Cordless Medical Cauterization and Cutting Device

• US 20090240246A1
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Palmer, Mattew A., Kline, Korey, Deville, Derek Dee, Bales, Thomas O., McBrayer, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

A surgical device includes a radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly including a radio-frequency-signal-generation circuit operable to generate a radio-frequency signal at an output and adapted to couple to a switch-mode power supply and a surgical handle including an end effector having at least one jaw with at least one electrical contact, the end effector including at least one signal input that electrically connects to the output to provide the radio-frequency signal at the at least one electrical contact.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly including a radio-frequency-signal-generation circuit operable to generate a radio-frequency signal at an output and adapted to couple to a switch-mode power supply; and

a surgical handle including an end effector having at least one jaw with at least one electrical contact, the end effector including at least one signal input that electrically connects to the output to provide the radio-frequency signal at the at least one electrical contact.

2. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly includes a first signal connector electrically connected to the output for supplying the radio-frequency signal therefrom.

3. The surgical device according to claim 2, wherein the end effector is a bipolar end effector including:

at least one set of bipolar contacts; and

signal inputs electrically coupled to the first signal connector to provide the radio-frequency signal to the bipolar contacts.

4. The surgical device according to claim 2, wherein:

the output is a removable output couple;

the first signal connector is removably engageable with the removable output couple; and

the at least one signal input is electrically coupled to the first signal connector to transmit the radio-frequency signal to the at least one electrical contact when the first signal connector is electrically coupled to the removable output couple.

5. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the surgical handle includes a battery assembly therein, the battery assembly including:

the radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly; and

at least one battery electrically coupled to and providing driving power for the radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly.

6. The surgical device according to claim 5, wherein the battery assembly is modular and selectively removable from the surgical handle.

7. The surgical device according to claim 6, wherein:

the output is a removable output couple;

the radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly includes a first signal connector electrically connected to the removable output couple for supplying the radio-frequency signal therefrom; and

the surgical handle further includes an aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment configured to removably hold the battery assembly.

8. The surgical device according to claim 7 wherein the battery assembly includes a battery connector operable to removably engage the removable output couple and, when connected together, to electrically connect the first signal connector to the at least one electrical contact and supply the radio-frequency signal thereto.

9. The surgical device according to claim 7, wherein the surgical handle includes:

an external output couple electrically connected to the at least one electrical contact; and

an interchangeable circuit casing configured to house at least the radio-frequency-signal-generation circuit and including the first signal connector on an exterior thereof, the interchangeable circuit casing also including a securing connection configured to removeably secure the interchangeable circuit casing to the surgical handle to, thereby, electrically connect the first signal connector to the external output couple.

10. The surgical device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one modular battery assembly configured to drive the radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly.

11. The surgical device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one battery comprises a plurality of lithium polymer cells.

12. The surgical device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one modular battery assembly comprises a plurality of lithium polymer cells.

13. The surgical device according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage-control circuit configured to control the radio-frequency-signal-generation circuit.

14. The surgical device according to claim 5, wherein the battery assembly includes a voltage-control circuit configured to control the radio-frequency-signal-generation circuit when the battery assembly is connected to the surgical handle.

15. The surgical device according to claim 14, wherein the battery assembly has a rated storage capacity and the voltage-control circuit drives the battery assembly to a current capacity discharge greater than the rated storage capacity.

16. The surgical device according to claim 14, wherein the battery assembly has a rated storage capacity and the voltage-control circuit drives the battery assembly to a current capacity discharge between about 10 and about 15 times greater than the rated storage capacity

17. The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly is at least one of autoclavably-sealed and hermetically-sealed.

18. The surgical device according to claim 9, wherein the interchangeable circuit casing is at least one of autoclavably-sealed and hermetically-sealed.

19. The surgical device according to claim 1, further comprising a switch-mode power supply coupled to the output.

20. The surgical device according to claim 19, wherein the switch-mode power supply is a direct-current switch-mode power supply.

21. The surgical device according to claim 19, wherein the switch-mode power supply is a buck power supply.

22. The surgical device according to claim 21, wherein the end effector is a cautery and cutting end effector including jaws, each of the jaws including:

a respective electrical cautery contact; and

a cutting blade disposed between the jaws.

23. A surgical device, comprising:

a radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly having;

a switch-mode power supply; and

a radio-frequency-signal-generation circuit having an output, being coupled to the switch-mode power supply, and being operable to generate a radio-frequency signal at the output; and

a surgical handle having,

a cautery end effector having at least one jaw with at least one electrical cautery contact, the cautery end effector having at least one signal input electrically coupling the at least one electrical cautery contact to the output to provide the radio-frequency signal at the at least one electrical cautery contact.