Surgical instrument

• US 10,653,417 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2016
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Morgan, Jerome R., Ouwerkerk, John N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rushing-Tucker, Chinyere J
• Application Number:
  US15/081,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20160262746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 2271761
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0042 with special provisions for gripping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• 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 2017/07278 : characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• 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 2090/033 : Abutting means, stops, e.g. abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/069 : using a plummet or weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 : Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• 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 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/74 : Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 : Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 : Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence

Abstract

A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector;

a firing member configured to move through at least a portion of the end effector to eject staples from a staple cartridge supported by the end effector;

a drive system connected to the firing member;

a variable speed electric motor connected to the drive system;

a firing trigger configured to actuate a firing motion when the firing trigger is drawn toward a handle of the surgical instrument; and

a pivot pin coupled to the firing trigger, wherein;

the firing trigger is mechanically uncoupled from the drive system; and

a positive rotational speed of the variable speed electric motor varies with an amount of force exerted on the pivot pin by the firing trigger.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises:

a first jaw; and

a second jaw pivotably connected to the first jaw.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein:

the first jaw comprises an anvil; and

the second jaw is configured to support the staple cartridge.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises a cutting member movable through at least a portion of the end effector.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises a cutting member configured to engage a first jaw and a second jaw of the end effector.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument further comprises the staple cartridge.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a removable staple cartridge.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the variable speed electric motor comprises a direct current variable speed motor.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising means for detecting the amount of force exerted on the pivot pin by the firing trigger.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit configured to vary the rotational speed of the variable speed electric motor based on the amount of force exerted on the pivot pin by the firing trigger.

11. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw; and

a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw and configured to support a staple cartridge;

a firing member movable through at least a portion of the end effector;

a firing system connected to the firing member;

an electric motor connected to the firing system;

a trigger configured to actuate the firing system when the trigger is drawn toward a handle of the surgical instrument, wherein the trigger is mechanically uncoupled from the firing system;

a pivot pin coupled to the trigger; and

a sensor configured to sense a force exerted on the pivot pin by the trigger and generate a signal indicative of an amount of the force exerted on the pivot pin by the trigger, wherein a positive rotational speed of the electric motor varies based on the signal.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein:

the first jaw comprises an anvil; and

the second jaw is pivotably connected to the first jaw.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 11, further comprising a cutting member movable through at least a portion of the end effector.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the end effector comprises a cutting member configured to engage the first jaw and the second jaw of the end effector.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the surgical instrument further comprises the staple cartridge.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a removable staple cartridge.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 11, further comprising a control circuit configured to vary the rotational speed of the electric motor based on the signal.

18. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

an anvil; and

a channel, wherein the anvil and the channel are pivotably connected, and wherein the channel is configured to support a replaceable staple cartridge;

a firing system comprising a firing member which is movable through at least a portion of the end effector;

an electric motor connected to the firing system;

a trigger configured to actuate the firing system when the trigger is drawn toward a handle of the surgical instrument, wherein the trigger is mechanically uncoupled from the firing system;

a pivot pin coupled to the trigger; and

means for varying a positive rotational speed of the electric motor based on an amount of force exerted on the pivot pin by the trigger.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18, further comprising the replaceable staple cartridge.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the means for varying comprises means for detecting the amount of force exerted on the pivot pin by the trigger.