Electro-mechanical surgical device

• US 20020049454A1
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Power Medical Interventions, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Whitman, Michael P., Zeichner, David A., Burbank, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,032,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• 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 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• 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 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• 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 2010/0208 Biopsy devices with actuators, e.g. with triggered spring mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• 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 2017/00464 for use with different instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 : with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 : characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 : flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32113 : with extendable or retractable guard or blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms

Abstract

An electro-mechanical surgical device includes: a housing; an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a distal end of the elongated shaft being detachably coupleable to a surgical instrument; at least two axially rotatable drive shafts disposed within the elongated shaft, a distal end of each of the drive shafts being configured to couple with the surgical instrument; a steering cable arrangement, the steering cable arrangement being configured to steer the distal end of the elongated shaft; and a motor system disposed within the housing, the motor system being configured to drive the drive shafts and the steering cable arrangement. A control system may be provided for controlling the motor system. A remote control unit may also be provided for controlling the motor system via the control system. Sensors, such as optical or Hall-effect devices, may be provided for determining the position of the elements of the surgical instrument based on the detected rotation of the drive shafts. A memory unit stores a plurality of operating programs or algorithms, each corresponding to a type of surgical instrument attachable to the electro-mechanical surgical device. The control system reads or selects from the plurality of operating programs or algorithms, the operating program or algorithm corresponding to the type of surgical instrument attached to the electro-mechanical surgical device.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

an elongated shaft having a first coupling; and

a surgical instrument having a second coupling, the second coupling being complimentary to and configured to couple with the first coupling;

wherein the elongated shaft is configured to be inserted into a body via a first orifice and the surgical instrument is configured to be inserted into the body via a second orifice; and

wherein the elongated shaft is configured to be coupled with the surgical instrument via the first coupling and the second coupling after the elongated shaft is inserted into the body via the first orifice and after the surgical instrument is inserted into the body via the second orifice.

2. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the first orifice includes at least one of a natural orifice, an incision and a cannula.

3. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the second orifice includes at least one of a natural orifice, an incision and a cannula.

4. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first orifice and the second orifice includes at least one of a natural orifice, an incision and a cannula.

5. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the first orifice is different from the second orifice.

6. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument includes a surgical stapler instrument.

7. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument includes a surgical stapler/cutter instrument.

8. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument includes an anastomosis instrument.

9. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible shaft and the surgical instrument coupled to the flexible shaft are configured to be withdrawn from the body via the first orifice.

10. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument includes at least one movable element, the flexible shaft including at least one rotatable drive shaft configured to effect movement of the at least one movable element.

11. The surgical device according to claim 10, wherein the first coupling and the second coupling are configured to couple the at least one movable element and the at least one rotatable drive shaft.

12. The surgical device according to claim 10, further comprising an electro-mechanical driver device configured to drive the at least one rotatable drive shaft.

13. The surgical device according to claim 12, wherein the electro-mechanical driver device includes a motor system configured to drive the at least one drive shaft.

14. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument includes a first movable element and a second movable element, the flexible shaft including a first rotatable drive shaft configured to effect movement of the first movable element and a second rotatable drive shaft configured to effect movement of the second movable element.

15. The surgical device according to claim 14, wherein the first coupling and the second coupling are configured to couple the first movable element and the first rotatable drive shaft and to couple the second movable element and the second rotatable drive shaft.

16. The surgical device according to claim 15, further comprising an electro-mechanical driver device configured to drive the first rotatable drive shaft and the second rotatable drive shaft.

17. The surgical device according to claim 16, wherein the electro-mechanical driver device includes a motor system configured to drive the first rotatable drive shaft and the second rotatable drive shaft.

18. The surgical device according to claim 17, wherein the motor system includes a first motor configured to drive the first rotatable drive shaft and a second motor configured to drive the second rotatable drive shaft.

19. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible shaft includes a steering device configured to steer a distal end of the elongated shaft.

20. A method for performing a procedure on a body, comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a flexible shaft into the body via first orifice, the flexible shaft having a first coupling;

(b) inserting a surgical instrument into the body via a second orifice, the surgical instrument including a second coupling complimentary to and configured to couple with the first coupling; and

(c) coupling the flexible shaft and the surgical instrument via the first coupling and the second coupling after the inserting steps (a) and (b).

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the flexible shaft and the surgical instrument are coupled in the coupling step (c) intracorporeally.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of performing a surgical procedure after the coupling step (c).

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the surgical procedure includes a tissue stapling procedure.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the surgical procedure includes a tissue stapling and cutting procedure.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the surgical procedure includes an anastomosis procedure.

26. The method according to claim 20, wherein the surgical instrument includes at least one of a surgical stapler instrument, a surgical stapler/cutter instrument and an anastomosis instrument.

27. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of withdrawing the coupled flexible shaft and surgical instrument via the first orifice.

28. The method according to claim 20, wherein the first orifice includes at least one of a natural orifice, an incision and a cannula.

29. The method according to claim 20, wherein the second orifice includes at least one of a natural orifice, an incision and a cannula.

30. The method according to claim 20, wherein each of the first orifice and the second orifice includes at least one of a natural orifice, an incision and a cannula.

31. The method according to claim 20, wherein the first orifice is different from the second orifice.