Powered surgical instrument

• US 20080255607A1
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zemlok, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/127
• 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 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2901 Details of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a drive motor, a drive tube, a firing rod and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a first longitudinal axis. The drive motor is disposed at least partially within the housing. The drive tube is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor and is rotatable about a drive tube axis extending through the drive tube. The firing rod is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive tube and at least a portion of the firing rod is translatable with respect to the drive tube. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion and is in mechanical cooperation with the firing rod so that the firing rod drives a surgical function of the end effector.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis;

a drive motor disposed at least partially within the housing;

a drive tube disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor, the drive tube being rotatable about a drive tube axis extending therethrough;

a rod disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive tube, at least a portion of the rod being translatable with respect to the drive tube; and

an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion, the end effector being in mechanical cooperation with the firing rod so that the firing rod drives a surgical function of the end effector.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further including a clutch disposed between the drive motor and the drive tube, the clutch including a clutch plate and a spring.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the clutch plate is arranged to mate with an interface disposed on a proximal face of the drive tube.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector defines a second longitudinal axis, the end effector being movable from a first position where the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to at least a second position where the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle to the first longitudinal axis.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector is rotatable about the first longitudinal axis with respect to the housing.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a user interface including at least one switch that controls the translation of the firing rod.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the firing rod is disposed at least partially within the drive tube.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the drive tube includes a threaded portion on an interior surface thereof.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the rod includes a threaded portion thereon, the threaded portion of the firing rod being engagable with the threaded portion of the drive tube.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the rod extends through an aperture of a plate, the aperture including a non-round cross-section for preventing rotation of the rod with respect to the plate.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a power source disposed at least partially within the housing and arranged to provide power to the drive motor.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector is part of a disposable loading unit.

13. A method of applying surgical fasteners to tissue, comprising the steps of:

providing a powered surgical instrument, including;

a housing;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis;

a drive motor disposed at least partially within the housing;

a drive tube disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor, the drive tube defining t a drive tube axis extending therethrough;

a firing rod disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive tube; and

an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion;

rotating the drive tube about the drive tube axis; and

translating the firing rod with respect to the drive tube to affect a surgical function of the end effector.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the end effector defines a second longitudinal axis, the end effector being movable from a first position where the second longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the first longitudinal axis to at least a second position where the second longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle to the first longitudinal axis.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the firing rod is disposed at least partially within the drive tube.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the drive tube includes a threaded portion on an interior surface thereof.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the firing rod includes a threaded portion thereon, the threaded portion of the firing rod being engagable with the threaded portion of the drive tube.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the firing rod extends through an aperture of a plate, the aperture including a non-round cross-section for preventing rotation of the firing rod with respect to the plate.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the end effector is rotatable about the first longitudinal axis with respect to the housing.

20. The method of claim 13, further including a clutch disposed between the drive motor and the drive tube, the clutch including a clutch plate and a spring.

21. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;

an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion, the end effector being movable to an angled position with respect to the longitudinal axis;

a drive motor disposed at least partially within the housing, the drive motor being arranged for driving a surgical function of the end effector;

an articulation mechanism for moving the end effector to the angled position with respect to the longitudinal axis; and

an articulation motor for driving the articulation mechanism.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 21, further comprising:

a drive tube disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor, the drive tube being rotatable about a drive tube axis extending therethrough; and

a firing rod disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive tube, at least a portion of the firing rod being translatable with respect to the drive tube.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 22, further including a clutch disposed between the drive motor and the drive tube, the clutch including a clutch plate and a spring.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 23, wherein the clutch plate is arranged to mate with an interface disposed on a proximal face of the drive tube.

25. The surgical instrument of claim 21, further comprising a manual articulation knob for driving the articulation mechanism.

26. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the end effector is rotatable about the longitudinal axis with respect to the housing.

27. The surgical instrument of claim 21, further comprising a user interface including at least one switch that controls the end effector.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein the drive tube includes a threaded portion on an interior surface thereof.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 28, wherein the firing rod includes a threaded portion thereon, the threaded portion of the firing rod being engagable with the threaded portion of the drive tube.

30. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the firing rod extends through an aperture of a plate, the aperture including a non-round cross-section for preventing rotation of the firing rod with respect to the plate.

31. The surgical instrument of claim 21, further comprising a power source disposed at least partially within the housing and arranged to provide power to the drive motor.

32. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the end effector is part of a disposable loading unit having a body portion.