Electrosurgical stapling instrument with disposable severing / stapling unit

• US 20070102472A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick
• Application Number:
  US11/268,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20070102472A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• 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 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments

Abstract

Embodiments of an electrical energy transmission system structured for use with a surgical severing/stapling instrument including a removably connectable disposable severing/stapling unit are provided. The energy transmission system may include an electrical power source; and, at least one electrode positioned on at least one of an anvil assembly or a cartridge assembly of the disposable severing/stapling unit. The assembly electrode may be configured to receive electrical power from the electrical power source when the disposable severing/stapling unit is removably connected to the surgical instrument. In certain embodiments, the electrical power source may include a radio frequency electrical power source configured to provide electrical current to the assembly electrode.

Claims

1. An electrical energy transmission system structured for use with a surgical severing/stapling instrument including a removably connectable disposable severing/stapling unit, the energy transmission system comprising:

an electrical power source; and

,

at least one electrode positioned on at least one of an anvil assembly or a cartridge assembly of the disposable severing/stapling unit, the assembly electrode being configured to receive electrical power from the electrical power source when the disposable severing/stapling unit is removably connected to the surgical instrument.

2. The energy transmission system of claim 1, wherein the electrical power source includes a radio frequency electrical power source.

3. The energy transmission system of claim 1, further comprising the disposable severing/stapling unit having a set of electrical contacts positioned thereon to create an electrical circuit with a set of electrical contacts positioned on a shaft of the surgical instrument when the disposable unit is removably connected to the shaft.

4. The energy transmission system of claim 1, wherein the assembly electrode includes an anvil assembly electrode positioned generally adjacent to a plurality of staple receiving depressions formed in the anvil assembly.

5. The energy transmission system of claim 1, wherein the assembly electrode includes a cartridge assembly electrode positioned on a staple cartridge received within the cartridge assembly.

6. The energy transmission system of claim 5, further comprising the cartridge assembly electrode being positioned generally adjacent to a plurality of staple holes formed in the staple cartridge.

7. The energy transmission system of claim 1, further comprising a trigger operatively associated with the electrical power source, the trigger being configured to permit manual activation of the electrical power source.

8. The energy transmission system of claim 1, further comprising the electrical power source being configured to activate and generate electrical energy automatically in association with firing of the surgical instrument.

9. The energy transmission system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one of the anvil assembly or the cartridge assembly is electrically grounded.

10. A surgical severing/stapling instrument having an electrical energy transmission system, the surgical instrument comprising:

a handle portion including an electrical power source therein;

an implement portion connected to the handle portion, the implement portion including a shaft structured for removably connecting a disposable severing/stapling unit thereto; and

,

the disposable unit including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly,

wherein at least one of the anvil assembly or the cartridge assembly includes at least one electrode positioned thereon, the assembly electrode being configured to receive electrical power from the electrical power source when the disposable unit is removably connected to the shaft.

11. The instrument of claim 10, wherein the electrical power source includes a radio frequency electrical power source.

12. The instrument of claim 10, further comprising the disposable severing/stapling unit having a set of electrical contacts positioned thereon to complete an electrical circuit with a set of electrical contacts positioned on the shaft when the disposable unit is removably connected to the shaft.

13. The instrument of claim 10, wherein the assembly electrode includes an anvil assembly electrode positioned generally adjacent to a plurality of staple receiving depressions formed in the anvil assembly.

14. The instrument of claim 10, wherein the assembly electrode includes a cartridge assembly electrode positioned on a staple cartridge received within the cartridge assembly.

15. The instrument of claim 14, further comprising the cartridge assembly electrode being positioned generally adjacent to a plurality of staple holes formed in the staple cartridge.

16. The instrument of claim 10, further comprising a trigger operatively associated with the electrical power source, the trigger being configured to permit manual activation of the electrical power source.

17. The instrument of claim 10, further comprising the electrical power source being configured to activate and generate electrical energy automatically in association with firing of the surgical instrument.

18. The instrument of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of one of the anvil assembly or the cartridge assembly is electrically grounded.

19. An electrical energy transmission system structured for use with a surgical severing/stapling instrument including a removably connectable disposable severing/stapling unit, the energy transmission system comprising:

an electrical power source, wherein the electrical power source includes a radio frequency electrical power source;

at least one electrode positioned on an anvil assembly of the disposable stapling unit, the anvil assembly electrode being configured to receive electrical power from the electrical power source when the disposable severing/stapling unit is removably connected to the surgical instrument; and

,

at least one electrode positioned on a staple cartridge assembly of the disposable stapling unit, the cartridge assembly electrode being configured to receive electrical power from the electrical power source when the disposable severing/stapling unit is removably connected to the surgical instrument.

20. A surgical severing/stapling instrument having an electrical energy transmission system, the surgical instrument comprising:

a handle portion including an electrical power source therein, wherein the electrical power source includes a radio frequency electrical power source;

an implement portion connected to the handle portion, the implement portion including a shaft structured for removably connecting a disposable severing/stapling unit thereto;

the disposable unit including an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, wherein at least one of the anvil assembly or the cartridge assembly includes at least one electrode positioned thereon, the assembly electrode being configured to receive electrical power from the electrical power source when the disposable unit is removably connected to the shaft, wherein at least a portion of one of the anvil assembly or the cartridge assembly is electrically grounded; and

,

the disposable severing/stapling unit having a set of electrical contacts positioned thereon to complete an electrical circuit with a set of electrical contacts positioned on the shaft when the disposable unit is removably connected to the shaft.