ROBOTICALLY-CONTROLLED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING RECORDING CAPABILITIES

• US 20110295295A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Ouwerkerk, John N., Timperman, Eugene L.
• Application Number:
  US13/118,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20110295295A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/170
• 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 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• 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 2017/00075 Motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• 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 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• 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 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 : Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 : additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 : with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320097 : with stapling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 : Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• 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 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 : Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 : Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 : for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/08 : Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 6/00 : Restoring or reconditioning objects straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/1554 : Transfer mechanisms, e.g. tool gripping arms; Drive mechanisms therefore
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49721 : with disassembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5191 : Assembly

Abstract

A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes an end effector that comprises a staple channel and an anvil that is movably translatable relative to the staple channel. A tool mounting portion is configured to interface with a robotic system and operably communicate with the end effector. The instrument further includes a first sensor that has an output that represents a first condition of a portion of the robotic system A second sensor has an output that represents a position of the anvil. An third sensor has an output that represents a position of a reciprocating knife within the end effector. An externally accessible memory device communicates with the first, second and third sensors.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector to engage tissue, the end effector comprising a staple channel and an anvil pivotably translatable relative to the staple channel, wherein at least one of the anvil and the staple channel define a longitudinal channel;

a reciprocating knife positioned to slide distally through the longitudinal channel when the anvil is pivoted to a position substantially parallel to the staple channel;

a tool mounting portion configured to interface with a robotic system and operably communicating with said end effector;

a first sensor having an output representing a first condition of a portion of the robotic system;

a second sensor having an output representing a position of the anvil;

a third sensor having an output representing a position of the reciprocating knife and wherein said robotic system comprises an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first, second and third sensors, wherein the memory device is configured to record the output of the first, second and third sensors.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises an output port.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises a removable medium.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a second sensor in communication with the memory device, the second sensor having an output representing a second condition of at least one of the group consisting of the robotic system and the end effector, wherein the memory device is further configured to record the output of the second sensor.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor and the output of the second sensor when the first condition changes and when the second condition changes.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first condition indicates whether an anvil of the end effector is in an open position or a closed position.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first condition indicates at least one of the group consisting of a position of a knife within the end effector, a position of the robotic system, and a pressure exerted by the end effector.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises at least one of the group consisting of a microcontroller and an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a binary sensor.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is an analog sensor.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the surgical instrument further comprises an analog-to-digital converter in communication with the first sensor and the memory device.

12. A surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector;

a tool mounting portion configured to interface with a robotic system to generate actuation motions for actuating portions of said end effector;

a first sensor having an output representing a condition of the end effector;

a second sensor having an output representing a condition of the robotic system; and

a memory device in communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor and the output of the second sensor.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the memory device comprises at least one of an output port and a removable storage medium.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the condition of the end effector indicates at least one of the group consisting of a position of a knife of the end effector, a position of an anvil of the end effector, the presence of a staple cartridge in the end effector, a force exerted by the end effector, and the status of the staple cartridge in the end effector.