Surgical instrument battery comprising a plurality of cells

• US 10,188,393 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Smith, Bret W., Yates, David C., Abbott, Daniel J., Schwemberger, Richard F., Shelton, IV, Frederick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hupczey, Jr., Ronald
• Application Number:
  US13/961,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20130324981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00027 characterised by power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• 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 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to battery packs for use with surgical instruments. The battery packs may comprise a plurality of cells and at least a portion of the plurality of cells may not be electrically connected to one another. The battery packs may comprise a switch or other mechanism for interconnecting the plurality of cells and may also comprise, or be used in conjunction with, a discharge switch or plug configured to electrically connect an anode of the battery pack to a cathode of the battery pack, for example, via a resistive element.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a surgical instrument comprising;

an open electrical circuit;

a contactor;

a first electrode; and

a second electrode, wherein said first and second electrodes are electrically coupled to said open electrical circuit;

a battery pack, comprising;

a third electrode;

a fourth electrode;

a first battery cell;

a second battery cell, wherein said fourth electrode is electrically coupled to said first battery cell; and

an open portion disposed between said first battery cell and said second battery cell; and

a switch comprising said contactor and said open portion,

wherein electrical contact is established between said first electrode and said third electrode and between said second electrode and said fourth electrode when said battery pack is attached to said surgical instrument,

wherein said switch is operative between an open state and a closed state, wherein said first battery cell and said second battery cell are electrically isolated during said open state, and are in electrical communication during said closed state,

wherein said switch is configured in said open state prior to attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument, and is configured to transition to said closed state upon attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument, and wherein said contactor of said surgical instrument is in electrical contact with said open portion of said battery pack upon attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

2. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a handle, wherein said handle comprises a cavity, and wherein said battery pack is at least partially insertable into said cavity.

3. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said battery pack further comprises a third battery cell in electrical communication with said first battery cell prior to the attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

4. The surgical instrument system of claim 3, wherein said battery pack further comprises a fourth battery cell in electrical communication with said second battery cell prior to the attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

5. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, further comprising a drain having a discharge switch and a resistive element, wherein said drain is electrically coupled to said battery pack and configured to drain said first and second battery cells when the discharge switch is closed.

6. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from said shaft.

7. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, further comprising a staple cartridge.

8. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said switch further comprises a movable tab disposed between said contactor and said open portion, wherein said switch transitions to said closed state by removing said movable tab.

9. The surgical instrument system of claim 8, wherein said contactor is biased against said open portion.

10. The surgical instrument system of claim 8, further comprising a tab receiver configured to receive and remove said movable tab.

11. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a surgical instrument, comprising;

a first electrode;

a second electrode; and

a contactor; and

a battery pack, comprising;

a third electrode;

a fourth electrode;

a first independent battery cell;

a second independent battery cell; and

an open portion disposed between said first independent battery cell and said second independent battery cell, wherein the attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument establishes electrical contact between said first electrode and said third electrode, said second electrode and said fourth electrode, and said first independent battery cell and said second independent battery cell, and wherein said contactor of said surgical instrument is in electrical contact with said open portion of said battery pack upon attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

12. The surgical instrument system of claim 11, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a handle, wherein said handle comprises a cavity, and wherein said battery pack is at least partially insertable into said cavity.

13. The surgical instrument system of claim 11, wherein said battery pack further comprises a third battery cell in electrical communication with said first independent battery cell prior to the attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

14. The surgical instrument system of claim 13, wherein said battery pack further comprises a fourth battery cell in electrical communication with said second independent battery cell prior to the attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

15. The surgical instrument system of claim 11, further comprising a drain having a discharge switch and a resistive element, wherein said drain is electrically coupled to said battery pack and configured to drain said first and second battery cells when the discharge switch is closed.

16. The surgical instrument system of claim 11, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from said shaft.

17. The surgical instrument system of claim 11, further comprising a staple cartridge.

18. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a surgical instrument comprising;

an open electrical circuit;

a contactor;

a first electrical contact; and

a second electrical contact, wherein said first and second electrical contacts are electrically coupled to said open electrical circuit;

a battery pack, comprising;

a third electrical contact;

a fourth electrical contact;

a first battery;

a second battery, wherein said fourth electrical contact is electrically coupled to said first battery; and

an open portion disposed between said first battery and said second battery; and

a switch comprising said contactor and said open portion,

wherein electrical connection is established between said first electrical contact and said third electrical contact, and between said second electrical contact and said fourth electrical contact when said battery pack is attached to said surgical instrument,

wherein said switch is operative between an open state and a closed state, wherein said first battery and said second battery are electrically isolated during said open state, and are in electrical communication during said closed state, and

wherein said switch is configured in said open state prior to attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument, and transitions to said closed state upon attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument, and wherein upon attachment of said battery pack to said surgical instrument said contactor of said surgical instrument is in electrical contact with said open portion of said battery pack.

19. The surgical instrument system of claim 18, further comprising a staple cartridge.