Surgical instrument control

1. A computer-controlled surgical system, comprising:

a surgical instrument having a working end comprising a translating mechanism, the working end being configured to perform a clamping and cutting function in response to translating movement of the translating mechanism; and

a computer control system operably coupled to the surgical instrument and to first and second input devices,

wherein the computer control system is configured to control movement of the translating mechanism within a first range of motion in response to a first command received from the first input device, and

wherein the computer control system is configured to control movement of the translating mechanism within a second range of motion in response to a second command received from the second input device, the second range of motion being different from the first range of motion.

2. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the working end comprises jaws configured to move between open and closed positions in response to the movement of the translating mechanism within the first range of motion.

3. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 2 , wherein the translating mechanism is configured to translate relative to the jaws in a reciprocating motion.

4. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 2 , wherein the translating mechanism comprises a tissue cutting element.

5. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 4 , wherein, within the first range of motion, the translating mechanism is configured to move without advancement of the tissue cutting element into a tissue clamping region of the jaws.

6. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 5 , wherein, within the second range of motion, the translating mechanism is configured to move and cause advancement of the tissue cutting element into the tissue clamping region to cut tissue between the jaws.

7. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 2 , wherein the translating mechanism is configured to engage at least one of the jaws in the first range of motion to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position.

8. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 2 , wherein the translating mechanism comprises:

a first closure flange configured to engage one of the jaws and a second closure flange configured to engage the other of the jaws; and

a cutting element configured to move with the first and second closure flanges in the first and second ranges of motion.

9. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 1 :

wherein the working end is at a distal end portion of the surgical instrument, and

wherein the first range of motion comprises a range of motion between a proximal position of the translating mechanism and an intermediate position of the translating mechanism, the intermediate position being distal to the proximal position of the translating mechanism.

10. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 9 , wherein the second range of motion comprises a range of motion between the intermediate position and a distal position of the translating mechanism.

11. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the jaws are configured to close over a portion of tissue without applying a clamping force to the tissue in response to movement of the translating mechanism in the first range of motion.

12. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 11 , wherein the jaws are configured to apply a clamping force to the portion of tissue in response to movement of the translating mechanism in the second range of motion.

13. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 1 :

wherein the working end is further configured to perform a stapling function, and

wherein the computer control system is configured to control the stapling function.

14. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 13 , wherein the computer control system is configured to control the working end to perform the stapling function in response to the second command from the second input device.

15. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 13 , wherein the computer control system is configured to control the working end to perform the stapling function in response to a third input command from a third input device operably coupled to the computer control system.

16. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the working end comprises a mechanical stop having an engaged state in which the mechanical stop is configured to inhibit movement of the translating mechanism within the second range of motion and a disengaged state in which the mechanical stop is configured to permit movement of the translating mechanism within the second range of motion.

17. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first input device is chosen from a trigger mechanism and a gripping mechanism, and

the second input device is chosen from a button and a foot pedal.

18. A computer-controlled surgical system, comprising:

a surgical instrument comprising a working end, the working end comprising:

a translating element;

a tissue cutting element movable in response to movement of the translating element; and

jaws movable between open and closed positions in response to movement of the translating element; and

a computer control system operably coupled to the surgical instrument and to first and second input devices,

wherein the computer control system is configured to:

in response to a first command received from the first input device, control movement of the translating element to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position without advancement of the tissue cutting element into a tissue clamping region of the jaws, and

in response to a second command received from the second input device, control movement of the translating element to advance the tissue cutting element into the tissue clamping region of the jaws.

19. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 18 , wherein the translating element is configured to translate in a reciprocating motion.

20. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 18 , wherein the computer control system is configured to control movement of the translating element within a first range of motion to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position without advancement of the tissue cutting element into the tissue clamping region of the jaws.

21. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 20 , wherein the computer control system is configured to control movement of the translating element within a second range of motion to permit advancement of the tissue cutting element into the tissue clamping region of the jaw, the second range of motion being different from the first range of motion.

22. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 18 , wherein:

the working end is configured to perform a stapling function, and

the computer control system is configured to control the stapling function.

23. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 22 , wherein the computer control system is configured to control the working end to perform the stapling function in response to the second input command received from the second input device.

24. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 22 , wherein the computer control system is configured to control the working end to perform the stapling function in response to a third input command received from a third input device.

25. The computer-controlled surgical system of claim 18 , wherein:

the working end is at a distal end portion of the surgical instrument; and

the translating element is configured to move the cutting element in a distal direction during distal movement of the translating element.