Surgical instrument having a feedback system

• US 10,426,463 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ehticon LLC
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Morgan, Jerome R., Doll, Kevin R., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Timperman, Eugene L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Robert F
• Application Number:
  US15/077,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20160199059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751-1821
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/28 Surgical forceps for holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221; surgical scissors A61B17/3201 ; obstetrical forceps A61B17/44; for inserting intraocular lenses A61F2/1662; hand-held gripping tools in general B25B7/00 ]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• 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: A61B 34/76 Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A powered surgical stapler comprising a housing, a motor, an actuator movable between an unactuated state and an actuated state, a counter, an elongate shaft, a lockout system, a firing member, a display, and an end effector comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, a channel, a staple cartridge, and an anvil is disclosed. The second jaw is movable from an open position toward a closed position when the actuator is in the actuated state. The firing member translates through the staple cartridge during a firing stroke. The display displays the position of the firing member, a locked-out condition where the firing member is prevented from performing a firing stroke, and an actuation count comprising the number of firing strokes performed by the firing member. The firing member is placed in the locked-out condition when the second jaw is not in the closed position.

Claims

1. A powered surgical stapler, comprising:

a housing comprising a motor configured to produce output rotary motions;

an actuator movable relative to said housing between an unactuated state and an actuated state;

a counter;

an elongate shaft extending from said housing;

a lockout system;

an end effector extending from said elongate shaft, wherein said end effector comprises;

a first jaw;

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw between an open position and a closed position, wherein said second jaw is moved toward said closed position when said actuator is in said actuated state;

a channel;

a staple cartridge configured to be operably received in said channel; and

an anvil;

a firing member configured to translate through said staple cartridge during a firing stroke in response to said output rotary motions of said motor, wherein said firing member is resettable to translate through another firing stroke; and

a display which displays;

the position of said firing member;

a locked-out condition, wherein said firing member is prevented from performing a said firing stroke when said firing member is in said locked-out condition by way of said lockout system, and wherein said firing member is placed in said locked-out condition by said lockout system when said second jaw is not in said closed position; and

an actuation count determined by said counter, wherein said actuation count comprises the number of firing strokes performed by said firing member.

2. A powered surgical stapler, comprising:

a housing comprising a motor configured to output rotary motions;

an actuator, wherein said actuator is actuatable relative to said housing between an unactuated state and an actuated state;

an elongate shaft extending from said housing, wherein said elongate shaft comprises a drive member configured to rotate in response to said rotary motions;

an end effector extending from said elongate shaft, wherein said end effector comprises;

a first jaw;

a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw between an unclamped position and a clamped position, wherein said second jaw is moved toward said clamped position when said actuator is in said actuated state;

a channel;

a staple cartridge configured to be operably received in said channel; and

an anvil;

a firing member configured to translate through said staple cartridge between an unfired position and a fired position during a firing stroke in response to the rotation of said drive member;

an actuation sensor configured to detect the state of said actuator;

a counter element configured to count the number of firing strokes of said firing member;

a lockout element configured to limit the rotation of said drive member when said lockout element is in a locked out condition, wherein said lockout element is in said locked out condition when said second jaw is not in said clamped position; and

a display which displays said locked out condition, the number of firing strokes of said firing member, and the position of said firing member.

3. A powered surgical stapler, comprising:

a housing, comprising;

a battery; and

a motor configured to output rotary motions when power from said battery is supplied to said motor;

a switch configured to permit power to flow to said motor when in a closed state and prevent power flow to said motor when in an open state;

a closure actuator configured to move between an unactuated state and an actuated state, wherein said closure actuator moves said switch into said closed state when said closure actuator is moved to said actuated state;

a firing actuator configured to operate said motor to perform a firing stroke when moved from an unactuated position to an actuated position when said switch is in said closed state, wherein said firing actuator is resettable to perform another firing stroke;

a counter element configured to count the number of firing strokes;

an elongate shaft extending from said housing;

an end effector extending from said elongate shaft, wherein said end effector is configurable in an unclamped configuration and a clamped configuration, and wherein said end effector is moved into said clamped configuration when said closure actuator is in said actuated state;

a firing member configured to translate through said end effector between a unfired position and a fired position during said firing stroke; and

a display which displays the position of said firing member within said end effector during said firing stroke, whether said switch is in said closed state or said open state, and said number of firing strokes.