FEEDBACK AND LOCKOUT MECHANISM FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

• US 20090206132A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ortiz, Mark S., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Weizman, Patrick A., Hueil, Geoffrey C., Bruewer, Dean B., Hoffman, Douglas B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,608,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• 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 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A surgical apparatus particularly suited for sequentially applying a plurality of fasteners to body tissue and simultaneously incising tissue is provided. A handle assembly includes a movable handle. The movable handle is movable through an actuation stroke. An elongate body extends distally from the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The elongate body has a distal end adapted to releasably engage both articulating and non-articulating disposable loading unit types. An actuation shaft is supported at least in part within the handle assembly and is mounted for longitudinal movement in response to manipulation of the actuation handle. An energy activated firing lockout system prevents operation of the surgical apparatus under a plurality of conditions.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a handle assembly including a movable handle, the movable handle being movable through an actuation stroke;

an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the elongate body having a distal end adapted to releasably engage both articulating and non-articulating disposable loading unit types;

an actuation shaft supported at least in part within the handle assembly and mounted for longitudinal movement in response to manipulation of the actuation handle;

an energy activated firing lockout system to prevent operation of the surgical apparatus under a plurality of conditions; and

a direct current (DC) power source.

2. The surgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy activated firing lockout system comprises a solenoid operatively coupled to a locking member, and wherein the solenoid is energized by the DC power source.

3. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, comprising a sensing device.

4. The surgical apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensing device comprises a load sensor.

5. The surgical apparatus of claim 4, wherein the load sensor is coupled to the movable handle.

6. The surgical apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensing device comprises a position sensor coupled to the actuation shaft.

7. The surgical apparatus of claim 6, wherein the position sensor comprises an encoder and an induction coil, wherein the encoder is fixedly attached to the actuation shaft and moves longitudinally therewith.

8. The surgical apparatus of claim 7, wherein the encoder provides an output indicative of a longitudinal position of the actuation shaft.

9. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

a disposable loading unit; and

a cartridge assembly located within the disposable loading unit.

10. The surgical apparatus of claim 9, comprising a reload identification device positioned within the disposable loading unit, the reload identification device comprising a memory storing status information related to the cartridge assembly.

11. The surgical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reload identification device stores staple cartridge status information selected form the group consisting of empty staple cartridge present status, no staple cartridge present, partially spent staple cartridge present after knife retraction, partially spent staple cartridge present after unclamping the surgical apparatus, and partially spent staple cartridge present after complete cycling of the surgical apparatus.

12. The surgical apparatus of claim 10, comprising:

a display device; and

a processor coupled to the display device, wherein the display device is to display the staple cartridge status information from the reload identification device.

13. The surgical apparatus of claim 10, comprising a load sensor located within the disposable loading unit, wherein the load sensor is coupled to the display device and the processor to read and display loads applied at the disposable loading unit.

14. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable handle comprises:

a flexible handle portion;

a firing release portion; and

a firing switch.

15. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, comprising an unclamp switch.

28. The surgical apparatus of claim 11, comprising an unclamp switch.

16. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a handle assembly including a movable handle, the movable handle being movable through an actuation stroke;

an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the elongate body having a distal end adapted to releasably engage both articulating and non-articulating disposable loading unit types;

an actuation shaft supported at least in part within the handle assembly and mounted for longitudinal movement in response to manipulation of the actuation handle;

an energy activated firing lockout system to prevent operation of the surgical apparatus under a plurality of conditions;

a display device;

a processor coupled to the display device; and

a direct current (DC) power source coupled to the energy activated firing lockout, the display device, and the processor.

17. The surgical apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the energy activated firing lockout system comprises a solenoid operatively coupled to a locking member, wherein the solenoid is energized by the DC power source.

18. The surgical apparatus of claim 16, comprising a sensing device coupled to the processor and the display device.

19. The surgical apparatus of claim 18, wherein the sensing device comprises a position sensor coupled to the actuation shaft.

20. The surgical apparatus of claim 19, wherein the position sensor comprises an encoder and an induction coil, wherein the encoder is fixedly attached to the actuation shaft and moves longitudinally therewith.

21. The surgical apparatus of claim 20, wherein the encoder provides an output to the display device, wherein the output is indicative of a longitudinal position of the actuation shaft.

22. The surgical apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sensing device comprises a load sensor.

23. The surgical apparatus of claim 16, comprising:

a disposable loading unit; and

a cartridge assembly located within the disposable loading unit.

24. The surgical apparatus of claim 23, comprising a reload identification device positioned within the disposable loading unit, the reload identification device comprising a memory storing status information related to the cartridge assembly.

25. The surgical apparatus of claim 24, wherein the reload identification device stores staple cartridge status information selected form the group consisting of empty staple cartridge present status, no staple cartridge present, partially spent staple cartridge present after knife retraction, partially spent staple cartridge present after unclamping the surgical apparatus, and partially spent staple cartridge present after complete cycling of the surgical apparatus.

26. The surgical apparatus of claim 23, comprising a load sensor located within the disposable loading unit, wherein the load sensor is coupled to the display device and the processor to read and display loads applied at the disposable loading unit.

27. The surgical apparatus of claim 16, wherein the movable handle comprises:

a flexible handle portion;

a firing release portion; and

a firing switch.

29. A method comprising:

obtaining surgical apparatus, wherein the surgical apparatus comprises;

a handle assembly including a movable handle, the movable handle being movable through an actuation stroke;

an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, the elongate body having a distal end adapted to releasably engage both articulating and non-articulating disposable loading unit types;

an actuation shaft supported at least in part within the handle assembly and mounted for longitudinal movement in response to manipulation of the actuation handle; and

an energy activated firing lockout system to prevent operation of the surgical apparatus under a plurality of conditions;

sterilizing the surgical apparatus; and

storing the surgical apparatus in a sterile container.