POWERED SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE
A powered surgical stapler is disclosed. The stapler includes a housing, an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis, a drive motor disposed at least partially within a housing and a firing rod disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor. The firing rod is rotatable by the motor about the first longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The stapler also includes an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is in mechanical cooperation with the firing rod to fire a surgical fastener. The stapler further includes a current sensor configured to measure a current draw on the motor and a controller configured to determine whether the surgical fastener is successfully deployed based on the current draw on the motor.
1 . A powered surgical stapler comprising:
a housing;
an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis;
a drive motor disposed at least partially within a housing;
a firing rod disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor;
an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion, the end effector being in mechanical cooperation with the firing rod to fire a surgical fastener;
a current sensor configured to measure a current draw on the motor; and
a controller configured to determine whether the surgical fastener is successfully deployed based on the current draw on the motor.
2 . A powered surgical stapler according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured to store successful test firing data, wherein the controller compares the current draw on the motor to the successful test firing data to determine whether the surgical fastener is successfully deployed.
3 . A powered surgical stapler according to claim 2 , wherein when the current draw on the motor is within an acceptable tolerance window of the successful test firing data, the controller indicates a successful test firing of the surgical fastener.
4 . A powered surgical stapler according to claim 2 , wherein when the current draw on the motor is not within an acceptable tolerance window of the successful test firing data, the controller outputs an error to a user via a user interface.
5 . A powered surgical stapler according to claim 2 , wherein when the current draw on the motor is not within an acceptable tolerance window of the successful test firing data, the powered surgical stapler is powered down.
6 . A powered surgical stapler according to claim 1 , further comprising a position calculator configured to determine a travel distance for the firing rod.
7 . A powered surgical stapler according to claim 6 , wherein the memory stores the current draw on the motor versus the travel distance of the firing rod.
8 . A method for detecting a successful deployment of a surgical fastener, the method comprising:
providing a powered surgical stapler comprising:
a housing;
an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis;
a drive motor disposed at least partially within a housing;
a firing rod disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor;
an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion, the end effector being in mechanical cooperation with the firing rod to fire a surgical fastener;
a current sensor configured to measure a current draw on the motor; and
a controller configured to determine whether the surgical fastener is successfully deployed based on the current draw on the motor;
firing the surgical fastener;
detecting the current draw on the motor;
comparing the detected current draw to a successful test firing data; and
outputting a result of the comparison between the detected current draw and the successful test firing data.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein when the detected current draw is not within an acceptable tolerance window of the successful test firing data, the method further comprises the step of outputting an error to a user via a user interface.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein when the detected current draw is not within an acceptable tolerance window of the successful test firing data, the method further comprises the step of powering down the powered surgical stapler.