Surgical instrument with elements to communicate between control unit and end effector

• US 20080167671A1
• 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: Giordano, James R., Shelton, Frederick E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,954,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/167
• 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 2017/0003 of parts of the instruments
• 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 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• 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 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• 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 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras

Abstract

A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument, includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft includes a first sensor element. An end effector is coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes a second sensor element. A handle is connected to the proximate end of the shaft. The handle includes a control unit. The control unit is in communication with the first sensor element and the first sensor element is in wireless communication with the second sensor element.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft comprising a first sensor element;

an end effector coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the end effector comprising a second sensor element; and

a handle connected to the proximate end of the shaft, the handle comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit is in communication with the first sensor element and the first sensor element is in wireless communication with the second sensor element.

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

a motor in communication with the control unit, wherein the motor is to power a main drive shaft assembly in the shaft, wherein the main drive shaft assembly is to drive the end effector; and

a battery to supply power to the motor.

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

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

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

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

a transmitter;

a receiver; and

a switch coupled to the transmitter, the receiver and the first sensor element;

wherein the switch couples the first sensor element to the transmitter to transmit an interrogation signal to the second sensor element; and

wherein the switch couples the first sensor element to the receiver to receive an echo response signal reflected by the second sensor element in response to the interrogation signal.

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

a processor coupled to the receiver, the processor to determine a status of the end effector based on the echo response signal.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the control unit is in wireless communication with the first sensor element.

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

a third sensor element located in the shaft proximally to the rotational joint and in wireless communication with the first sensor element; and

a fourth sensor element in communication with the third sensor element, the fourth sensor element is located in the shaft distally from the rotating joint and in wireless communication with the second sensor element.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the at least one rotational joint is located between the third sensor element and the fourth sensor element.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises an articulation pivot between the first and second sensor elements.

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

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

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the end effector comprises a staple cartridge.

13. A surgical instrument comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

an end effector coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the end effector comprising a sensor element; 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 shaft and the shaft is in wireless communication with the sensor element.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the handle further comprises:

a motor in communication with the control unit, wherein the motor is to power a main drive shaft assembly in the shaft, wherein the main drive shaft assembly is to drive the end effector; and

a battery to supply power to the motor.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the handle further comprises:

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

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

16. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the control unit comprises:

a transmitter;

a receiver; and

a switch coupled to the transmitter, the receiver and the shaft;

wherein the switch couples the shaft to the transmitter to transmit an interrogation signal to the sensor element; and

wherein the switch couples the shaft to the receiver to receive an echo response signal reflected by the sensor element in response to the interrogation signal.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the control unit comprises:

a processor coupled to the receiver, the processor to determine a status of the end effector based on the echo response signal.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 13 wherein the surgical instrument comprises an endoscopic surgical instrument.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the end effector comprises a moveable cutting instrument.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein the end effector comprises a staple cartridge.

21. A method comprising:

obtaining a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises;

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft comprising a first sensor element;

an end effector coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the end effector comprising a second sensor element; and

a handle connected to the proximate end of the shaft, the handle comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit is in communication with the first sensor element and the first sensor element is in wireless communication with the second sensor element.

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the surgical instrument in a sterile container.