US 11,944,340 B2
Suction and irrigation valve and method of priming same in a robotic surgical system
Kris E. Kallenberger, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Jun. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/345,119.
Prior Publication US 2022/0395290 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 34/37 (2016.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/320068 (2013.01) [A61B 34/37 (2016.02); A61B 2017/32007 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320095 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320097 (2017.08); A61B 2217/007 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of priming a surgical instrument with a fluid, wherein the surgical instrument includes (a) a shaft assembly including a lumen, and (b) a valve assembly including: (i) a first inlet configured to receive the fluid from a fluid source, (ii) a second inlet configured to receive a suction from a vacuum source, (iii) an outlet in fluid communication with the lumen, (iv) a valve chamber, and (v) at least one valve plug configured to selectively fluidly connect at least two of the outlet, the first inlet, and the second inlet via the valve chamber, the method comprising:
(a) activating the fluid source to provide the fluid to the first inlet;
(b) activating the vacuum source to provide the suction to the second inlet;
(c) transitioning the at least one valve plug from a first position to a second position, wherein:
(i) in the first position the fluid source and the vacuum source are each fluidly decoupled from the valve chamber, and
(ii) in the second position the fluid source and the vacuum source are each in fluid communication with the valve chamber; and
(d) transferring, via the suction, a first portion of the fluid from the first inlet toward the vacuum source through the second inlet thereby priming the surgical instrument.