Modular battery powered handheld surgical instrument with energy conservation techniques

• US 10,709,469 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Yates, David C., Houser, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Xuan
• Application Number:
  US15/382,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20170202596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 307154
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1447 wherein sliding surfaces cause opening/closing of the end effectors
• 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 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00123 and automatic shutdown
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320072 : Working tips with special features, e.g. extending parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320073 : probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320074 : blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320078 : Tissue manipulating surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 : additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 : with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00297 : Means for providing haptic feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 : Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 : Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00684 : using lookup tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00767 : Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 : Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 : Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00904 : Automatic detection of target tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 : slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 : Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 : combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 : powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/252 : indicating steps of a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 : adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 : Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 : Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 : Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 : Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 : Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 : adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 : adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 : specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/02 : Details of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5044 : Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method of conserving energy in a surgical instrument that includes a segmented circuit having a plurality of independently operated circuit segments, a voltage control circuit, an energy source, a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to control a state of a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments. The state can be an energized state or a deenergized state. The method includes transmitting an energizing signal from the processor to a voltage control circuit, receiving the energizing signal by the voltage control circuit to apply a voltage to a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments, applying the voltage to the circuit segment by the voltage control circuit to cause the circuit segment to transition from the deenergized state to the energized state in accordance with an energization sequence that is different from a deenergization sequence.

Claims

1. A method of conserving energy in a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising a segmented circuit comprising a plurality of independently operated circuit segments, a voltage control circuit, an energy source, a memory device, and a processor coupled to the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to control a state of a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments, wherein the state can be an energized state or a deenergized state, the method comprising:

transmitting an energizing signal from the processor to the voltage control circuit;

receiving the energizing signal by the voltage control circuit to cause the voltage control circuit to apply a voltage to a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments;

applying the voltage to the circuit segment by the voltage control circuit to cause the circuit segment to transition from the deenergized state to the energized state in accordance with an energization sequence that is different from a deenergization sequence; and

deenergizing, by the voltage control circuit, the circuit segment from the energized state to the deenergized state in accordance with the deenergization sequence;

wherein the deenergization sequence comprises;

transmitting a deenergizing signal from the processor to the voltage control circuit;

receiving the deenergizing signal by the voltage control circuit to cause the voltage control circuit to remove the voltage from the circuit segment; and

removing the voltage applied to the circuit segment, by the voltage control circuit, to cause the circuit segment to transition from the energized state to the deenergized state in accordance with the deenergization sequence that is different from the energization sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

applying the voltage to the circuit segment by the voltage control circuit comprises applying the voltage to;

a handle control sensor circuit, a LCD circuit, a communication circuit, a motor circuit, an energy treatment circuit or a modular power circuit.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

applying the voltage to the circuit segment by the voltage control circuit comprises further applying the voltage to;

the energy treatment circuit, wherein the energy treatment circuit comprises a RF control circuit and an ultrasonic signal generator; and

the modular power circuit, wherein the modular power circuit comprises a shaft module controller, wherein the shaft module controller is coupled to a modular control actuator, an end effector sensor, and a nonvolatile memory.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to applying the voltage to the circuit segment in accordance with the energization sequence, the method further comprising:

performing a safety check, by a safety controller, and performing a Power On Self Test (POST), by a POST controller, to verify proper operation of the circuit segment.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

implementing a locking protocol, wherein the locking protocol comprises disabling operation of the circuit segment by the safety controller or the POST controller.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the POST comprises verifying proper operation of the circuit segment with an accelerometer.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the POST comprises verifying an identity of the circuit segment with an encryption parameter.

8. A surgical instrument comprising:

a segmented circuit comprising a plurality of independently operated circuit segments, wherein a state of a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments can be an energized state or a deenergized state;

a memory device;

a processor coupled to the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to;

transmit an energizing signal; and

transmit a deenergizing signal;

a voltage control circuit, wherein the voltage control circuit is configured to;

receive the energizing signal to be transmitted by the processor, the energizing signal to cause the voltage control circuit to apply a voltage to a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments, the voltage to be applied to cause the circuit segment to transition from the deenergized state to the energized state in accordance with an energization sequence that is different from a deenergization sequence; and

receive the deenergizing signal, the deenergizing signal to cause the voltage control circuit to remove the voltage from the circuit segment, the voltage to be removed to cause the circuit segment to transition from the energized state to the deenergized state in accordance with the deenergization sequence that is different from the energization sequence; and

an energy source to power the surgical instrument.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the plurality of circuit segments comprises a handle control sensor circuit, a LCD circuit, a communication circuit, a motor circuit, an energy treatment circuit or a modular power circuit.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the energy treatment circuit comprises a RF control circuit and an ultrasonic signal generator, wherein the modular power circuit comprises a shaft module controller, and wherein the shaft module controller is coupled to a modular control actuator, an end effector sensor, and a nonvolatile memory.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the surgical instrument further comprises:

a safety controller configured to perform a safety check; and

a Power On Self Test (POST) controller configured to perform a POST, the safety check and the POST configured to verify proper operation of the circuit segment.

12. A surgical instrument comprising:

a segmented circuit comprising a plurality of independently operated circuit segments, wherein a state of a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments can be an energized state or a deenergized state;

a memory device;

a wake up circuit to determine an energization sequence based on an output of an accelerometer, wherein the energization sequence is different from a deenergization sequence;

a processor coupled to the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to;

transmit an energizing signal in accordance with the energization sequence; and

transmit a deenergizing signal in accordance with the deenergizing sequence;

a voltage control circuit, wherein the voltage control circuit is configured to;

receive the energizing signal to be transmitted by the processor, the energizing signal to cause the voltage control circuit to apply a voltage to a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments, the voltage to be applied to cause the circuit segment to transition from the deenergized state to the energized state in accordance with the energization sequence; and

receive the deenergizing signal, the deenergizing signal to cause the voltage control circuit to remove the voltage from the circuit segment, the voltage to be removed to cause the circuit segment to transition from the energized state to the deenergized state in accordance with the deenergization sequence that is different from the energization sequence; and

an energy source to power the surgical instrument.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the plurality of circuit segments comprises a handle control sensor circuit, a LCD circuit, a communication circuit, a motor circuit, an energy treatment circuit and a modular power circuit.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the energy treatment circuit comprises a RF control circuit and an ultrasonic signal generator, wherein the modular power circuit comprises a shaft module controller, and wherein the shaft module controller is coupled to a modular control actuator, an end effector sensor, and a nonvolatile memory.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 12, further comprising:

a safety controller configured to perform a safety check; and

a Power On Self Test (POST) controller configured to perform POST, the safety check and the POST to verify proper operation of the circuit segment.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, further comprising:

a secondary processor configured to perform a critical function when the processor is determined to be in a malfunctioning state.