Battery powered surgical instrument

• US 10,188,391 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank J., Krehel, Gregg, Pedros, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US15/606,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20170258468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271751, 2271752, 2271761, 2271801, 606139, 606153, 606213, 606219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00132 Setting operation time of a device A61B2017/00123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

A powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided and includes a handle including a housing, a power source supported in the housing; an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing of the handle; an end effector assembly coupled to a distal end of the endoscopic portion, the end effector assembly including a pair of jaws configured to perform a surgical function; a driving member; a drive source including a motor powered by the power source and connected to the driving member; and a gear assembly engaged with the motor. The gear assembly including a gear rack provided on the driving member; and a main gear operatively connected with the gear rack, the motor spinning the main gear such that rotary motion of the main gear moves the driving member in an axial direction such that the driving member actuates the end effector to perform the surgical function.

Claims

1. A powered endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a handle assembly including;

a handle; and

a trigger movable in relation to the handle;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the handle of the handle assembly;

an end effector assembly coupled to a distal end portion of the endoscopic portion, the end effector assembly configured to perform a first surgical function in response to an actuation of the trigger;

a motor for driving the surgical function;

a battery operably coupled to the motor;

a protecting housing configured to be releasably coupled to the handle of the handle assembly, wherein both the motor and the battery are disposed within the protective housing; and

a hand actuated control member supported on the handle and mechanically connected to the end effector assembly, wherein the end effector assembly is configured to perform a second surgical function upon actuation of the hand actuated control member.

2. The powered endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the protective housing is coupled to an outside surface of the handle.

3. The powered endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protective housing is configured to be releasably coupled to the handle of the handle assembly when the handle is in an assembled condition.

4. The powered endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor includes a motor drive shaft that extends through the handle of the handle assembly.

5. The powered endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trigger is a trigger switch electrically connected to each of the battery and the motor, wherein actuation of the trigger switch results in the battery energizing the motor.

6. The powered endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the trigger switch is supported on the handle.

7. The powered endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first surgical function of the end effector includes at least one of firing staples and firing a knife.

8. The powered endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second surgical function of the end effector includes an opening and a closing of the end effector.

9. The powered endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor is actuated upon actuation of the hand actuated control member.

10. A method of performing a surgical procedure, comprising:

providing a powered endoscopic surgical stapling apparatus, including;

a handle assembly including;

a handle; and

a trigger movable in relation to the handle;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the handle of the handle assembly;

an end effector assembly coupled to a distal end portion of the endoscopic portion, the end effector assembly configured to perform a surgical function in response to an actuation of the trigger; and

a replaceable protecting housing configured to be releasably coupled to the handle of the handle assembly, the protecting housing including;

a motor for driving the surgical function; and

a battery operably coupled to the motor, wherein both the motor and the battery are disposed within the protective housing;

clamping the end effector on target tissue;

actuating the trigger to perform the surgical function on the target tissue; and

removing the protecting housing, including the motor and the battery, from the handle.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising attaching a replacement protecting housing, having a motor and a battery, to the handle.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the trigger of the surgical stapling apparatus is a trigger switch electrically connected to each of the battery and the motor, wherein the method comprises actuating the trigger switch to energize the motor by the battery.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the handle assembly of the surgical stapling apparatus further comprises a hand actuated control member supported on the handle and mechanically connected to the end effector assembly, wherein the surgical function of the end effector assembly is a first surgical function, and wherein the method further comprises actuating the hand actuated control member to actuate a second surgical function of the end effector assembly.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first surgical function of the end effector includes at least one of firing staples and firing a knife.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the second surgical function of the end effector includes an opening and a closing of the end effector.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising actuating the motor upon actuation of the hand actuated control member.