SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SENSOR AND POWERED CONTROL

• US 20120116391A1
• Filed: 10/20/2011
• 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., Stulen, Foster B., Dannaher, William D., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Strobl, Geoffrey S., Voegele, Aaron C., Lessek, Timothy P., Monson, Gavin M., Worrell, Barry C., Jain, Hitesh
• Granted Patent: US 9,782,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• 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 2018/00297 Means for providing haptic feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00303 active, e.g. with a motor creating vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00773 Sensed parameters
• 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 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/742 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/74 : Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 : Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a temperature sensor and a control unit that is operable to deactivate an end effector of the surgical instrument. In some versions the temperature sensor detects the temperature of a transducer, while in others the temperature sensor detects the temperature of the end effector. The surgical instrument may also include a trigger and a trigger position sensor. A force sensor or a position sensor may be included to determine the force and/or position of the transmission assembly. The end effector may also include a force sensor or a micro coil. A surgical instrument having a sensor may be included in a surgical system that includes a control unit and a remote controller. In some instances the remote controller may have one or more force-feedback components. In addition, a device interface and a surgeon interface may be included to remotely adjust the settings of the control unit.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a body portion;

(b) a transmission portion extending distally from the body portion;

(c) an end effector coupled to a distal end of the transmission portion;

(d) a control unit; and

(e) one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the control unit;

wherein at least one sensor of the one or more sensors is operable to output a signal indicating a temperature, wherein the temperature is associated with the surgical instrument; and

wherein the control unit is operable to selectively deactivate at least a portion of the end effector in response to data from the at least one sensor.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising a transducer, wherein the at least one sensor is mounted within the body portion, and wherein the at least one sensor is operable to output a signal indicating a temperature of the transducer.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 wherein the control unit is operable to selectively deactivate the transducer.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is coupled to the end effector and wherein the at least one sensor is operable to output a signal indicating a temperature of the end effector.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising a trigger pivotably mounted to the body portion and a trigger position sensor coupled to the trigger, wherein the trigger position sensor is communicatively coupled to the control unit, and wherein the trigger position sensor is operable to output a signal indicating a rotational position of the trigger relative to the boy portion.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 further comprising a force sensor coupled to the transmission assembly, wherein the force sensor is communicatively coupled to the control unit, and wherein the force sensor is operable to output a signal indicating a force applied to the transmission assembly.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 wherein the handle portion comprises an indicator, wherein the indicator is electrically coupled to the control unit, wherein the control unit is operable to activate the indicator in response to the signal output from the force sensor.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the transmission assembly further comprises an actuation member and a position sensor coupled to the actuation member, wherein the position sensor is communicatively coupled to the control unit, and wherein the position sensor is operable to output a signal indicating a position of actuation member relative to the body portion.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 wherein the handle portion comprises an indicator, wherein the indicator is electrically coupled to the control unit, wherein the control unit is operable to activate the indicator in response to the signal output from the position sensor.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the end effector comprises:

i. an upper jaw pivotably coupled to a distal end of the transmission assembly,

ii. a clamp pad, and

iii. a force sensor,

wherein the force sensor is communicatively coupled to the control unit, and wherein the force sensor is operable to output a signal indicating a force applied to the upper jaw.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein the force sensor is coupled to the clamp pad.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein the force sensor is coupled to the upper jaw.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein the force sensor comprises a force sensitive resistor.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the end effector comprises a micro coil.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 wherein the micro coil is coupled to the control unit, wherein the control unit is operable to apply a voltage to the micro coil, and wherein the control unit is further operable to monitor the voltage applied to the micro coil.

16. A surgical system comprising:

(a) a control unit;

(b) a surgical instrument comprising;

i. a body portion,

ii. a transmission portion having a translatable cutting member,

iii. an end effector,

iv. one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the control unit, and

v. one or more motors communicatively coupled to the control unit, wherein at least one motor of the one or more motors is operable to translate the cutting member relative to the body portion; and

(c) a remote controller communicatively coupled to the control unit;

wherein the control unit is operable to receive an input signal from the one or more sensors;

wherein the control unit is operable to output one or more signals to the one or more motors;

wherein the control unit is operable to output one or more signals to the remote controller; and

wherein the remote controller is operable to output one or more signals to the control unit.

17. The surgical system of claim 16 wherein the remote controller comprises one or more force-feedback components and wherein the control unit is operable to activate the one or more force-feedback components.

18. The surgical system of claim 16 further comprising a device interface and a surgeon interface, wherein the device interface is communicatively coupled to the remote controller, the control unit, and the surgeon interface, wherein the control unit comprises one or more selectable settings, and wherein the device interface is operable to alter the one or more selectable settings of the control unit in response to an input from the surgeon interface.

19. A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a body portion, wherein the body portion comprises;

i. a motor assembly, and

ii. a trigger assembly, wherein the trigger assembly comprises;

(1) a trigger pivotably mounted to the body portion,

(2) a body member coupled to the motor assembly,

(3) a distal force sensitive resistor coupled to the body member, and

(4) a proximal force sensitive resistor coupled to the body member; and

(b) an actuation member coupled to the motor assembly;

wherein the motor assembly is operable to translate the actuation member.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19 wherein the motor assembly comprises:

(1) a motor,

(2) a screw gear coupled to the motor, and

(3) a carriage member carried by the screw gear,

wherein the carriage member is operable to translate the actuation member.