SURGICAL INSTRUMENT BATTERY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CELLS

• US 20130324981A1
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Smith, Bret W., Yates, David C., Abbott, Daniel J., Schwemberger, Richard F., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Granted Patent: US 10,188,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00027 characterised by power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy
• 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 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 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to battery packs for use with surgical instruments. The battery packs may comprise a plurality of cells and at least a portion of the plurality of cells may not be electrically connected to one another. The battery packs may comprise a switch or other mechanism for interconnecting the plurality of cells and may also comprise, or be used in conjunction with, a discharge switch or plug configured to electrically connect an anode of the battery pack to a cathode of the battery pack, for example, via a resistive element.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a surgical instrument comprising an open electrical circuit; and

a battery pack, comprising;

a first battery cell; and

a second battery cell, wherein the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument is configured to close said electrical circuit and electrically couple said first battery cell to said second battery cell.

2. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said surgical instrument comprises a handle, wherein said handle comprises a cavity, and wherein said battery pack is at least partially insertable into said cavity.

3. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said battery pack further comprises a third battery cell in electrical communication with said first battery cell prior to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

4. The surgical instrument system of claim 3, wherein said battery pack further comprises a fourth battery cell in electrical communication with said second battery cell prior to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

5. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, further comprising a drain configured to place said first battery cell in electrical communication with said second battery cell when said battery pack is assembled to said surgical instrument.

6. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from said shaft.

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

8. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a surgical instrument, comprising;

a first electrical contact; and

a second electrical contact; and

a battery pack, comprising;

a first independent battery cell; and

a second independent battery cell, wherein the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument is configured to place said first independent battery cell in electrical communication with said first contact, said second independent battery cell in electrical communication with said second contact, and said first independent battery cell in electrical communication with said second independent battery cell.

9. The surgical instrument system of claim 8, wherein said surgical instrument comprises a handle, wherein said handle comprises a cavity, and wherein said battery pack is at least partially insertable into said cavity.

10. The surgical instrument system of claim 8, wherein said battery pack further comprises a third battery cell in electrical communication with said first independent battery cell prior to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

11. The surgical instrument system of claim 10, wherein said battery pack further comprises a fourth battery cell in electrical communication with said second independent battery cell prior to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

12. The surgical instrument system of claim 8, further comprising a drain configured to place said first independent battery cell in electrical communication with said second independent battery cell when said battery pack is assembled to said surgical instrument.

13. The surgical instrument system of claim 8, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from said shaft.

14. The surgical instrument system of claim 8, further comprising a staple cartridge.

15. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a surgical instrument comprising an open electrical circuit; and

a battery pack, comprising;

a first battery; and

a second battery, wherein the assembly of said battery pack to electrically couple said first battery to said second battery.

16. The surgical instrument system of claim 15, wherein said surgical instrument comprises a handle, wherein said handle comprises a cavity, and wherein said battery pack is at least partially insertable into said cavity.

17. The surgical instrument system of claim 15, wherein said battery pack further comprises a third battery in electrical communication with said first battery prior to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

18. The surgical instrument system of claim 17, wherein said battery pack further comprises a fourth battery cell in electrical communication with said second battery cell to the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument.

19. The surgical instrument system of claim 15, further comprising a drain configured to place said first battery in electrical communication with said second battery when said battery pack is assembled to said surgical instrument.

20. The surgical instrument system of claim 15, wherein said surgical instrument further comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from said shaft.

21. The surgical instrument system of claim 15, further comprising a staple cartridge.

22. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a surgical instrument comprising an open electrical circuit; and

a battery pack, comprising;

an electrical contact;

a first battery cell positioned on a first side of said electrical contact; and

a second battery cell positioned on a second side of said electrical contact, wherein the assembly of said battery pack to said surgical instrument in a selected orientation simultaneously closes said electrical circuit and electrically couples said first battery cell to said second battery cell.

23. The surgical instrument system of claim 22, further comprising a staple cartridge.