Laparoscopic tissue thickness and clamp load measuring devices

• US 20090012556A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Boudreaux, Chad P., Timperman, Eugene L., Fugikawa, Leslie M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,893,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/206
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A surgical instrument having opposed jaws that can be selectively moved between open and closed positions. Various embodiments include components for measuring the thickness of tissue clamped between the opposed jaws. Some embodiments are configured to ascertain the amount of compressive force that is being applied to the tissue while the thickness of the tissue is being determined. The tissue thickness data is displayed on the instrument itself and/or on a display that is remote from the instrument. The various embodiments may comprise different types of surgical instruments such as surgical staplers and graspers. A jaw arrangement with jaws shaped to define a cradle that corresponds to a cross-sectional shape of an object is also disclosed. The components that generate the thickness data may be electrically or mechanically actuated.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a pair of opposing jaws, wherein at least one jaw is selectively movable relative to the other jaw in response to opening and closing motions applied thereto for selectively clamping tissue therebetween;

an output generator associated with said pair of opposing jaws, said output generator generating tissue thickness data representing a thickness of the tissue clamped between said pair of opposing jaws; and

a display for displaying said tissue thickness data thereon.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said output generator comprises:

at least one strain gauge for generating a strain signal corresponding to the tissue thickness of the tissue clamped between said pair of opposing jaws; and

a processor communicating with said at least one strain gauge for receiving said strain signal therefrom and generating said tissue thickness data corresponding thereto and communicating said tissue thickness data to said display.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said pair of opposing jaws comprises:

a first jaw sized to removably support a cartridge therein;

a second jaw movably coupled to said first jaw and being selectively movable between open and closed positions relative to said elongate channel in response to application of said open and closing motions thereto and wherein said output generator comprises;

a measurement cartridge removably supportable in said elongate channel;

a strain gauge associated with said measurement cartridge for generating a strain signal corresponding to the tissue thickness of tissue clamped between the measurement cartridge and the second jaw; and

a processor communicating with said at least one strain gauge for receiving said strain signals therefrom and calculating said tissue thickness data corresponding to said tissue thickness and communicating said tissue thickness data to said display.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said strain gauge is supported by said measurement cartridge and has a deflectable portion for contact with said second jaw.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said strain gauge comprises:

a first strain gauge supported by said elongate channel such that when said measurement cartridge is supported by said elongate channel, said first strain gauge generates a first strain signal corresponding to an amount of compressive load experienced thereby when the tissue is clamped between a portion of said measurement cartridge and said second jaw, said first strain gauge communicating with said processor such that upon receipt of said first strain signal, said processor transmits data corresponding to said compressive load to said display; and

an a second strain gauge supported by said measurement cartridge and having a deflectable portion for contact with said second jaw as the tissue is clamped between said portion of said measurement cartridge and said second jaw, said second strain gauge generating a second strain signal corresponding to the thickness of the tissue clamped between the jaws, said second strain gauge communicating with said processor such that upon receipt of said second strain signal, said processor generates said tissue thickness data corresponding to the tissue thickness and transmits said tissue thickness data to said display.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

a handle assembly supporting said display thereon;

a grasper rod operably supported by said handle assembly and coupled to said pair of opposing jaws for transmitting said open and closing motions thereto wherein said output generator cooperates with said grasper rod to display on said display said tissue thickness data corresponding to a thickness of tissue clamped between said pair of opposing jaws.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein said indicia is only viewable on said handle assembly when the opposing jaws are applying a predetermined amount of compressive force to the tissue clamped therebetween.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

a handle assembly;

a grasper rod operably supported by said handle assembly and coupled to said pair of opposing jaws for transmitting said open and closing motions thereto upon selective actuation of a closure trigger operably coupled to said handle assembly and wherein said output generator comprises;

a strain gauge associated with said grasper rod for generating strain signals as said grasper rod applies said closing motion to said opposing jaws to clamp the tissue therebetween; and

a processor communicating with said strain gauge for receiving said strain signals therefrom and calculating said tissue thickness data corresponding to said tissue thickness and communicating said tissue thickness data to said display.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said opposing jaws are shaped to accommodate an object therebetween having a specific cross-sectional shape.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 wherein each said jaw of said pair of opposing jaws has a distal end and at least one nodule protruding from a clamping face thereof such that as said opposing jaws are moved towards each other, said distal ends and nodules thereof define a cradle area therebetween sized to grippingly support therein an object having a specific cross-sectional shape.

