DETACHABLE END EFFECTORS

• US 20080243106A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Moore, Kyle P., Voegele, James W., Zwolinski, Andrew M., Long, Gary L., Gill, Robert P., Coe, Jonathan A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,377,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• 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 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 with releasable head

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for performing various procedures using interchangeable end effectors. In general, the methods and devices allow a surgeon to remotely and selectively attach various interchangeable surgical end effectors to a shaft located within a patient'"'"'s body, thus allowing the surgeon to perform various procedures without the need to remove the shaft from the patient'"'"'s body. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple end effectors can be introduced into a body cavity. The end effectors can be disassociated or separate from one another such that they float within the body cavity. A distal end of a shaft can be positioned within the body cavity and it can be used to selectively engage one of the end effectors. In particular, the device can be configured to allow each end effector to be remotely attached and detached from the distal end of the shaft. For example, a surgeon can actuate an actuation mechanism on the proximal end of the shaft to mate one of the end effectors to the distal end of the shaft without assistance from other tools and devices. After use of the end effector, the end effector can be released and another end effector can be remotely attached to the distal end of the shaft.

Claims

1. A modular surgical device, comprising:

a shaft having proximal and distal ends;

a plurality of end effectors interchangeably matable to the distal end of the shaft; and

an engagement mechanism located on the distal end of the shaft and configurable between a first position in which the engagement mechanism mates one of the plurality of end effectors to the distal end of the shaft, and a second position in which the plurality of end effectors are disassociated from the shaft and from one another, the engagement mechanism being configured for mating the end effectors to the distal end of the shaft in situ without assistance from additional devices.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second shaft extending adjacent to the first shaft and having a second engagement mechanism formed thereon and adapted to mate one of the plurality of end effectors to the second shaft such that movement of the second shaft is effective to actuate the end effector.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises threads formed on a distal end of the shaft and adapted to mate with corresponding threads formed in a bore in at least one of the plurality of end effectors.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising an anti-rotation mechanism formed on at least one of an outer sleeve disposed over the shaft and the plurality of end effectors, the anti-rotation mechanism being adapted to maintain at least one of the plurality of end effectors in a fixed position relative to the outer sleeve.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the anti-rotation mechanism comprises an asymmetrical bore formed in one of the outer sleeve and at least one of the plurality of end effectors, and a protrusion formed on the other one of the outer sleeve and at least one of the plurality of end effectors, the protrusion being adapted to be received within the bore to prevent rotation.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the anti-rotation mechanism comprises first and second magnets formed on the outer sleeve and the end effector for magnetic engagement.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the anti-rotation mechanism comprises a grasping element formed on the outer sleeve and adapted to grasp at least one of the plurality of end effectors.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a magnet formed on the distal end of the shaft and adapted to magnetically engage a magnet formed on at least one of the plurality of end effectors.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the engagement mechanism further comprises a pusher disposed through the shaft and adapted to push an end effector out of engagement with the shaft.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the magnet on the shaft and the magnet on at least one of the plurality of end effectors are adapted to magnetically align with one another in a predetermined orientation.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a male member adapted to mate with a female member formed on at least one of the plurality of end effectors.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the male and female member are selected from the group consisting of a pin and bore, a hook and loop, and a ball and grasper.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a plurality of deflectable members formed on the shaft and adapted to be disposed within a bore formed in at least one of the plurality of end effectors.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising an inner shaft disposed within the shaft and adapted to expand the deflectable members into engagement with the bore formed in at least one of the plurality of end effectors.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises an electromagnetic coil disposed within a distal end of the shaft and adapted to engage a magnetic shaft formed on at least one of the plurality of end effectors.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of end effectors are selected from the group consisting of a needle, a snare, a needle knife, a monopolar probe, a bipolar probe, a clipping device, a retractor, a band ligator, scissors, and graspers.

17. A method for processing the instrument of claim 1 for surgery, comprising:

b) sterilizing the device; and

c) storing the device in a sterile container.

18. A modular surgical device, comprising:

an elongate member having a proximal end with an actuator and a distal end with a mating element; and

a plurality of end effectors for performing surgical procedures, each end effector including a mating element adapted to mate to the mating element on the distal end of the elongate member such that the plurality of end effectors are interchangeably matable to the elongate member;

wherein movement of the actuator is effective to cause the mating element on the distal end of the elongate member to interchangeably attach and detach the plurality of end effectors to the elongate member to allow the plurality of end effectors to be selectively and interchangeably mated to the elongate member when the end effectors are disposed within a body cavity.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the mating element on the elongate member is selected from the group consisting of threads, a magnet, a grasping element, a piston, a pin, a hook, a deflectable member, and an electromagnetic element.

20. The device of claim 18, further comprising a second elongate member extending adjacent to the first elongate member and having a mating element formed on a distal end thereof and adapted to mate to a corresponding mating element on at least one of the plurality of end effectors, movement of a second actuator on the second elongate member being effective to actuate the end effector.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of end effectors are selected from the group consisting of a needle, a snare, a needle knife, a monopolar probe, a bipolar probe, a clipping device, a retractor, a band ligator, scissors, and graspers.

22. A surgical method, comprising:

delivering a plurality of end effectors to a body cavity of a patient such that the end effectors are disassociated within one another and float within the body cavity;

positioning a distal end of a shaft within the body cavity, a proximal end of the shaft extending from the patient; and

manipulating an actuator on the proximal end of the shaft to cause the distal end of the shaft to removably mate to one of the plurality of end effectors.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein manipulating the actuator is effective to cause an engagement mechanism located on the distal end of the shaft to engage and removably mate one of the plurality of end effectors to the distal end of the shaft.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising manipulating the actuator to detach the end effector from the distal end of the shaft.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising manipulating a second actuator on a second shaft to mate a distal end of the second shaft to the end effector that is mated to the first shaft.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising moving the second shaft relative to the first shaft to perform a surgical procedure with the end effector.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the shaft is disposed through an endoscope.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the body cavity is the stomach.

29. The method of claim 22, further including the step of sterilizing said device after at least one use.