Gentle touch surgical stapler

• US 20080283570A1
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Smith, Michael A., Weaver, Thomas A., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Boyden, Edward S., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. JR., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Wood, Victoria Y.H., Leuthardt, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• 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 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• 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 2017/00402 Piezo electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00871 polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible

Abstract

Embodiments include a surgical device and a method. An embodiment of the surgical instrument includes at least one grasping jaw, the at least one grasping jaw being adapted to deliver surgical staples by a force generated from a force generator mechanism that is contained within the at least one grasping jaw or is in a proximity to the at least one grasping jaw. Another embodiment includes at least one grasping jaw, at least one actuation mechanism adapted to deliver surgical fasteners, the actuation mechanism being located in a proximity to or contained within the at least one grasping jaw, the surgical fasteners containing at least one shape-transforming material, at least one sensor, at least one chemical tissue sealant and at least one cutter. A method includes: grasping a body organ/tissue with at least one grasping jaw, adjusting a configuration of the grasping in response to a signal or a datum or an image, and releasing a surgical staple/fastener in response to the signal, datum or image.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

at least one grasping jaw;

a force receiver adapted to receive manual force from a user; and

an actuation mechanism responsive to said manual force to produce a jaw-laden force without mechanically coupling said force receiver to said actuation mechanism.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said force receiver includes at least one sensor.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said at least one sensor is operably coupled to said actuation mechanism.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said at least one sensor receives a signal from said actuation mechanism through a wireless medium.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said at least one sensor transmits a signal to said actuation mechanism through a wireless medium.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said manual force from a user includes a user-activated sensory device, tactile device or audio-sensitive device that transmits a signal to said force receiver.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said jaw-laden force without mechanically coupling includes force carried through a wireless medium, an ethereal medium or other intangible media.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said actuation mechanism converts a manual force from said force receiver to said jaw-laden force.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said jaw-laden force results in release of at least one surgical staple or surgical fastener.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said at least one grasping jaw is configured to movably operate in an opposing manner with respect to at least one other grasping jaw.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said at least one grasping jaw is configured to operably mate with at least one other grasping jaw.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said at least one grasping jaw is configured to serve as an anvil for forming an interaction surface between at least one surgical fastener and bodily tissues, said forming being facilitated by reversible mating and unmating of said anvil with an opposite grasping jaw.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said at least one grasping jaw grasps a body tissue.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said actuation mechanism utilizes a force generated from a force generator mechanism contained within or in a proximity to at least one grasping jaw.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said actuation mechanism results in delivery of one or more linear rows of surgical fasteners.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising at least one energy module that includes at least one of a battery, a capacitor, a fuel cell, a mechanical energy storage device, or a fluid energy storage device.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said jaw-laden force is generated from said force generator mechanism includes at least one of a pressurized gas canister or cartridge, a spring, a lever, an explosive charge, a piezoelectric actuator, an electric motor, an electroactive polymer or a solenoid.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein said at least one energy module is located within or in a proximity to said at least one grasping jaw.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein said at least one energy module is located outside said at least one grasping jaw but within a portion of said surgical instrument.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein said at least one energy module is located outside said at least one grasping jaw.

21. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein said at least one energy module transmits energy through a medium containing at least one of a wire, a tube, an optical fiber or a waveguide.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein said one energy module transmits energy through a wireless device.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor.

49. The surgical instrument of claim 29, wherein said at least one sensor provides a feedback signal, a datum or an image to a human or robotic user.

50. The surgical instrument of claim 29, wherein said at least one sensor provides a force feedback signal to said actuation mechanism.

23-28. -28. (canceled)

30-48. -48. (canceled)

51-55. -55. (canceled)