Surgical Instrument with Non-Contact Electrical Coupling

• US 20110251606A1
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kerr, Duane E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,597,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• 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 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a reusable base component including a handle and an electrically activatable modular component removably coupled to the base component. The modular component includes an end effector operable from the handle to treat tissue. The end effector is responsive to manipulation of the handle. A first energy storage component is disposed onboard the base component and is electrically coupled to a source of electricity. A second energy storage component is disposed onboard the modular component and is electrically insulated from the first energy storage component. The second energy storage component is arranged such that a current may be selectively induced in the modular component by delivery of electrical energy to the first energy storage component.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a reusable base component, the base component including a handle assembly;

an electrically-activated modular component removably coupled to the base component, the modular component including an end effector operable from the handle assembly to treat tissue, the end effector responsive to manipulation of the handle assembly to move between first and second configurations;

a first energy storage component disposed onboard the base component, the first energy storage component electrically coupled to a source of electricity; and

a second energy storage component onboard the modular component, the second energy storage component electrically insulated from the first energy storage component and arranged with respect to the first energy storage component such that a current may be selectively induced in the modular component by delivery of electrical energy to the first energy storage component.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first energy storage component includes a first inductive coil and the second energy storage component includes a second inductive coil, and wherein the second inductive coil is inductively coupled to the first inductive coil such that a current is induced in the second coil in response to a current flow in the first coil.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the source of electricity is an electrosurgical generator.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein the modular component includes at least one electrode electrically coupled to the second coil, the electrode configured for delivering electrosurgical energy to tissue.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the modular component includes pair of opposing jaw members, wherein at least one of the pair of jaw members is movable between an open configuration wherein the jaw members are substantially spaced for receiving tissue and a closed configuration wherein the jaw members are closer together for clamping tissue therebetween.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the end effector includes a sensor for detecting a parameter of the tissue treatment, and wherein the sensor is powered by the induced current in the second coil.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the sensor is a gap sensor configured to detect a separation distance between the opposing jaw members.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first energy storage component includes a first capacitor having a pair of conductive plates separated by a dielectric material, and wherein the second energy storage device includes a second capacitor having a pair of conductive plates arranged on opposite sides of the first capacitor, each of the conductive plates of the second capacitor separated from a conductive plate of the first capacitor by a dielectric material.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein each of the conductive plates of the second capacitor are arranged on a respective opposing jaw member.

10. A modular end effector for a surgical instrument, comprising:

an electrically-activated component;

an inductor coil electrically coupled to the electrically-activated component; and

a contactless mechanical interface configured to removably couple the end effector to a corresponding interface on a base component of the surgical instrument, the mechanical interface electrically isolated from the electrically-activated component.

11. The end effector according to claim 10, further comprising a pair of opposing jaw members, wherein at least one of the pair of jaw members is movable between an open configuration wherein the jaw members are substantially spaced for receiving tissue and a closed configuration wherein the jaw members are closer together for clamping tissue therebetween.

12. The end effector according to claim 11, wherein the electrically-activated component includes an electrode disposed on an opposed clamping surface of one of the jaw members.

13. The end effector according to claim 10, wherein the contactless mechanical interface includes a linkage for receiving reciprocal motion from the base component, the linkage operable to move the at least one of the pair of jaw members between the open configuration and the closed configuration.

14. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a reusable base component, the base component including a handle assembly and an elongated tube extending distally therefrom;

an electrically-activated modular component removably coupled to the base component, the modular component including a pair of jaw members operable from the handle assembly and configured to move between an open configuration wherein the jaw members are substantially spaced for receiving tissue and a closed configuration wherein the jaw members are closer together for clamping tissue therebetween;

a first capacitor plate operatively associated with the elongated tube; and

a second capacitor plate operatively associated with one of the jaw members, the second capacitor plate forming a capacitor with the first capacitor plate to capacitively couple the base component and the modular component.

15. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the first capacitor plate is electrically coupled to a source of electrosurgical energy, and wherein the second capacitor plate is electrically coupled to an electrode configured to deliver the electrosurgical energy to tissue.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein a pair of capacitor plates is operatively associated with the elongated tube, and wherein each of the jaw members includes a capacitor plate disposed thereon forming a respective capacitor with a respective capacitor plate of the elongated tube.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the one of the jaw members includes a pair of capacitor plates disposed thereon straddling the first capacitor plate.

18. The surgical instrument according to claim 17, wherein the pair of capacitor plates of the one of the jaw members define legs of a generally U-shaped conductive portion of the first jaw member.