PROTECTION MEASURES FOR ROBOTIC ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

1 . An end effector, comprising:

a wrist having a distal clevis rotatably coupled to a proximal clevis;

a shaft coupled to the proximal clevis and defining a radial shoulder;

one or more jaw members rotatably mounted to the distal clevis;

a protective sleeve extendable over the wrist and a portion of the shaft and providing a cylindrical body having opposing distal and proximal ends, the protective sleeve being made entirely of a same flexible material from the distal end to the proximal end, and the cylindrical body defining an aperture at the distal end through which the one or more jaw members protrude, wherein an inner surface of the protective sleeve is smooth and forms an interference fit with an outer surface of the portion of the shaft; and

a positive indicator discernible during use of the end effector to indicate when the protective sleeve has moved from an assembled position, where the proximal end of the protective sleeve engages the radial shoulder, to a migrated position.

2 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the positive indicator comprises a color provided on the shaft at the radial shoulder that becomes exposed when the protective sleeve moves to the migrated position.

3 . The end effector of claim 2 , wherein the color is capable of being perceived by a camera, which sends an alert signal upon detection of a predetermined color.

4 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the positive indicator comprises a pattern provided on the shaft at the radial shoulder that becomes exposed when the protective sleeve moves to the migrated position.

5 . The end effector of claim 4 , wherein the pattern is capable of being perceived by a camera, which sends an alert signal upon detection of the pattern.

6 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the positive indicator comprises electromagnetic radiation emitted from the shaft at the radial shoulder when the protective sleeve moves to the migrated position.

7 . The end effector of claim 6 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is capable of being perceived by a camera, which sends an alert signal upon detection of the electromagnetic radiation.

8 . The end effector of claim 7 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is selected from the group consisting of radio waves, microwave radiation, infrared and near-infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-ray radiation or gamma ray radiation.

9 . The end effector of claim 7 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises one or more LED lights that become exposed when the protective sleeve moves to the migrated position.

10 . The end effector of claim 7 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation comprises visible light that flash in a specific frequency discernible by the camera.

11 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the positive indicator comprises a reflective covering provided on the shaft at the radial shoulder that becomes exposed when the protective sleeve moves to the migrated position.

12 . The end effector of claim 11 , wherein the reflective covering is capable of being perceived by a camera, which sends an alert signal upon detection of the electromagnetic radiation.

13 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the positive indicator comprises an over-assembled indicator provided on the shaft and is occluded when the protective sleeve moves proximally to the migrated position, the over-assembled indicator being selected from the group of a color, a pattern, electromagnetic radiation, a reflective covering, and any combination thereof.

14 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the positive indicator comprises a sleeve indicator provided on the sleeve and perceivable by a camera, and wherein, when the sleeve indicator migrates away from the radial shoulder a predetermined distance, as detected by the camera, an alert signal is generated.

15 . A method of operating a surgical tool, comprising:

positioning the surgical tool adjacent a patient for operation, the surgical tool including:

a wrist having a distal clevis rotatably coupled to a proximal clevis;

a shaft coupled to the proximal clevis and providing a radial shoulder; and

an end effector having one or more jaw members rotatably mounted to the distal clevis;

insulating the wrist and a portion of the end effector with a protective sleeve having opposing distal and proximal ends and defining an aperture at the distal end through which the one or more jaw members protrude, the protective sleeve being made entirely of a same flexible material from the distal end to the proximal end, and an inner surface of the protective sleeve being smooth and forming an interference fit with an outer surface of the shaft;

operating the end effector and thereby moving the protective sleeve axially from an assembled position, where the proximal end of the protective sleeve engages the radial shoulder, to a migrated position; and

providing a positive indicator discernible during use of the surgical tool when the protective sleeve moves to the migrated position.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the positive indicator comprises a color provided on the shaft at the radial shoulder that becomes exposed when the protective sleeve moves to the migrated position, the method further comprising:

perceiving the color with a camera; and

sending an alert signal once the camera perceives the color.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the positive indicator comprises a pattern provided on the shaft at the radial shoulder that becomes exposed when the protective sleeve moves to the migrated position, the method further comprising:

perceiving the pattern color with a camera; and

sending an alert signal once the camera perceives the pattern.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the positive indicator comprises electromagnetic radiation emitted from the shaft at the radial shoulder when the protective sleeve moves to the migrated position, the method further comprising:

perceiving the electromagnetic radiation with a camera; and

sending an alert signal once the camera perceives the electromagnetic radiation.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the positive indicator comprises a reflective covering provided on the shaft at the radial shoulder that becomes exposed when the protective sleeve moves to the migrated position, the method further comprising:

perceiving the reflective covering with a camera; and

sending an alert signal once the camera perceives the reflective covering.

20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

detecting the indicator with the camera; and

autonomously cutting electrical energy to the one or more jaw members upon detecting the indicator.