Shaft, e.g., for an electro-mechanical surgical device

• US 20070055219A1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Malinouskas, Donald, Whitman, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,960,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• 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 17/115 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 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7208 Flexible pins, e.g. ENDER pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• 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 with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00853 low friction, hydrophobic and corrosion-resistant fluorocarbon resin coating (ptf, ptfe, polytetrafluoroethylene)
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/742 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/067 for measuring angles
• 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 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 : with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 : Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• 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 90/06 : Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/08 : Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 : Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 : Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/06 : with guiding sheathing, tube or box F16C1/04 takes precedence; guiding sheathings F16C1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25 : Arrangements specific to fibre transmission

Abstract

A shaft being, e.g., flexible, that includes an elongated outer sheath, at least one drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath and a ring non-rotatably mounted on the at least one rotatable drive shaft and at least one light source mounted within the shaft, such that, upon rotation of the at least one rotatable drive shaft, the ring alternately blocks and allows light from the light source to be detected. The shaft may also include a moisture sensor disposed within the outer sheath of the shaft and configured to detect moisture within the outer sheath. The shaft may include couplings that connect a distal end of the outer sheath to a surgical attachment and a proximal end of the outer sheath to a remote power console.

Claims

1. A shaft, comprising:

an elongated outer sheath;

at least one rotatable drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath;

a member extending radially from and configured to rotate with the at least one rotatable drive shaft; and

at least one light source mounted within the outer sheath,

wherein, upon rotation of the at least one rotatable drive shaft, the member alternately blocks and allows light from the light source to be detected.

2. The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the member is a tab.

3. The shaft according to claim 2, wherein the member includes two tabs that extend from a quadrature ring mounted on the at least one rotatable drive shaft.

4. The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source includes two light sources mounted at a distal end of the shaft.

5. The shaft according to claim 4, wherein the two light sources are mounted about 90 degrees from to each other relative to an axis of the at least one rotatable drive shaft.

6. The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is flexible.

7. The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is rigid.

8. The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is articulable.

9. The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is articulatable.

10. The shaft according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is a light-emitting diode.

11. The shaft according to claim 10, wherein the outer sheath is autoclavable.

12. The shaft according to claim 10, wherein the outer sheath includes a fluoropolymer/silicone material.

13. The shaft according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fiber optic cable for transmitting the light from the light source.

14. The shaft according to claim 13, wherein the member and the at least one light source are configured such that light transmitted from the at least one light source is interpretable by a controller in order to determine the rotation of the at least one rotatable drive shaft.

15. The shaft according to claim 14, wherein the controller is disposed within a remote power console.

16. The shaft according to claim 15, further comprising:

a first coupling at a proximal end of the shaft, the first coupling being configured to detachably couple the shaft to the remote power console.

17. The shaft according to claim 16, further comprising:

a second coupling connected to a distal end of the outer sheath configured to detachably couple to a surgical attachment.

18. The shaft according to claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to determine a position of a component of the surgical attachment based upon an interpretation of the transmitted light.

19. The shaft according to claim 1, further comprising:

a moisture sensor disposed within the outer sheath configured to detect moisture within the outer sheath.

20. The shaft according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory unit disposed in the shaft.

21. The shaft according to claim 20, wherein the memory unit stores data including at least one of serial number data, identification data and usage data.

22. The shaft according to claim 21, further comprising:

a data transfer cable disposed within the shaft, wherein the memory unit is logically and electrically connected to the data transfer cable.