Electrical surgical instrument with optimal tissue compression

• US 10,675,022 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2017
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Smith, Kevin W., Bales, Jr., Thomas O., Deville, Derek Dee, Rivera, Carlos, Palmer, Matthew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weeks, Gloria R
• Application Number:
  US15/651,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20170348001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• 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 17/1114 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 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• 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 2017/07257 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 2090/032 pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A surgical device that comprises a tissue compression device that applies a compression force to tissue, a tissue-compression-measurement device having a mechanically-biased switching element disposed in line with the tissue compression device, wherein the tissue-compression-measurement device indicates when an amount of the compression force applied to the tissue reaches a pre-determined optimal compression force, and a feedback controller electrically connected to the tissue-compression-measurement device and receiving the indication from the tissue-compression-measurement device. A staple firing procedure is permitted to be carried out on the compressed tissue only when the feedback controller receives the indication that the pre-determined optimal compression force has been reached.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a tissue compression device, comprising an anvil and a staple cartridge positioned opposite one another such that, upon closure of the anvil, a compression force is applied to tissue interposed between the anvil and the staple cartridge;

a tissue-compression-measurement device comprising a mechanically-biased switching element disposed in line with the tissue compression device, wherein the tissue-compression-measurement device indicates when an amount of the compression force applied to the interposed tissue reaches a pre-determined optimal compression force; and

a feedback controller electrically connected to the tissue-compression-measurement device and receiving the indication from the tissue-compression-measurement device that the pre-determined optimal compression force has been reached; and

wherein a staple firing procedure is permitted to be carried out on the compressed tissue only when the feedback controller receives the indication that the pre-determined optimal compression force has been reached.

2. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the switching element has first and second switching states changed solely by mechanical movements.

3. The surgical device according to claim 2, wherein the switching element is a mechanical binary-output electrical switch.

4. The surgical device according to claim 3, wherein the first switching state is an open electrical state and the second switching state is a closed electrical state.

5. The surgical device according to claim 2, wherein the tissue-compression-measurement device further comprises a biasing element, the biasing element:

mechanically coupled to the switching element; and

retaining the switching element in one of the first and second switching states until a force at least as great as a force imposed by the biasing element is imparted to the switching element, wherein the switching element is disposed in line with the tissue compression device such that a corresponding amount of force placed upon the compressed tissue is placed upon the switching element.

6. The surgical device according to claim 5, wherein the force imposed by the biasing element corresponds to the pre-determined optimal compression force.

7. The surgical device according to claim 5, wherein the switching element is disposed such that the same amount of force placed upon the compressed tissue is placed upon the switch.

8. The surgical device according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator operatively connected to the feedback controller and indicating when the switching state changes.

9. The surgical device according to claim 8, wherein the indicator is one of an audible indicator and a visual indicator.

10. A surgical device, comprising:

a tissue compression device having a pair of opposing compression surfaces;

a mechanical binary-output electrical switch having open and closed electrical switching states initiated and changed solely by mechanical movements; and

a biasing device mechanically coupled to the switch and retaining the switch in one of the switching states until a force at least as great as a force imposed by the biasing device is imparted to the switch, wherein;

the switch is disposed in line with the tissue compression device such that a corresponding amount of force placed upon compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces is placed upon the switch; and

the force imposed by the biasing device corresponds to an optimal compression force of the compressed tissue when disposed between the opposing compression surfaces.

11. The surgical device according to claim 10, wherein the switch is disposed such that the same amount of force placed upon the compressed tissue is placed upon the switch.

12. The surgical device according to claim 10, wherein a change of the switching state occurs when a compression force placed on tissue by the opposing compression surfaces is at least as great as the optimal tissue compression force.

13. The surgical device according to claim 10, further comprising an indicator that indicates a change of the switching state.

14. The surgical device according to claim 10, wherein the switch further comprises a switch actuation gap.

15. The surgical device according to claim 14, wherein the switch actuation gap spans along a compression axis of the tissue compression device such that a change of the switching state is dependent upon a force expanding along the compression axis.

16. The surgical device according to claim 13, wherein the indicator is at least one of an audible indicator and a visual indicator.

17. The surgical device according to claim 13, further comprising a feedback controller operatively connected to the indicator and:

communicatively coupled to the tissue compression device; and

electrically connected to the switch.

18. The surgical device according to claim 17, wherein:

a change of the switching state occurs when a compression force placed on tissue by the opposing compression surfaces is at least as great as the optimal tissue compression force; and

upon a change of the switching state, the state change is communicated to the feedback controller.

19. The surgical device according to claim 18, wherein the tissue compression device operates dependent upon a signal from the feedback controller to maintain the optimal tissue compression force on the tissue.

20. A method of preparing the surgical device according to claim 10 for use, the method comprising:

calibrating the switch such that a change of the switching state occurs when a compression force placed on tissue by the opposing compression surfaces is at least as great as the optimal tissue compression force.