Powered surgical instrument

• US 10,321,902 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zemlok, Michael A., Racenet, David, Ross, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US15/804,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20180055501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 607 48, 600529, 600532, 600538
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• 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 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion, and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

a drive gear disposed at least partially within the housing and rotatable about a drive gear axis; and

a drive motor disposed at least partially within the housing, the drive motor supporting the drive gear and being configured to rotate the drive gear about the drive gear axis, the drive motor movable axially along the drive gear axis relative to the housing to axially displace the drive gear.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the drive gear axis and the longitudinal axis are coaxial.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a shift motor disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to move the drive motor along the drive gear axis.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the shift motor is configured to move the drive gear along the drive gear axis relative to the housing.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 5, further comprising a shift screw, the shift motor configured to rotate the shift screw about the drive gear axis.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a shift sensor configured to determine the axial position of the drive motor along the drive gear axis.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a position lock disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to maintain the drive gear in one of a plurality of longitudinally-spaced positions.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 8, further comprising a drive motor casing at least partially surrounding the drive motor, the drive motor casing including at least three slots therein, wherein each slot of the at least three slots is matable with the position lock to maintain the drive gear in a desired longitudinal position.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the drive motor includes a drive motor shaft extending distally therefrom, the drive motor shaft mechanically engaging the drive gear.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the drive motor shaft includes a longitudinally flat portion configured to allow rotational float between the drive motor shaft and the drive gear.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the drive gear with the drive motor at a first longitudinal position effects a first function of the surgical instrument, and wherein rotation of the drive gear with the drive motor at a second longitudinal position effects a second function of the surgical instrument.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising:

an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis; and

a loading unit configured to mechanically engage a distal portion of the elongated shaft, the loading unit including an end effector having a pair of jaws and being configured to fire staples.

14. The surgical instrument according to claim 13, wherein the drive motor is configured to selectively actuate a plurality of mechanical functions of the surgical instrument;

the surgical instrument further comprising;

a first gear system including the drive gear and being drivable by the drive motor to operate a first of the plurality of mechanical functions of the surgical instrument;

a second gear system drivable by the drive motor to operate a second of the plurality of mechanical functions of the surgical instrument, wherein at least a gear of the first gear system and a gear of the second gear system are concentrically arranged with one another;

a second motor disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to selectively bring into mechanical connection the drive motor and one of the first gear system or the second gear system to actuate a selected one of the first of the plurality of mechanical functions or a second of the plurality of mechanical functions of the surgical instrument.

15. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein when the first gear system is mechanically connected to the drive motor, the first function includes rotation of the elongated shaft along the longitudinal axis thereof, and in turn, rotation of the end effector.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 15, wherein when the second gear system is mechanically connected to the drive motor, the second function includes actuation of the end effector to at least one of open/close the end effector or fire staples from the end effector.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 16, further comprising a third gear system mechanically driven by the drive motor, wherein the third gear system drives a third function of the plurality of mechanical functions of the surgical instrument.

18. The surgical instrument according to claim 17, wherein the third function includes actuation of the end effector to articulate the end effector.

19. The surgical instrument according to claim 18, wherein:

when the drive gear is in a first axial position, the drive gear forms a part of the first gear system; and

when the drive gear is in a second axial position, the drive gear forms a part of the second gear system.