11. A method for processing an instrument for surgery, the method comprising:

obtaining the surgical instrument of claim 1;

sterilizing the surgical instrument; and

storing the instrument in a sterile container.

12. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a pair of opposing jaws, wherein at least one jaw is selectively movable relative to the other jaw in response to opening and closing motions applied thereto for selectively clamping tissue therebetween;

means cooperating with said pair of opposing jaws for selectively applying said open and closing motions thereto;

means for generating a signal corresponding to a thickness of tissue clamped between said pair of opposing jaws;

means for converting said signal to tissue thickness data corresponding to the thickness of tissue clamped between said pair of opposing jaws; and

means for displaying said tissue thickness data.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said means for selectively applying said opening and closing motions to said pair of opposing jaws is operably coupled to said pair of opposing jaws and a handle assembly and wherein said means for displaying is supported by said handle assembly.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said means for selectively applying said opening and closing motions to said pair of opposing jaws is operably coupled to said pair of opposing jaws and a handle assembly and wherein said means for displaying is located remote from said handle assembly.

15. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly;

an end effector for performing a surgical operation, said end effector coupled to said handle assembly and having opposed jaw members for selectively clamping tissue therebetween in response to opening and closing motions applied thereto;

a closure drive supported by said handle assembly and configured to generate said opening and closing motions for selective application to said end effector;

at least one signal generator in said end effector for generating signals corresponding to a thickness of the tissue clamped between said opposed jaw members.

a signal processor for receiving said signals from said signal generator and calculating the thickness of the tissue; and

a display communicating with said signal processor for displaying the tissue thickness thereon.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15 further comprising a measurement cartridge, comprising:

a cartridge body sized to be removably supported in said end effector; and

a strain gauge supported by said cartridge body and configured to communicate with said signal processor when said cartridge body is removably supported in said end effector, said strain gauge generating strain signals corresponding to a thickness of tissue clamped by said end effector.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16 further comprising another strain gauge supported within said end effector and communicating with said processor, said another strain gauge generating another strain signal corresponding to an amount of compressive load applied to the tissue clamped by said end effector.

18. A surgical method, comprising:

providing a surgical instrument of claim 16;

installing the measurement cartridge in the end effector;

clamping tissue to be severed and stapled within the end effector;

observing the tissue thickness on the display;

releasing the tissue from the end effector;

removing the measurement cartridge from the end effector;

selecting a staple cartridge having staples for stapling the tissue based on the tissue thickness displayed on the display;

installing the staple cartridge in the end effector;

reclamping the tissue in the end effector; and

actuating the staple cartridge to sever and staple the tissue clamped in the end effector.

19. A jaw arrangement for a surgical instrument, said jaw arrangement comprising:

a first jaw operably coupleable to the surgical instrument and having a distal end and a first clamping face and at least one first nodule formed on said first clamping face; and

a second jaw having a distal end and a second clamping face and at least one second nodule formed on said second clamping faces, said second jaw operably coupleable to the surgical instrument relative to said first jaw such that said first and second distal ends of said first and second jaws, respectively may be selectively moved toward and away from each other upon application of open and closing motions to at least one of said first and second jaws from the surgical instrument such that as said first and second distal ends are moved towards each other, said first and second distal ends and said first and second nodules cooperate to define a cradle area therebetween sized to grippingly support therein an object having a specific cross-sectional shape.

20. The jaw arrangement of claim 19 wherein said specific cross-sectional shape is circular.

21. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly;

a pair of opposing jaws operably coupled to said handle assembly, said opposing jaws being selectively movable between open and closed positions for clamping tissue therebetween;

a closure drive operably supported by said handle assembly for selectively applying opening and closing motions to said pair of opposing jaws; and

an output generator cooperating with said closure drive to display reference indicia corresponding to a thickness of the tissue clamped between said pair of opposing jaws.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 21 wherein reference indicia corresponding to a thickness of the tissue is only observable when said pair of opposing jaws is applying a predetermined clamping load to the tissue.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 21 further comprising a lock member for selectively locking the opposing jaws in position.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 21 wherein said output generator is mechanically actuated.