Surgical adapter assemblies and wireless detection of surgical loading units

• US 10,338,259 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Calderoni, Anthony, Pantazis, John, Dussan, Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US15/371,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20170168187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271751, 2271752, 2271761, 2271791, 2271801, 606 38, 606139, 606153, 606219
• 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 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1222 Packages or dispensers therefor clip magazines incorporated in a clip-applying instrument A61B17/128; for surgical articles A61B50/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3211 Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• 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 with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0808 for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/10 Measuring sum, difference or ratio
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 23/02 Arrangements for measuring frequency, e.g. pulse repetition rate; Arrangements for measuring period of current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/10 : using induction coils

Abstract

An adapter assembly includes an elongated body configured to couple to a handle assembly and a loading unit assembly. The adapter assembly includes an oscillator configured to output a voltage signal. A sensor determines a connection status of the loading unit assembly coupled to the adapter assembly based on a change in the voltage signal. The voltage signal includes a rectified voltage output and an induced voltage output and changes in response to the approximation of a winding disposed within a loading unit assembly to the oscillator.

Claims

1. An adapter assembly, comprising:

an elongated body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is configured to couple to a handle assembly and the distal portion is configured to couple to a loading unit assembly;

an oscillator disposed within the elongated body and configured to output a voltage signal; and

a sensor disposed within the elongated body and configured to determine a connection status of a loading unit assembly coupled to the elongated body based on a change in the voltage signal.

2. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the voltage signal includes a rectified voltage output and an induced voltage output.

3. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the oscillator is a Colpitts Oscillator.

4. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the voltage signal changes in response to the approximation of a winding disposed within a loading unit assembly to the oscillator.

5. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the voltage signal changes in response to a wireless interaction with a winding disposed within a loading unit.

6. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to determine at least one parameter of a loading unit assembly based on the change in the voltage signal.

7. The adapter assembly according to claim 6, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of a serial number of a loading unit assembly, a type of a loading unit assembly, a size of a loading unit assembly, a fastener size, a fastener type, prior use information, and maximum number of uses of a loading unit assembly.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the at least one parameter of the surgical loading unit is an identifier of the surgical loading unit.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the oscillator is a Colpitts Oscillator.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the change in the voltage signal is a change in frequency.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the sensor is further configured to determine at least one parameter of the surgical loading unit assembly based on the change in the voltage signal.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of a serial number of the surgical loading unit assembly, a type of the surgical loading unit assembly, a size of the surgical loading unit assembly, a faster size, a fastener type, prior use information, and maximum number of uses of the surgical loading unit.

14. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the voltage signal includes a rectified voltage output and an induced voltage output.

8. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly including a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to control a motor;

a surgical loading unit including;

a memory configured to store at least one parameter of the surgical loading unit; and

a winding; and

an adapter assembly configured to couple to the handle assembly and the surgical loading unit, the adapter assembly including;

an oscillator configured to wirelessly couple to the winding and to output a voltage signal; and

a sensor configured to determine a connection status of the surgical loading unit based on a change in the voltage signal due to wireless coupling of the winding and the oscillator.

15. A method for wireless detection of a surgical loading unit being coupled to an adapter assembly, the method comprising:

generating a signal at an oscillator circuit disposed within an adapter assembly;

measuring at least one parameter of the oscillator circuit;

inserting a surgical loading unit including a winding into the adapter assembly, thereby altering the at least one parameter;

measuring the altered at least one parameter;

determining a difference between the at least one parameter and the altered at least one parameter; and

determining presence of the surgical loading unit based on the difference.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one parameter is a voltage or a frequency of the signal.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein altering the oscillator parameter is based on a wireless connection between the winding of the surgical loading unit and the oscillator circuit of the adapter assembly.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising determining at least one operational parameter of the surgical loading unit based on the difference.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein determining the at least one operational parameter of the surgical loading unit includes identifying the surgical unit.