DONGLE AND CONTROL INTERFACE FOR CONTROL OF A LAPAROSCOPIC DEVICE

1 . A surgical control system for use with a computerized surgical manipulation system, comprising:

(a) a control interface communicatively coupled to a laparoscopic device detached from a robot of a computerized surgical manipulation system, wherein the control interface is positioned at a location physically remote from the laparoscopic device; and

(b) a dongle communicatively coupled to the control interface and the laparoscopic device, wherein the dongle is configured to enable operation of the laparoscopic device from the control interface and directly from the laparoscopic device.

2 . The surgical control system of claim 1 , wherein the control interface or the dongle includes an override feature that, when activated, disables direct operation from the laparoscopic device, but maintains operation of the laparoscopic device from the control interface.

3 . The surgical control system of claim 1 , wherein the laparoscopic device is a surgical stapler configured to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the surgical stapler comprising:

(a) an end effector having a clamping mechanism with an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly; and

(b) an operating system comprising a trigger having an up-switch and a down-switch, wherein activation of the up-switch opens the clamping mechanism, and wherein activation of the down-switch closes the clamping mechanism.

4 . The surgical control system of claim 3 , wherein the control interface is a foot-operable device comprising a plurality of input controls, wherein each of the input controls, when activated, communicate with the operating system of the surgical stapler to perform an action.

5 . The surgical control system of claim 4 , wherein:

(a) activation of a first input control opens the clamping mechanism of the end effector;

(b) activation of a second input control closes the clamping mechanism of the end effector;

(c) first activation of a third input control initiates a timeout period before the surgical stapler cuts and staples the anatomical structure of the patient; and

(d) second activation of the third input control causes the surgical stapler to enter a firing mode.

6 . The surgical control system of claim 5 , wherein the timeout period includes an alert configured to indicate a start of the timeout period, an end of the timeout period, remaining time of the timeout period, or combinations thereof, wherein the alert is a visual indicator, an audio indicator, or combinations thereof.

7 . The surgical control system of claim 5 , wherein the timeout period lasts 15 second.

8 . The surgical control system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of input controls include buttons, switches, pedals, or combination thereof.

9 . The surgical control system of claim 4 , wherein the foot-operable device is integrated into a surgical console of the computerized surgical manipulation system.

10 . The surgical control system of claim 3 , wherein the control interface is a hand-operable device positioned on an exterior of a surgeon console of the computerized surgical manipulation system, the hand-operable device comprising a plurality of input controls, wherein each of the input controls, when activated, communicate with the operating system of the surgical stapler to perform an action.

11 . The surgical control system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of input controls include buttons or switches which, when activated, open the clamping mechanism, close the clamping mechanism, enter a firing mode, or combinations thereof.

12 . The surgical control system of claim 10 , wherein the hand-operable device is a hand control that moves with one or more degrees of freedom, or a control panel.

13 . The surgical control system of claim 3 , wherein the control interface is an audio recognition device having a microcontroller configured to:

(a) receive audio content from an audio capture device during the minimally invasive procedure, wherein the audio content is one or more instructions from a user;

(b) analyze the audio content to determine a meaning for the one or more instructions; and

(c) provide a command to the surgical stapler to perform one or more actions based on the meaning of the one or more instructions.

14 . The surgical control system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more actions include opening the clamping mechanism, closing the clamping mechanism, enter a firing mode, or combinations thereof.

15 . The surgical control system of claim 1 , wherein the detached laparoscopic device is supported by a trained individual positioned bedside to a patient.

16 . The surgical control system of claim 1 , wherein the dongle is incorporated into the laparoscopic device.

17 . A surgical control system for use with a computerized surgical manipulation system, comprising:

(a) a surgical stapler configured to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a minimally invasive procedure, the surgical stapler including:

(i) an end effector having a clamping mechanism with an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly; and

(ii) an operating system comprising a trigger having an up-switch and a down-switch, and wherein activating the up-switch opens the clamping mechanism, wherein activating the down-switch closes the clamping mechanism;

(b) a control interface communicatively coupled to stapling device, wherein the control interface is positioned at the computerized surgical manipulation system physically remote from the stapling device; and

(c) a dongle communicatively coupled to the control interface and the stapling device, wherein a microcontroller of the dongle is configured to enable operation of the stapling device from the control interface and directly from the stapling device,

wherein the control interface or the dongle includes an override feature that, when activated, disables direct operation from the surgical device, but maintains operation of the surgical device from the control interface, and

wherein the surgical stapler is separate from the computerized surgical manipulation system and supported by a trained individual positioned bedside to the patient.

18 . The surgical control system of claim 17 , wherein the control interface is a foot-operable device comprising a plurality of input controls, wherein each of the input controls, when activated, communicate with the operating system of the surgical stapler to perform an action.

19 . The surgical control system of claim 17 , wherein the control interface is a hand-operable device positioned on an exterior of a surgeon console of the computerized surgical manipulation system, the hand-operable device comprising a plurality of input controls, wherein each of the input controls, when activated, communicate with the operating system of the surgical stapler to perform an action.

20 . The surgical control system of claim 17 , wherein the control interface is an audio recognition device having a microcontroller configured to:

(a) receive audio content from an audio capture device during the minimally invasive procedure, wherein the audio content is one or more instructions from a user;

(b) analyze the audio content to determine a meaning for the one or more instructions; and

(c) provide a command to the surgical stapler to perform one or more actions based on the meaning of the one or more instructions.