Motor-driven surgical cutting and fastening instrument
View Patent ↗A stapling assembly comprising an end effector, a lockout circuit, a firing member, and a drive system is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between an unclamped position and a clamped position. The lockout circuit is configured to detect if a staple cartridge is in the end effector. The firing member is movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke. The drive system is configured to clamp the second jaw and advance the firing member through the firing stroke. The drive system comprises an electric motor, a selectively operable first planetary gear train, a selectively operable second planetary gear train, and a switching mechanism configured to switch between the operation of the first planetary gear train and the second planetary gear train.
1. A stapling assembly, comprising:
an end effector, comprising:
a first jaw; and
a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw between an unclamped position and a clamped position;
a lockout circuit configured to detect if a staple cartridge is in said end effector;
a firing member movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke; and
a drive system configured to clamp said second jaw and advance said firing member through said firing stroke, wherein said drive system comprises:
an electric motor;
a selectively operable first planetary gear train;
a selectively operable second planetary gear train; and
a switching mechanism configured to switch between the operation of said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train.
2. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said end effector further comprises said staple cartridge.
3. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train are not operable at the same time.
4. The stapling assembly of claim 1 , wherein said firing member comprises a first cam configured to engage said first jaw and a second cam configured to engage said second jaw.
5. A stapling assembly, comprising:
an end effector, comprising:
a first jaw; and
a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw between an unclamped position and a clamped position;
a lockout circuit configured to detect if a staple cartridge is in said end effector;
a firing member movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke; and
a motor-driven drive system configured to clamp said second jaw and advance said firing member through said firing stroke, wherein said motor-driven drive system comprises:
a selectively operable first planetary gear train comprising a first rotatable output;
a selectively operable second planetary gear train comprising a second rotatable output; and
a switching system configured to switch between the operation of said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train.
6. The stapling assembly of claim 5 , wherein said end effector further comprises said staple cartridge.
7. The stapling assembly of claim 5 , wherein said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train are not operable at the same time.
8. The stapling assembly of claim 5 , wherein said firing member comprises a first cam configured to engage said first jaw and a second cam configured to engage said second jaw.
9. A stapling assembly, comprising:
an end effector, comprising:
a first jaw; and
a second jaw, wherein said second jaw is movable relative to said first jaw between an open position and a closed position;
a lockout circuit configured to detect if a staple cartridge is in said end effector;
a firing member movable between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke; and
a motor-driven drive system configured to close said second jaw and advance said firing member through said firing stroke, wherein said motor-driven drive system comprises:
a rotatable input;
a selectively operable first planetary gear train comprising a first rotatable output;
a selectively operable second planetary gear train comprising a second rotatable output; and
means for switching between the operation of said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train.
10. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , wherein said end effector further comprises said staple cartridge.
11. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , wherein said first planetary gear train and said second planetary gear train are not operable at the same time.
12. The stapling assembly of claim 9 , wherein said firing member comprises a first cam configured to engage said first jaw and a second cam configured to engage said second jaw.