SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND COMPONENTS FOR USE IN STERILE ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20100198220A1
• Filed: 11/19/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Smith, Bret W., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Abbott, Daniel J., Boudreaux, Chad P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,414,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2833 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00362 Packages or dispensers for MIS instruments A61B2017/0479 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• 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 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 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/316 double- or multiple-walled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0815 Implantable devices for insertion in between organs or other soft tissues
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• 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 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprises a first portion encapsulated by a membrane and a second portion comprising a surgical instrument body and a cavity in the surgical instrument body. The cavity is configured to receive the first portion. The second portion comprises a first region comprising an opening in communication with the cavity, and a closure member movable between a first position and a second position. The closure member is in sealable engagement with the second region when it is in the first position and is at least partially free from sealable engagement with the second region when it is in the second position. One or more electrical contacts on the first portion or the second portion are configured to penetrate the membrane to allow a connection to be made between the first portion and the second portion when the closure member moves from the second position into the first position.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a first portion comprising at least one first electrical contact;

a membrane encapsulating the first portion; and

a second portion, comprising;

a surgical instrument body;

a wall defining a cavity in the surgical instrument body, wherein the cavity is configured to at least partially receive the first portion while the first portion remains encapsulated by the membrane;

a first region comprising at least one second electrical contact;

a second region comprising an opening in communication with the cavity; and

a closure member movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the closure member is in sealable engagement with the second region when it is in the first position, wherein the closure member is at least partially free from sealable engagement with the second region when it is in the second position, and wherein one of the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact is configured to penetrate the membrane to make an electrical connection between the first portion and the second portion when the closure member moves from the second position into the first position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a non-sterile portion, and wherein the second portion comprises a sterile portion.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the closure member is pivotably attached to the second portion, and wherein the closure member is pivotable between the first position and the second position.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the closure member comprises:

an outer perimeter;

a seal positioned one of around and proximate to the outer perimeter, wherein the seal is configured to be engaged with the second region when the closure member is in the first position and create a microbe impermeable barrier between the cavity and an outer surface of the second portion to at least inhibit microbe contamination of the outer surface of the second portion by the first portion.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a seal positioned one of around and proximate to the opening.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the closure member comprises:

a camming surface configured to push the first portion into the cavity when the closure member is moved from the second position into the first position.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a power source.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises electronic components configured to operate the second portion.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

the surgical instrument body extending from the proximal end; and

an end-effector extending from the distal end.

10. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a first portion comprising at least one first electrical terminal;

a sealed package, wherein the first portion is positioned within the sealed package, and wherein the sealed packages comprises a microbe impermeable barrier layer; and

a second portion, comprising;

a surgical instrument body;

a receiving slot defined in the surgical instrument body, wherein the receiving slot is configured to receive at least part of the first portion while the first portion is positioned within the sealed package;

a first region comprising at least one second electrical terminal;

a second region defining a passage into the receiving slot; and

a closure member movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the closure member is in sealable contact with the second region when it is in the first position, wherein the closure member is at least partially free from sealable contact with the second region when it is in the second position, and wherein the closure member comprises a camming surface configured to force the first portion into the receiving slot and configured to cause one of the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal to pierce the sealed package to make an electrical connection between the first portion and the second portion when the closure member moves from the second position into the first position.

11. The surgical instrument system of claim 10, wherein the first portion comprises a non-sterile portion and the second portion comprises a sterile portion.

12. The surgical instrument system of claim 10, wherein the first portion comprises at least one of a power source configured to provide power to the second power and electronic components configured to control an operation of the second portion.

13. An electronic component assembly configured to be placed in electrical communication with a surgical instrument, the electronic component assembly comprising:

an electronic component configured to at least one of power and control the surgical instrument when the electronic component assembly is placed in electrical communication with the surgical instrument; and

a housing surrounding the electronic component, wherein the housing comprises;

an outer surface comprising a material configured to at least resist microbial contamination;

at least one vent defined in the housing; and

a gas permeable, microbe impermeable barrier positioned over the at least one vent and configured to at least inhibit microbe egress from the housing.

14. The electronic component assembly of claim 13, further comprising a heat sink configured to dissipate heat generated by the electronic component.

15. The electronic component assembly of claim 13, wherein the electronic component comprises a power source.

16. The electronic component assembly of claim 13, wherein the electronic component comprises one of a programmable controller and a chip for a programmable controller.

17. A surgical instrument module, comprising:

an electronic component configured to at least one of power and control an operation of a surgical instrument when the surgical instrument module is situated in electrical communication with the surgical instrument;

a housing encapsulating the electronic component, wherein the housing comprises;

an outer surface comprising a first antimicrobial material;

at least one vent formed in the housing; and

a gas permeable, microbe impermeable barrier positioned over the at least one vent, wherein the gas permeable, microbe impermeable barrier is configured to prevent microbes on the electronic component from exiting the housing while allowing a gas to flow into and out of the housing; and

a fin attached to the housing and extending away from the electronic component, wherein the fin is configured to dissipate heat created by the electronic component, and wherein the fin comprises a second antimicrobial material.

18. The surgical instrument module of claim 17, wherein the housing is integrally formed with the fin.

19. The surgical instrument module of claim 17, wherein the first antimicrobial material is the same as the second antimicrobial material.

20. The surgical instrument module of claim 17, wherein the first antimicrobial material comprises a coating applied to the outer surface.