Pneumatically powered surgical cutting and fastening instrument with replaceable power sources

• US 20080029573A1
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jerome R., Timperman, Eugene L., Fugikawa, Leslie M., Shelton, Frederick E.
• Application Number:
  US11/497,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20080029573A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.2
• 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 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00548 Gas cartridges therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 Pistol grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• 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 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0545 Tools

Abstract

A surgical instrument that includes a handle assembly that removably supports a source of pneumatic power. A pneumatically powered drive system is operably supported by the surgical instrument and is configured to be fluidically coupled to the source of pneumatic power. The handle assembly may be provided with a lockout system that is configured to block connection of the source of pneumatic power to the portion of the handle assembly and the pneumatically powered drive system after the source of pneumatic power is disconnected from the portion of the handle assembly and the pneumatically powered drive system a predetermined number of times. In alternative embodiments the handle assembly may be provided with attachment components that either break off or are otherwise disabled to prevent the reattachment of the source of pneumatic power to the handle assembly after the source has been detached therefrom.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly;

a source of pneumatic power removably attachable to a primary portion of the handle assembly;

a pneumatically powered drive system operably supported by said surgical instrument and configured to be fluidically coupled to the source of pneumatic power; and

a lockout system associated with the handle assembly and being configured to block connection of the source of pneumatic power to the primary portion of the handle assembly and the pneumatically powered drive system after the source of pneumatic power is disconnected from the primary portion of the handle assembly and the pneumatically powered drive system a predetermined number of times.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the source of pneumatic power is supported in a grip portion that is removably attachable to the primary portion of the handle assembly.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein said source of pneumatic power is removable from the grip portion.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the source of pneumatic power comprises a rechargeable cartridge.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the lockout system comprises an attachment portion of the handle assembly that is disabled after the source of pneumatic power has been detached the predetermined number of times.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein the lockout system comprises a counter configured to advance when the grip portion is disconnected from the primary portion of the handle assembly portion.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the counter comprises:

an index wheel; and

a biasing member coupled to the index wheel.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the lockout system further comprises a blocking assembly coupled to the counter, wherein the blocking assembly is structured and arranged to block connection of the grip portion to the primary portion after the grip portion is disconnected from the primary portion the predetermined number of times.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the counter is a resettable counter.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the pneumatically powered drive system is fluidically coupled to a header area in the primary portion of the handle assembly, the header area having an access port formed therein, the access port being covered by a pierceable barrier for maintaining sterility of the pneumatically powered drive system when the source of pneumatic power has been detached therefrom and wherein the source of pneumatic power has a supply line protruding therefrom configured to pierce through the pierceable barrier when the source of pneumatic power is attached to the primary portion of the handle assembly.

11. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, the method comprising:

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 1;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

12. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly comprising;

a primary portion having first attachment means thereon; and

a grip portion having second attachment means thereon for cooperating with the first attachment means to removably attach the grip portion to the primary portion, and wherein at least one of the first and second attachment means being configured to become disabled upon the detachment of the grip portion from the primary portion to prevent reattachment of the grip portion to the primary portion;

a source of pneumatic power within the grip portion; and

a pneumatically powered drive member in fluid communication with the source of pneumatic power when the grip portion is attached to the primary portion of the handle assembly.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the source of pneumatic power is removable from the grip portion.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the source of pneumatic power is a rechargeable cylinder.

15. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly comprising;

a primary portion having a header area therein, the header area having an access port;

a barrier member covering the access port; and

a grip portion releasably connected to the primary portion;

a pneumatically powered drive system at least partially operably supported within the primary portion of the handle assembly, the pneumatically powered drive system in fluid communication with a header area in the primary portion;

a source of pneumatic power within the grip portion;

a supply line fluidically coupled to the source of pneumatic power and configured to be received in the access port when said grip portion is attached to the primary portion;

a counter supported by the handle assembly for counting the number of times that the grip portion has been attached to the primary portion; and

a blocking connection cooperating with the counter to prevent further attachment of the grip portion to the primary portion after the grip portion has been attached to the primary portion a predetermined number of times.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15 wherein the blocking connection is configured to prevent attachment of any one of a number of the grip portions supporting a source of pneumatic power therein to the primary portion of the handle assembly after any combination of said any one of said grip portions have been attached to the primary portion the predetermined number of times.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 15 wherein the surgical instrument is substantially sterile and wherein the supply line pierces through said barrier and forms an access hole therethrough upon attachment of the grip portion to the primary portion, the barrier member fabricated from self closing material such that when the supply line is removed from the access hole, the access hole closes to substantially maintain the sterility of the header area when the grip portion has been detached from the primary portion.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the counter is a resettable counter.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 15 wherein the source of pneumatic power is removable from the grip portion.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the source of pneumatic power comprises a rechargeable cartridge.