SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH AUTOMATICALLY-RETURNED FIRING MEMBER

• US 20130313304A1
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Ouwerkerk, John N., Morgan, Jerome R., Swayze, Jeffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,517,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft, comprising;

a proximal portion extending from said handle; and

a distal portion;

a firing member;

a motor, wherein said motor is configured to be operated in a first direction to advance said firing member toward said distal portion during a firing stroke, wherein said firing stroke comprises a firing stroke end, wherein said motor is configured to be operated in a second direction to retract said firing member away from said distal portion; and

a switch configured to detect when said firing member has reached said firing stroke end, wherein said motor is configured to be automatically operated in said second direction when said switch detects said firing stroke end.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a firing trigger configured to operate said motor when said firing trigger is actuated.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery; and

a firing trigger configured to place said battery in electrical communication with said motor when said firing trigger is actuated.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said switch is configurable in a first state and a second state, wherein a first polarity can be applied to said motor when said switch is in said first state, and wherein a second polarity can be applied to said motor when said switch is in said second state.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an end effector extending from said shaft.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a staple cartridge.

7. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle;

a shaft, comprising;

a proximal portion extending from said handle; and

a distal portion;

a firing member;

a motor, wherein said motor is configured to be operated in a first direction to advance said firing member toward said distal end during a firing stroke, wherein said firing stroke comprises a firing stroke end, wherein said motor is configured to be operated in a second direction to retract said firing member away from said distal end; and

means for automatically operating said motor in said second direction after said firing member reaches said firing stroke end.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, further comprising a firing trigger configured to operate said motor when said firing trigger is actuated.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, further comprising:

a battery; and

a firing trigger configured to place said battery in electrical communication with said motor when said firing trigger is actuated.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said means comprises a switch.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said switch is configurable in a first state and a second state, wherein a first polarity can be applied to said motor when said switch is in said first state, and wherein a second polarity can be applied to said motor when said switch is in said second state.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 7, further comprising an end effector extending from said shaft.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 7, further comprising a staple cartridge.

14. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a handle;

an end effector comprising a distal end;

a firing member;

a motor, wherein said motor is configured to be operated in a first direction to advance said firing member toward said distal end during a firing stroke, wherein said firing stroke comprises a firing stroke end, wherein said motor is configured to be operated in a second direction to retract said firing member away from said distal end;

a sensor configured to sense a condition when said firing member is reaching said firing stroke end; and

a controller configured to automatically operate said motor in said second direction when said sensor senses said condition.

15. The surgical instrument system of claim 14, further comprising a firing trigger configured to operate said motor when said firing trigger is actuated.

16. The surgical instrument system of claim 14, further comprising:

a battery; and

a firing trigger configured to place said battery in electrical communication with said motor when said firing trigger is actuated.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein said sensor comprises a switch.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein said switch is configurable in a first state and a second state, wherein said controller is configured to apply a first polarity to said motor when said switch is in said first state, and wherein said controller is configured to apply a second polarity to said motor when said switch is in said second state.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 14, further comprising an end effector extending from said shaft.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 14, further comprising a staple cartridge.

21. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a handle;

an end effector comprising a distal end;

a firing member;

a motor, wherein said motor is configured to be operated in a first direction to advance said firing member toward said distal end during a firing stroke, wherein said firing stroke comprises a firing stroke end, wherein said motor is configured to be operated in a second direction to retract said firing member away from said distal end;

a sensor configured to sense a condition when said firing member has reached said firing stroke end; and

means for applying a first polarity to said motor prior to said sensor detecting said firing stroke end and for applying a polarity to said motor after sensor detects said firing stroke end.