18536451. METHOD OF OPERATING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT simplified abstract (Cilag GmbH International)

METHOD OF OPERATING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

Organization Name

Cilag GmbH International

Inventor(s)

Gregory J. Bakos of Mason OH (US)

Darryl A. Parks of Mason OH (US)

Benjamin D. Dickerson of San Francisco CA (US)

Steven G. Hall of Cincinnati OH (US)

Robert J. Simms of Liberty Township OH (US)

Spencer J. Witte of Los Altos CA (US)

Taylor W. Aronhalt of Loveland OH (US)

Paul Moubarak of West Chester OH (US)

William C. Ryle of Covington KY (US)

METHOD OF OPERATING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18536451 titled 'METHOD OF OPERATING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument by providing rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting it to upper and lower axial motions to drive a firing member through the surgical end effector.

• Rotary drive motion is provided to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector.
• The rotary drive motion is converted to upper and lower axial motions at locations distal to the articulation joint.
• The upper axial motion is applied to an upper portion of a firing member, while the lower axial motion is applied to a lower portion of the firing member.
• The upper and lower axial motions drive the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied in minimally invasive surgical procedures, robotic surgery, and other medical interventions requiring precise and controlled instrument articulation.

Problems Solved

This technology solves the problem of efficiently translating rotary drive motion into axial motions for driving a firing member through a surgical end effector, allowing for more precise and controlled surgical procedures.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include improved accuracy, control, and efficiency in surgical instrument articulation, leading to better surgical outcomes and reduced risk for patients.

Potential Commercial Applications

Potential commercial applications of this technology include medical device manufacturing, surgical instrument development, and healthcare technology companies looking to enhance their product offerings with advanced articulation capabilities.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art for this technology could be similar patents or innovations related to articulatable surgical instruments and mechanisms for converting rotary motion into axial motion for surgical tool manipulation.

How does this technology compare to existing articulatable surgical instruments in terms of precision and control?

This article does not provide a direct comparison between this technology and existing articulatable surgical instruments in terms of precision and control. Further research or testing would be needed to determine the specific advantages of this innovation over current solutions.

What are the potential limitations or drawbacks of implementing this technology in surgical settings?

The article does not address potential limitations or drawbacks of implementing this technology in surgical settings, such as cost, complexity, maintenance requirements, or compatibility with existing surgical equipment. Further analysis would be necessary to evaluate the practical implications of adopting this innovation in clinical practice.

Original Abstract Submitted

A method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument. The method includes providing a rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting the rotary drive motion to an upper axial motion and a lower axial motion at locations that are distal to the articulation joint. The method further includes applying the upper axial motion to an upper portion of a firing member and applying the lower axial motion to a lower portion of the firing member such that the upper axial motion and lower axial motion drives the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position.