INTERLOCK AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENT INCLUDING SAME

• US 20100301095A1
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Giordano, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,632,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• 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 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0688 Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/3015 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• 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 2560/0266 for monitoring or limiting apparatus function
• 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 instrument is disclosed. The instrument includes an end effector comprising a moveable cutting instrument to cut an object and a motor coupled to the end effector. The motor actuates the cutting instrument in response to a current therethrough, causing the cutting instrument to move between a proximal-most position and a distal-most position. The instrument includes an interlock coupled to the end effector and to the motor to prevent actuation of the cutting instrument based on the current through the motor.

Claims

1. A method for preventing operation of a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument configured for removably receiving an expendable staple cartridge and comprising a moveable cutting instrument and a motor to actuate the cutting instrument in response to a current therethrough, the method comprising:

mechanically blocking actuation of the cutting instrument by the motor in the absence of an unexpended staple cartridge in the instrument;

detecting the current through the motor resulting from the blocked actuation of the cutting instrument; and

interrupting the current through the motor based on the detected current.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

sensing the motor current;

generating a signal representative of the sensed motor current; and

comparing the generated signal to a threshold signal.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising interrupting the current when the generated signal exceeds the threshold signal.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising interrupting the current based on a position of the cutting instrument.

5. A method of making a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising an end effector to removably receive a staple cartridge to staple tissue, and a motor to actuate a cutting instrument to cut tissue during a tissue stapling operation, the method comprising:

connecting an interlock to the end effector and to the motor to prevent actuation of the cutting instrument based on a current through the motor, wherein connecting the interlock comprises;

connecting a blocking mechanism to the end effector to block movement of the cutting instrument when an unused staple cartridge is not present in the end effector; and

connecting a lockout circuit to the motor to sense an increased current through the motor when movement of the cutting instrument is blocked, and to interrupt operation of the motor based on the increased current.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising connecting a lockout circuit to interrupt operation of the motor based on a position of the cutting instrument.

7. The method of claim 5, comprising connecting at least one spring finger to the end effector.

8. The method of claim 5, comprising connecting at least one ramped hook to the end effector.

9. The method of claim 5, comprising forming a blocking mechanism to be integral with the staple cartridge and to comprise at least one proximally projecting member, the at least one member movable between a recess in the staple cartridge and a firing drive slot through which at least a portion of the cutting instrument is to pass.

10. The method of claim 5, comprising connecting a lockout circuit having a current sensor to generate a first signal representative of the sensed current.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising connecting a lockout circuit having a current detection module to compare the first signal to a predetermined threshold signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein connecting a lockout circuit having a current detection module comprises connecting a microprocessor.

13. The method of claim 11, comprising connecting a lockout circuit having a position sensor to determine a position of the cutting instrument.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising connecting a lockout circuit having a switch connected in series with the motor, the switch controllable to interrupt operation of the motor based on the position of the cutting instrument and the comparison of the first signal to the predetermined threshold signal.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising connecting a lockout circuit such that the switch is controllable to interrupt operation of the motor when the position of the cutting instrument is within a predetermined distance of the proximal-most position of the cutting instrument and when the first signal exceeds the predetermined threshold signal.