Circular stapling instruments
A circular stapling instrument including a stapling forming assembly that is actuated independently from actuation of the cutting assembly is provided. The instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly mounted on a distal end of the elongate body. The cartridge assembly includes a pusher assembly and a knife assembly. The knife assembly is selectively fixed relative to the pusher assembly.
1. A method of stapling tissue, comprising:
advancing a pusher assembly of a surgical stapling instrument in a staple forming stroke while advancing a knife pusher of the surgical stapling instrument such that fingers of the knife pusher slide past a knife;
retracting the pusher assembly; and
advancing the pusher assembly and the knife pusher in a cutting stroke in which the knife is advanced into tissue.
2. The method according to claim 1 , including providing a surgical stapling instrument.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the surgical stapling instrument includes an annular array of staples.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein advancing the pusher assembly causes an ejection and a forming of staples against an anvil.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein retracting the pusher assembly includes retracting the pusher assembly to a location proximal of an initial location thereof.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the knife pusher does not engage the knife during the staple forming stroke.
7. The method according to claim 1 , including engaging the knife pusher with the knife during the cutting stroke.
8. The method according to claim 1 , including engaging the fingers with the knife in the cutting stroke.
9. The method according to claim 1 , including adjusting a stroke of the pusher assembly to vary a staple crimp height.
10. The method according to claim 1 , including collecting data in a controller.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the data includes at least one of staple forming forces and knife cutting forces.
12. The method according to claim 1 , including establishing a dwell time between staple formation and tissue cutting.