Methods to shorten calibration times for powered devices

• US 10,041,822 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2015
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zemlok, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US14/683,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20150209035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271751, 2271761, 606219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00154 pulsed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00181 Means for setting or varying the pulse energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00393 with means for switching between functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 Calibration or performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 : for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/008 : with calibration coefficients stored in memory

Abstract

A calibration method for a hand-held surgical instrument is disclosed. The hand-held instrument includes a drive motor, a firing rod controlled by the drive motor and having at least one indicator, and a sensor configured to detect the at least one indicator. A microcontroller includes a pulse modulation algorithm stored therein to control the drive motor. The microcontroller executes a calibration algorithm to adjust at least one program coefficient in the pulse modulation algorithm.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a hand-held surgical instrument having a drive motor, a firing rod, a sensor, a microcontroller, and a memory having a pulse modulation algorithm stored therein, the method comprising:

initiating translation of the firing rod;

detecting at least one indicator on the firing rod;

determining a time between when translation of the firing rod is initiated and when the at least one indicator is detected;

comparing the time with a predetermined time; and

adjusting at least one program coefficient in the pulse modulation algorithm based on the comparison between the time and the predetermined time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a linear speed of the firing rod; and

selecting the predetermined time based on the determined linear speed of the firing rod.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein if the time is less than the predetermined time, the at least one program coefficient is adjusted so that the firing rod is translated a relatively shorter distance.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein if the time is greater than the predetermined time, the at least one program coefficient is adjusted so that the firing rod is translated a relatively longer distance.

5. A hand-held surgical instrument comprising:

a drive motor;

a firing rod controlled by the drive motor and having at least one indicator;

a sensor configured to detect the at least one indicator; and

a microcontroller having a pulse modulation algorithm stored therein, the pulse modulation algorithm being configured to control the drive motor; and

a position calculator configured to determine a time between when the firing rod begins translation and when the sensor detects the at least one indicator,

wherein the microcontroller executes a calibration algorithm to adjust at least one program coefficient in the pulse modulation algorithm.

6. The hand-held surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the indicator is a bump, groove, indentation, magnet, notch, or at least one thread on the firing rod.

7. The hand-held surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the sensor is a linear displacement sensor.

8. The hand-held surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the microcontroller receives the time from the position calculator and compares the time to a predetermined time.

9. The hand-held surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the microcontroller adjusts the at least one program coefficient based on the comparison between the time and the predetermined time.

10. The hand-held surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the sensor determines a linear speed of the firing rod.

11. The hand-held surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the microcontroller selects the predetermined time based on the linear speed of the firing rod.