Surgical instrument with double cartridge and anvil assemblies
An end effector for use with a surgical instrument having a first cartridge assembly configured to deploy a first set of fasteners and a second cartridge assembly disposed distally of the first cartridge assembly. The second cartridge assembly is configured to move between an open position and an approximated position relative to clamp tissue. A central rod extends between the first cartridge assembly and the second cartridge assembly.
1. A method of performing a surgical task, the method comprising:
positioning a first cartridge assembly along a longitudinal axis of an elongated body portion of a surgical instrument;
positioning a second cartridge assembly along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion;
deploying at least one fastener from the first cartridge assembly including moving the at least one fastener from the first cartridge assembly toward a first anvil assembly; and
deploying at least one fastener from the second cartridge assembly.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving a central rod extending between the first cartridge assembly and the second cartridge assembly along the longitudinal axis to move the second cartridge assembly along the longitudinal axis.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the second cartridge assembly from a first longitudinal position wherein a radial center of the first cartridge assembly is longitudinally aligned with a radial center of the second cartridge assembly, to a second longitudinal position where the radial center of the first cartridge assembly is longitudinally aligned with the radial center of the second cartridge assembly.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the second cartridge assembly along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion toward the first cartridge assembly.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the second cartridge assembly from a first longitudinal position where an entirety of the second cartridge assembly is distally disposed of an entirety of the first cartridge assembly, to a second longitudinal position where the entirety of the second cartridge assembly is distally disposed of the entirety of the first cartridge assembly.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein deploying at least one fastener from the second cartridge assembly includes moving the at least one fastener from the second cartridge assembly toward a second anvil assembly.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein deploying at least one fastener from the second cartridge assembly includes moving a fastener pusher from a distal position toward a proximal position to deploy the at least one fastener from the second cartridge assembly.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising biasing a cartridge housing of the second cartridge assembly against the fastener pusher.
9. A method of performing a surgical task, the method comprising:
positioning a first cartridge assembly along a longitudinal axis of an elongated body portion of a surgical instrument;
positioning a second cartridge assembly along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion;
deploying at least one fastener from the first cartridge;
deploying at least one fastener from the second cartridge assembly; and
moving a knife associated with the first cartridge assembly between a proximal position and a distal position.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising moving the knife through a weakened portion of a first anvil assembly to break the weakened portion of the first anvil assembly.
11. A method of performing a surgical task, the method comprising:
moving a central rod of an end effector of a surgical instrument longitudinally to move a second cartridge assembly of the end effector from an open position where a longitudinal axis of the central rod extends through a first cartridge assembly and the second cartridge assembly, toward an approximated position; and
deploying at least one fastener from the first cartridge assembly.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising deploying at least one fastener from the second cartridge assembly.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein deploying at least one fastener from the first cartridge assembly includes moving the at least one fastener in a distal direction from the first cartridge assembly toward a first anvil assembly.
14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising moving at least one fastener in a proximal direction from the second cartridge assembly toward a second anvil assembly.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising sliding the second cartridge assembly along the central rod.