Surgical stapler with timer and feedback display

Abstract

A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for stapling tissue comprising:
 positioning tissue between first and second jaws of a surgical stapling device, the first jaw supporting a cartridge containing a plurality of staples and an actuation sled for urging the plurality of staples from the jaw, and the second jaw including an anvil having a fastener forming surface thereon;   activating a trigger to clamp the tissue between the first and second jaws of the surgical stapling device to compress the tissue a first amount;   firing the surgical stapling device by actuating a motor at a speed to drive the actuation sled forward and fire the plurality of staples; and   a controller configured to, some time after activation of the trigger, delay further forward actuation of the actuation sled to compress the tissue a second amount tighter than the first amount, wherein the controller reduces the speed of the motor driving the actuation sled forward to delay movement of the actuation sled for a predetermined time period during the compression of tissue the second amount.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising clamping the tissue between the first and second jaws of the surgical stapling device for a predetermined time period prior to firing the surgical stapling device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein firing the surgical stapling device further comprises tightening the first and second jaws about the tissue for the predetermined time period prior to urging staples from the cartridge. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein clamping the tissue between the first and second jaws of the surgical stapling device further comprises waiting for a signal from the controller prior to firing the surgical stapling device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the surgical stapling device includes an indicator, and wherein the method further comprises monitoring the indicator for the elapsed predetermined time period of tissue compression and/or status of the stapling. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising displaying on a display device the elapsed predetermined time period of tissue compression prior to urging staples from the staple cartridge and/or status of the stapling; and setting the predetermined time period of tissue compression on the display. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the surgical stapling device includes a display for indicating the predetermined time period of tissue compression prior to urging staples from the cartridge, and wherein the method further comprises setting the predetermined time period of tissue compression on the display. 
     
     
         26 . A method for stapling tissue comprising:
 positioning tissue between first and second jaws of a surgical stapling device, the first jaw including a plurality of staples and an actuation sled supported within the cartridge for urging the plurality of staples from the jaw, and the second jaw including an anvil having a fastener forming surface thereon;   activating a trigger to clamp the tissue between the first and second jaws of the surgical stapling device to compress the tissue for a first amount of time;   firing the surgical stapling device by actuating a motor at a speed to drive the actuation sled forward and fire the plurality of staples; and   a controller configured to, some time after activation of the trigger, delay further forward actuation of the actuation sled to compress the tissue for a second amount of time beyond the first amount of time, wherein the controller reduces the speed of the motor driving the actuation sled forward to delay movement of the actuation sled for a predetermined time period during the compression of tissue the second amount.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising clamping the tissue between the first and second jaws of the surgical stapling device for a predetermined time period prior to firing the surgical stapling device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein firing the surgical stapling device further comprises tightening the first and second jaws about the tissue for the predetermined time period prior to urging staples from the cartridge. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein clamping the tissue between the first and second jaws of the surgical stapling device further comprises waiting for a signal from the controller prior to firing the surgical stapling device. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the surgical stapling device includes an indicator, and wherein the method further comprises monitoring the indicator for the elapsed predetermined time period of tissue compression and/or status of the stapling. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising displaying on a display device the elapsed predetermined time period of tissue compression prior to urging staples from the cartridge and/or status of the stapling; and setting the predetermined time period of tissue compression on the display. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the surgical stapling device includes a display for indicating the predetermined time period of tissue compression prior to urging staples from the cartridge, and wherein the method further comprises setting the predetermined time period of tissue compression on the display.