Motor-Driven Surgical Cutting And Fastening Instrument with Tactile Position Feedback

• US 20100133317A1
• Filed: 02/01/2010
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Swayze, Jeffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US12/697,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20100133317A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07228 Arrangement of the staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07264 characterised by its staple forming cavities, e.g. geometry or material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2932 Transmission of forces to jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 : using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 : pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 : abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 : for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the instrument includes an end effector, a main drive shaft assembly connected to the end effector, and a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly. The end effector comprises a movable cutting instrument for cutting an object positioned in the end effector. The instrument also includes a main motor for actuating the gear drive train and a firing trigger for actuating the main motor. The instrument also includes a tactile position feedback system for applying force to the firing trigger such that the position of the firing trigger is related to the position of the cutting instrument in the end effector.

Claims

1. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising a moveable cutting instrument for cutting an object positioned in the end effector;

a main drive shaft assembly connected to the end effector;

a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly;

a main motor for actuating the gear drive train;

a firing trigger for actuating the main motor; and

a tactile position feedback system for applying force to the firing trigger such that the position of the firing trigger is related to the position of the cutting instrument in the end effector.

2. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the tactile position feedback system includes:

an encoder for sensing rotation of the main drive shaft assembly;

a second motor whose rotations are controlled based on the rotations main drive shaft assembly sensed by the encoder; and

an actuating member connected to the second motor, wherein the actuating member is for applying the force to the firing trigger such that position of the firing trigger is related to the position of the cutting instrument in the end effector.

3. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 2, wherein the actuating member includes a threaded rod.

4. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 2, further comprising a run motor sensor for sensing retracting of the firing trigger, wherein, when retraction of the firing trigger is sensed by the run motor sensor, the main motor is signaled to forward rotate to cause cutting of the object positioned in the end effector by the cutting instrument.

5. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 4, wherein the run motor sensor comprises a proportional switch such that the rate of rotation of the main motor is proportional to the refraction force applied to the firing trigger.

6. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 4, wherein the run motor sensor comprises an on/off switch

7. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 4, further comprising a control circuit for receiving signals from the encoder related to rotation of the main drive shaft assembly and for sending control signals to the second motor based on the signals received from the encoder.

8. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 7, wherein the control circuit is further for:

determining, based on the signals received from the encoder, when the cutting instrument has completed a cutting stroke; and

determining, based on the signals received from the encoder, when the cutting instrument has completed retraction.

9. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector includes a staple cartridge.

10. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector includes a helical drive screw, such that forward rotation of the helical drive screw causes the cutting instrument to undertake the cutting stroke, and reverse rotation of the helical drive screw causes the cutting instrument to retract.

11. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the main drive shaft assembly includes articulation means for articulating the end effector.

12. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, further comprising a closure trigger separate from the firing trigger, wherein retraction of the closure trigger causes the end effector to clamp the object positioned in the end effector.

13. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 12, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the closure trigger to the handle.

14. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 12, further comprising a mechanical closure system for closing the end effector when the closure trigger is retracted.

15. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 14, wherein the end effector comprises:

an elongate channel for carrying the cutting instrument; and

a clamping member pivotably connected to the elongate channel.

16. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 15, wherein the mechanical closure system includes:

a yoke connected to the closure trigger;

a closure bracket connected to the yoke;

a closure tube disposed in the closure bracket and connected to the clamping member, wherein refraction of the closure trigger causes the closure tube to move longitudinally such that the clamping member pivots to a clamped position.

17. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising a moveable cutting instrument for cutting an object positioned in the end effector;

a main drive shaft assembly connected to the end effector; and

a handle connected to the main drive shaft assembly, wherein the handle comprises;

a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly;

a main motor for actuating the gear drive train;

a firing trigger for actuating the main motor; and

a tactile position feedback system for applying force to the firing trigger such that position of the firing trigger is related to the position of the cutting instrument in the end effector; and

a run motor sensor for sensing retracting of the firing trigger, wherein, when retraction of the firing trigger is sensed by the run motor sensor, the main motor is signaled to forward rotate to cause cutting of the object positioned in the end effector by the cutting instrument.

18. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 17, wherein the run motor sensor comprises a proportional switch such that the rate of rotation of the main motor is proportional to the refraction force applied to the firing trigger.

19. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 18, wherein the end effector comprises:

an elongate channel for carrying the cutting instrument; and

a clamping member pivotably connected to the elongate channel.

20. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising a moveable cutting instrument for cutting an object positioned in the end effector;

a main drive shaft assembly connected to the end effector; and

a handle connected to the main drive shaft assembly, wherein the handle comprises;

a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly;

a main motor for actuating the gear drive train;

a firing trigger for actuating the main motor; and

means for applying force to the firing trigger such that position of the firing trigger is related to the position of the cutting instrument in the end effector.