Surgical instrument with wireless communication between control unit and sensor transponders

• US 20080167522A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Swayze, Jeffrey S., Giordano, James R., Shelton, Frederick E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/104
• 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 17/00234 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• 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 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00362 Packages or dispensers for MIS instruments A61B2017/0479 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0688 Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/3015 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• 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 2560/0266 for monitoring or limiting apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 : Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument, comprising, according to various embodiments, an end effector comprising at least one sensor transponder. The surgical instrument also comprises a shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector and a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft. The handle comprises a control unit in communication with the sensor transponder via at least one inductive coupling. The surgical instrument may be a power-assist motorized device including a battery for powering (at least partially) the surgical instrument during use. The surgical instrument may be adapted to provide user feedback regarding the load being experienced by the end effector.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising at least one sensor transponder;

a shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector; and

a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft, the handle comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit is in communication with the at least one sensor transponder via at least one inductive coupling.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises:

a motor in communication with the control unit, wherein the motor is for powering a main drive shaft assembly in the shaft, wherein the main drive shaft assembly drives the end effector; and

a battery for powering the motor.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the handle further comprises:

a closure trigger for causing, when retracted by an operator, the end effector to clamp an object positioned in the end effector; and

a firing trigger, separate from the closure trigger, for causing, when retracted by the operator, actuation of the motor.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor; and

an inductive element in communication with the processor for receiving and transmitting signals.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument comprises at least one rotational joint for rotating the shaft, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises:

a first inductive element located in the shaft distally from the rotational joint and inductively coupled to the control unit; and

a second inductive element located in the shaft and inductively coupled to the at least one sensor transponder.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the second inductive element is located adjacent to the end effector, and wherein the second inductive element is connected to the first inductive element via a flexible electrically conductive wire located inside the shaft.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the shaft comprises an articulation pivot between the first and second inductive elements.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor transponder comprises a magnetoresistive sensor.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor transponder comprises a RFID sensor.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor transponder comprises an electromechanical sensor.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument comprises an endoscopic surgical instrument.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises a moveable cutting instrument.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the end effector comprises a staple cartridge.

14. A surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising at least one sensor transponder;

a shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector; and

a control unit, wherein the control unit is in communication with the at least one sensor transponder via at least one inductive coupling.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the control unit comprises:

a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor; and

an inductive element in communication with the processor for receiving and transmitting signals.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the surgical instrument comprises at least one rotational joint for rotating the shaft, and wherein the surgical instrument further comprises:

a first inductive element located in the shaft distally from the rotational joint and inductively coupled to the control unit; and

a second inductive element located in the shaft and inductively coupled to the at least one sensor transponder.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the second inductive element is located adjacent to the end effector, and wherein the second inductive element is connected to the first inductive element via a flexible electrically conductive wire located inside the shaft.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the shaft comprises an articulation pivot between the first and second inductive elements.

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

a motor for actuating the end effector; and

a battery connected to the motor for powering the motor.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19, further comprising:

a closure trigger for causing, when retracted by an operator, the end effector to clamp an object positioned in the end effector; and

a firing trigger, separate from the closure trigger, for causing, when retracted by the operator, actuation of the motor.

21. A method comprising:

obtaining a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises;

an end effector comprising at least one sensor transponder;

a shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector; and

a control unit, wherein the control unit is in communication with the at least one sensor transponder via at least one inductive coupling;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the surgical instrument in a sterile container.