according to  claim 31 , wherein the method further includes, after providing the instructions to supply energy to the first and second jaw members to seal the tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members in the second mode, and in response to receipt of a third user instruction, providing instructions to activate the cutting mechanism to cut the sealed tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical controller according to  claim 31 , wherein the instructions to supply energy to the first and second jaw members are provided to an electrosurgical generator electrically coupled to the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical controller according to  claim 31 , wherein providing the instructions to activate the cutting mechanism includes providing instructions to a motor to advance a knife between the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical controller according to  claim 31 , wherein the instructions to activate the cutting mechanism are provided to an electrosurgical generator electrically coupled to the cutting mechanism and configured to energize the cutting mechanism. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical controller according to  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises providing instructions to a motor to move the at least one of the first or second jaw members from the spaced-apart position to the approximated position to grasp tissue between the first and second jaw members prior to providing the instructions to supply energy to the first and second jaw members to seal tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members in at least one of the first mode or the second mode. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical controller according to  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises providing instructions to a motor to move the at least one of the first or second jaw members from the approximated position to the spaced-apart position after at least one of: the sealing and cutting of tissue in the first mode or the sealing of tissue in the second mode. 
     
     
         38 . A surgical system, comprising:
 an end effector assembly configured to seal and cut tissue;   a user interface configured to receive an activation input from a user; and   a controller coupled to the user interface and configured to provide instructions to operate the end effector assembly based on the activation input received from the user, wherein:
 in response to a first activation input, the controller is configured to provide instructions for the end effector assembly to both seal tissue and cut the sealed tissue, 
 in response to a second activation input, the controller is configured to provide instructions for the end effector assembly to only seal tissue, and 
 in response to a third activation input, the controller is configured to provide instructions for the end effector assembly to cut tissue. 
   
     
     
         39 . The surgical system according to  claim 38 , wherein, in response to the third activation input, the controller is configured to provide instructions for the end effector assembly to cut tissue only if the tissue has been previously sealed. 
     
     
         40 . The surgical system according to  claim 38 , wherein, in response to a fourth activation input, the controller is configured to provide instructions for the end effector assembly to grasp tissue or release grasped tissue.