SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MODULAR SHAFT AND END EFFECTOR

• US 20120116388A1
• Filed: 10/10/2011
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Houser, Kevin L., Kimball, Cory G., Monson, Gavin M., Timm, Richard W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,510,895 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2812 with a single pivotal connection A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• 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 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 : with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 : battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0084 : low friction A61B2017/00853 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 : the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/293 : with means preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 : with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/294 : Connection of actuating rod to jaw, e.g. releasable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 : for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 : with articulating means for working tip
• 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 2018/00172 : Connectors and adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 : Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0019 : vibrating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 : Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 : Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 : Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 : Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 : Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 : combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 : powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 : Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 : Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 : User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 : specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/08 : Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 : Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 : Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 : Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 : Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 : Acoustic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 : Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53913 : Aligner or center

Abstract

A surgical instrument operable to sever tissue includes a body assembly and a selectively coupleable end effector assembly. The end effector assembly may include a transmission assembly, an end effector, and a rotational knob operable to rotate the transmission assembly and the end effector. The body assembly includes a trigger and a casing having a distal aperture configured to receive a portion of the end effector assembly. First and second coupling mechanism portions cooperatively couple the end effector assembly to the body assembly for use. The coupling may mechanically and/or electrically couple the end effector assembly to the body assembly via various coupling mechanisms. For instance, a threaded slip nut may couple to threads within the body assembly. In one configuration, the end effector assembly may have locking tabs that rotate into rotational recesses in the body assembly. The locking tabs may include electrical contacts and/or optically perceivable indicators.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a body assembly comprising;

i. a trigger,

ii. a casing having a distal aperture formed in a distal end of the casing, and

iii. a first coupling assembly portion; and

(b) an end effector assembly comprising;

i. a proximal shaft,

ii. a transmission assembly extending distally from the proximal shaft,

iii. an end effector coupled to a distal end of the transmission assembly, and

iv. a second coupling assembly portion;

wherein the second coupling assembly portion is insertable into the distal aperture, wherein the second coupling assembly portion is operable to detachably couple to the first coupling assembly portion, and wherein the end effector assembly is prevented from translating distally by the coupling of the first coupling assembly portion to the second coupling assembly portion.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the end effector assembly further comprises a rotatable knob coupled to the transmission assembly and disposed distal to the proximal shaft, wherein the rotatable knob is operable to rotate the transmission assembly relative to the body assembly.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first coupling assembly portion and the second coupling assembly portion are operable to mechanically couple an actuatable portion of the end effector to the body assembly when the first coupling assembly portion and the second coupling assembly portion are coupled together.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first coupling assembly portion and the second coupling assembly portion are operable to electrically couple a portion of the end effector to a power source when the first coupling assembly portion and the second coupling assembly portion are coupled together.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first coupling assembly portion and the second coupling assembly portion are operable to:

(a) mechanically couple an actuatable portion of the end effector to the body assembly, and

(b) electrically couple a portion of the end effector to a power source,

when the first coupling assembly portion and the second coupling assembly portion are coupled together.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first coupling mechanism portion comprises a portion of the casing and the second coupling mechanism portion comprises one or more resilient tabs extending outwardly from the proximal shaft.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first coupling assembly portion comprises one or more resiliently biased portions of the casing and the second coupling assembly portion comprises a circumferential ramp extending outwardly from the proximal shaft.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first coupling assembly portion comprises a translatable portion of the casing and the second coupling assembly portion comprises an annular flange on the proximal shaft.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first coupling assembly portion comprises a threaded member within the casing and the second coupling assembly portion comprises threaded nut disposed about the proximal shaft.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 wherein the proximal shaft comprises one or more keyed portions and a flange located on a proximal end of the proximal shaft, wherein the threaded nut is slidably disposed distally of the flange, and wherein the threaded nut comprises a keyway.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first coupling assembly portion comprises one or more resiliently biased bearing members and the second coupling mechanism portion comprises a circumferential recess formed in a portion of the proximal shaft.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the first coupling assembly portion comprises a lock key and the second coupling assembly portion comprises a proximal segment of the transmission assembly, wherein the casing comprises a slot configured to receive the a portion of the lock key, wherein the lock key couples to the proximal segment of the transmission assembly and restricts the distal translation of the proximal shaft.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein the body assembly comprises a yoke assembly having a lock slot configured to receive a portion of the lock key, wherein the yoke assembly is operable to proximally actuate the proximal shaft when the lock key is inserted into the lock slot.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the end effector comprises an ultrasonic end effector.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the end effector comprises an RF electrosurgical end effector.

16. A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a body assembly comprising;

i. a trigger,

ii. a casing having a distal aperture formed in a distal end of the casing, and

iii. one or more rotational recesses disposed proximal of the distal aperture; and

(b) an end effector assembly comprising;

i. a bolt portion having one or more locking tabs extending outwardly from the bolt portion,

ii. a transmission assembly coupled to the bolt portion and extending distally from the bolt portion, and

iii. an end effector coupled to a distal end of the transmission assembly;

wherein a portion of the bolt portion having the one or more locking tabs is insertable through the distal aperture of the casing, and wherein the bolt portion is operable to rotate the one or more locking tabs into the one or more rotational recesses.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein the one or more locking tabs comprise an electrical contact, wherein the one or more rotational recesses comprise a complementary electrical contact, wherein the electrical contact and the complementary electrical contact are configured to electrically couple when the one or more locking tabs are rotated into the one or more rotational recesses.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein the end effector assembly further comprises one or more indicators, wherein the body assembly further comprises one or more sensors, wherein the one or more sensors are operable to perceive the one or more indicators when the end effector assembly is coupled to the body assembly.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein the end effector assembly further comprises a rotational portion coupled to the transmission assembly and operable to rotate the transmission assembly relative to the body assembly.

20. A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a body assembly;

(b) an end effector assembly; and

(c) a coupling assembly operable to selectively couple the end effector assembly to the body assembly;

wherein the coupling assembly is operable to mechanically couple the end effector assembly to the body assembly;

wherein the end effector assembly is longitudinally secured relative to the body assembly and the effector assembly is rotatable relative to the body assembly; and

wherein the coupling assembly is further operable to electrically couple the end effector assembly to a power source.