SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

• US 20130026210A1
• Filed: 09/27/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• 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: Morgan, Jerome R., Ouwerkerk, John N., Shelton, IV, Frederick E.
• Application Number:
  US13/628,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20130026210A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/182.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• 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 17/072 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0042 with special provisions for gripping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• 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 2090/033 : Abutting means, stops, e.g. abutting on tissue or skin
• 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 2090/069 : using a plummet or weight
• 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 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 : Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence

Abstract

A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector comprising a moveable firing element;

a drive system linked to the firing element and configured to drive the firing element through the end effector;

a motor for driving the drive system; and

a handle comprising;

a firing trigger for receiving an activation force, wherein the activation force moves the firing trigger from a first configuration toward a second configuration; and

a run motor sensor for detecting the activation force, wherein the run motor sensor communicates with the motor, and wherein the motor rotates at a rate proportional to the activation force to drive the drive system.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the motor applies a load force to the drive system to drive the firing element through the end effector.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein the motor applies a first load force to the drive system when the firing trigger moves to an intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations, wherein the motor applies a second load force to the drive system when the firing trigger moves to the second configuration, and wherein the second load force is greater than the first load force.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the firing trigger is pivotably connected to the handle.

25. The surgical instrument of claim 24, wherein the run motor sensor activates the motor upon detecting an activation force that pivots the firing trigger away from the first configuration.

26. The surgical instrument of claim 25, comprising a bias spring adjacent to the firing trigger, wherein the activation force deforms the bias spring, and wherein the deformed bias spring applies a springback force to the firing trigger.

27. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the firing element comprises a cutting element.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 21, comprising at least one sensor selected from a group of sensors comprising:

an end-of-stroke sensor for detecting when the firing element reaches a final position, wherein the end-of-stroke sensor operably communicates with the motor to reverse direction of the firing element; and

a beginning-of-stroke sensor for detecting when the firing element returns to an initial position, wherein the beginning-of-stroke sensor operably communicates with the motor to stop rotation of the motor.

29. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle comprising;

a sensor for detecting an activation force; and

a motor for generating a variable drive force, wherein the motor communicates with the sensor, and wherein the variable drive force is proportional to the activation force;

a shaft assembly; and

an end effector extending from the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises a firing element moveably positioned therein, and wherein the motor is configured to apply the variable drive force to the firing element to move the firing element in the end effector.

30. The surgical instrument of claim 29, wherein the handle comprises a firing trigger for receiving the activation force, wherein the firing trigger is configured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration, and wherein the sensor activates the motor upon detecting movement of the firing trigger away from the first configuration.

31. The surgical instrument of claim 30, comprising a bias spring adjacent to the firing trigger, wherein the activation force deforms the bias spring.

32. The surgical instrument of claim 31, wherein the deformed bias spring applies a springback force on the firing trigger, and wherein the bias spring restores the firing trigger to the first configuration upon removal of the activation force.

33. The surgical instrument of claim 29, wherein the motor applies a first drive force when the firing trigger pivots slightly away from the first configuration, wherein the motor applies a second drive force when the firing trigger pivots to the second configuration, and wherein the second drive force is greater than the first drive force.

34. The surgical instrument of claim 33, wherein the motor rotates at a first rate when applying the first drive force, and wherein the motor rotates at a second rate when applying the second drive force, and wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate.

35. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector comprising a firing element; and

a drive system configured to move the firing element in the end effector;

a handle; and

a proportional control system that comprises;

a sensor configured to detect an activation force; and

a motor coupled to the drive system, wherein the motor communicates with the sensor to receive signals indicative of the activation force, and wherein the motor drives the drive system at a rate proportional to the activation force.

36. The surgical instrument of claim 35, wherein the proportional control system comprises an actuator for receiving the activation force, wherein the actuator is configured to pivot between a first configuration and a second configuration upon receiving the activation force, and wherein the sensor activates the motor when the actuator pivots toward the second configuration.

37. The surgical instrument of claim 36, comprising a spring adjacent to the actuator, wherein the activation force deforms the spring, and wherein the deformed spring applies a springback force to the actuator.

38. The surgical instrument of claim 35, wherein the motor rotates at a first rate when the actuator moves a little bit away from the first configuration, wherein the motor rotates at a second rate when the actuator moves to the second configuration, and wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate.

39. The surgical instrument of claim 38, wherein the firing element applies a first load force when the motor rotates at a first rate, where the firing element applies a second load force when the motor rates at a second rate, and wherein the second load force is greater than the first load force.

40. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle comprising;

an actuator for receiving an activation force; and

a sensor configured to detect the activation force;

a motor configured to generate a variable drive force, wherein the motor communicates with the sensor, and wherein the variable drive force is proportional to the activation force;

a shaft assembly; and

a firing element configured to move between a plurality of positions relative to the shaft assembly, wherein the motor applies the variable drive force to the firing element to move the firing element between the plurality of positions.

41. The surgical instrument of claim 40, wherein the actuator is configured to pivot between a first configuration and a second configuration upon receiving the activation force, and wherein the sensor activates the motor when the actuator pivots toward the second configuration.

42. The surgical instrument of claim 41, comprising a bias spring adjacent to the actuator, wherein the activation force deforms the bias spring, and wherein the deformed bias spring applies a springback force to the actuator.

43. The surgical instrument of claim 41, wherein the actuator is configured to pivot to an intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations, and wherein the motor generates a greater variable load force when the actuator moves to the second configuration than when the actuator moves to the intermediate configuration.

44. The surgical instrument of claim 41, wherein the variable drive force incrementally increases as the actuator from the first configuration to the second configuration.