Method for Treating Tissue With an Articulated Surgical Instrument

Abstract

One example of a surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient may include providing a surgical instrument that includes a handle; a shaft extending from the handle, an end effector connected to the shaft, where the shaft includes a lumen defined therethrough and an articulated region; and at least one feeder belt extending through the lumen of the shaft into the end effector, where the feeder belt includes at least one staple frangibly united therewith; inserting the end effector into the body of a patient; orienting the end effector relative to tissue to be treated within the body of the patient and relative to a remainder of the shaft; actuating the end effector to staple tissue; and removing the end effector from the body of the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient, comprising:
 providing a surgical instrument including a handle; a shaft extending from said handle, an end effector connected to said shaft, wherein said shaft includes a lumen defined therethrough and an articulated region; and at least one feeder belt extending through said lumen of said shaft into said end effector, said feeder belt including at least one staple frangibly united therewith;   inserting said end effector into the body of a patient;   orienting said end effector relative to tissue to be treated within the body of the patient and relative to a remainder of said shaft;   actuating said end effector to staple tissue; and   removing said end effector from the body of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein said orienting is performed about at least a first axis by bending said articulated region of said shaft, and is performed about a second axis different from said first axis by rotating the proximal end of said shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein said surgical instrument further comprises at least one actuation cable extending from said handle to said end effector through said lumen of said shaft, wherein said actuating is performed by pulling said actuation cable proximally. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein said surgical instrument further comprises at least one clamp cable extending from said handle to said end effector through said lumen of said shaft; further comprising clamping said end effector by pulling said clamp cable proximally. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , further comprising repeating said orienting and said actuating before said removing. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical method of  claim 5 , incorporating by reference all of the elements of that claim; wherein said repeating includes advancing at least part of at least one feeder belt from said lumen of said shaft into said end effector. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical method of  claim 6 , further comprising a slider movable relative to said handle; and further comprising sliding said slider to cause said advancing. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , further comprising an articulation control associated with said handle, wherein said orienting is performed at least in part by exerting a force on one side of said articulation control lateral to the longitudinal centerline of said articulation control. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said staples are arranged in at least one substantially longitudinal row on said feeder belt, and wherein said actuation serially deploys a plurality of said staples in at least one said row. 
     
     
         10 . A surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient, comprising:
 providing a surgical instrument including a handle; a shaft extending from said handle, an end effector connected to said shaft, wherein said shaft includes a lumen defined therethrough and an articulated region; and an articulation control connected to said handle, said articulation control movable from side to side;   inserting said end effector into the body of a patient;   orienting said end effector relative to tissue to be treated within the body of the patient and relative to a remainder of said shaft, wherein said orienting is performed at least in part by exerting a force on one side of said articulation control;   actuating said end effector to staple tissue; and   removing said end effector from the body of the patient.   
     
     
         11 . The surgical method of  claim 10 , wherein said exerting a force on one side of said articulation control is performed with one hand. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing at least one feeder belt extending through said lumen of said shaft into said end effector, said feeder belt including at least one staple frangibly united therewith. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical method of  claim 10 , wherein said articulated region is spaced apart from said handle, and wherein said articulation control is movable by rotation about an axis different from the longitudinal axis of the portion of said shaft between said handle and said articulated region. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical method of  claim 13 , wherein said articulation control is additionally rotatable substantially about the longitudinal axis of the portion of said shaft between said handle and said articulated region. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical method of  claim 13 , further comprising locking said articulation control in place after said orienting such that the orientation of said end effector relative to the portion of said shaft between said handle and said articulated region is also locked into place. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical method of  claim 10 , wherein said orienting is performed with one hand. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical method of  claim 10 , further comprising clamping said end effector to tissue before said actuating, and unclamping said end effector from tissue after said actuating. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical method of  claim 17 , wherein said end effector is biased to a neutral position; further comprising allowing said end effector to return to said neutral position after said unclamping. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical method of  claim 10 , wherein said inserting is through an opening in the body of the patient between 5 millimeters and 10 millimeters in diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical method of  claim 10 , further comprising repeating said orienting and said actuating before said removing.