HAND-HELD SURGICAL DEVICES

• US 20110253765A1
• Filed: 03/03/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zeichner, David, Malinouskas, Donald, Nicholas, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• 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 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery

Abstract

A surgical system is provided and includes an intelligent surgical device having a drive motor supported in the housing and being in electrical communication with the power source; and control circuitry. The control circuitry includes a feedback system for monitoring a condition of the surgical device during a use thereof and for changing an operative parameter of the surgical device when a change in the monitored condition occurs. The surgical system includes a non-intelligent loading unit for selective connection to the housing of the surgical device and which is actuatable by the drive motor, the loading unit having a first and a second condition. During operation, the drive motor actuates the loading unit from the first condition to the second condition; and when the loading unit achieves the second condition, a change in the at least one monitored condition occurs and an operative parameter of the surgical device is changed.

Claims

1. A surgical system for performing a surgical procedure, the surgical system comprising:

an intelligent surgical device includes;

a housing;

a power source supported in the housing;

at least one drive motor supported in the housing and being in electrical communication with the power source; and

control circuitry interfacing with the power source and the at least one drive motor, wherein the control circuitry includes a feedback system for monitoring at least one condition of the surgical device during a use thereof and for changing an operative parameter of the surgical device when a change in the at least one monitored condition occurs; and

at least one non-intelligent loading unit configured for selective connection to the housing of the surgical device and which is actuatable by the at least one drive motor, the loading unit having at least a first condition and a second condition,

wherein, during operation of the surgical device, the at least one drive motor actuates the loading unit from the first condition to at least the second condition; and

wherein, when the loading unit achieves the second condition, a change in the at least one monitored condition occurs and an operative parameter of the surgical device is changed.

2. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one condition monitored by the feedback system is a voltage being delivered to the at least one drive motor.

3. The surgical system according to claim 2, wherein the feedback system includes a resistor of a known quantity associated with the voltage being delivered to the at least one drive motor, and wherein the feedback system calculates a current level across the resistor.

4. The surgical system according to claim 3, wherein the operative parameter of the surgical device is changed when the feedback system determines a current level across the resistor exceeds a threshold current level.

5. The surgical system according to claim 4, wherein the second condition of the loading unit is an end of a firing stroke thereof.

6. The surgical system according to claim 5, wherein the current level across the resistor exceeds the threshold current level when the end of the firing stroke of the loading unit is reached.

7. The surgical system according to claim 6, wherein the operative parameter of the surgical device that is changed when the feedback system determines that the current level across the resistor exceeds the threshold current level is a voltage that is delivered to the at least one drive motor.

8. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein the operative parameter of the surgical device that is changed is a power delivered to the at least one motor.

9. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein the second condition of the loading unit is an end of a firing stroke thereof.

10. The surgical system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of non-intelligent loading units, wherein each loading unit includes a different unique second condition.

11. The surgical system according to claim 10, wherein the second condition of each loading unit corresponds to a different unique length of a firing stroke of each loading unit.

12. The surgical system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one condition monitored by the feedback system is a voltage being delivered to the at least one drive motor, wherein the feedback system includes a resistor of a known quantity associated with the voltage being delivered to the at least one drive motor, and wherein the feedback system calculates a current level across the resistor, and wherein the operative parameter of the surgical device is changed when the feedback system determines a current level across the resistor exceeds a threshold current level.

13. The surgical system according to claim 12, wherein the current level across the resistor exceeds the threshold current level when the end of the firing stroke of any of the plurality of loading units is reached.

14. The surgical system according to claim 13, wherein the operative parameter of the surgical device that is changed when the feedback system determines that the current level across the resistor exceeds the threshold current level is a voltage that is delivered to the at least one drive motor.