SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING A POWER CONTROL CIRCUIT

• US 20140236184A1
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Leimbach, Richard L., Schwemberger, Richard F., Swensgard, Brett E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,687,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/139
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/103 Fuse
• 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 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to a powered surgical instrument for cutting and fastening tissue. The instrument may comprise an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The second jaw member may be coupled to move relative to the first jaw member from an open position, where the jaw members are apart from one another, to a closed position. The end effector may also comprise a firing bar positioned to fire by translating within the end effector when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position. Additionally, the surgical instrument may comprise a drive device, a clamping trigger and a control circuit. The drive device may be mechanically coupled to the firing bar. The clamping trigger may be mechanically coupled to the end effector such that actuation of the clamping trigger causes the second jaw member to pivot towards the first jaw member. The control circuit may comprise a firing switch, a clamp switch, a latching device and an end-of-stroke sensor. The firing switch may be configured to be in electrical communication with a power supply for powering the drive device and in electrical communication with the drive device. The clamp switch may be in mechanical communication with the clamping trigger. The latching device may be in electrical communication with the clamp switch, the power supply and the drive device. The end-of-stroke switch may be in electrical communication with the latching device. Additionally, the firing switch may be electrically connected to, upon actuation, connect the power supply to the drive device via a first connection comprising the latching device and the firing switch. Further, the end-of-stroke switch may be electrically connected to, upon sensing an end of a stroke of the firing bar, cause a change in a state of the latching device to break the first connection between the power supply and the drive device.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A powered surgical instrument for cutting and fastening tissue, the instrument comprising:

an end effector, the end effector comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member coupled to move relative to the first jaw member from an open position wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member are apart from one another to a closed position; and

a firing bar positioned to fire by translating distally within the end effector when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position;

a drive system mechanically coupled to the firing bar;

a power supply for powering the drive system; and

a control circuit, wherein the control circuit comprises;

a firing switch having at least a first firing switch position and a second firing switch position; and

a clamp device having a first state and a second state, wherein the clamp device is configured to take the second state when the first jaw member and the second jaw member are in the closed position, wherein the firing switch and the clamp device are connected to provide power from the power supply to drive the drive system when the firing switch is in the second firing switch position and when the clamp device is in the second state.

27. The surgical instrument of claim 26, wherein the control circuit further comprises a relay, wherein the clamp device is connected to activate the relay when the clamp device is in the second state, and wherein, upon activation of the relay, the firing switch is connected to provide power from the power supply to drive the drive system when the firing switch is in the second firing switch position.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 26, further comprising an end-of-stroke switch having a first end-of-stroke switch position and a second end-of-stroke switch position, wherein the end-of-stroke switch is mechanically coupled to take the second end-of-stroke switch position when the firing bar reaches an end of its stroke, and wherein the end-of-stroke switch is connected to interrupt power from the power supply to the drive system when the end-of-stroke switch is in the second end-of-stroke switch position.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 26, further comprising a clamp actuator mechanically coupled to at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member and actuatable to lock the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the closed position.

30. The surgical instrument of claim 29, wherein the clamp device is mechanically coupled to the clamp actuator such that the clamp device is in the first state when the lock actuator is unlocked and in the second state when the lock actuator is locked.

31. The surgical instrument of claim 26, further comprising:

an enclosure, wherein the drive system, the power supply and the control circuit are at least partially contained with the enclosure, and wherein the enclosure defines an access opening;

an access door positioned to cover the access opening; and

a retraction lever defining a geared portion, wherein the drive system comprises a corresponding geared portion such that actuation of the retraction lever retracts the firing bar proximally.

32. The surgical instrument of claim 26, wherein the control circuit further comprises an access door switch mechanically coupled to the access door, wherein the access door switch has a first access door switch position when the access door is open and a second access door switch position when the access door is closed, wherein the access door switch is connected to interrupt power from the power supply to the drive system when the access door switch is in the second access door switch position.

33. The surgical instrument of claim 26, wherein the first jaw member is shaped to receive a staple cartridge and the second jaw member defines at least one staple pocket for receiving and forming a staple.

34. The surgical instrument of claim 33, wherein the firing bar is in mechanical communication with the staple driver to push the staple driver distally upon firing.

35. A powered surgical instrument for cutting and fastening tissue, the instrument comprising:

an end effector, the end effector comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member coupled to move relative to the first jaw member from an open position wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member are apart from one another to a closed position; and

a firing bar positioned to fire by translating distally within the end effector when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position;

a drive system mechanically coupled to the firing bar;

a power supply for powering the drive system;

a firing trigger actuatable to provide power from the power supply to drive the drive system; and

a control circuit, wherein the control circuit comprises a clamp device having a first state and a second state, wherein the clamp device is configured to take the second state when the first jaw member and the second jaw member are in the closed position, wherein the clamp device is connected in the control circuit to prevent power from being provided from the power supply to drive the drive system when the clamp device is in the first state.

36. A powered surgical instrument for cutting and fastening tissue, the instrument comprising:

an end effector, the end effector comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member coupled to move relative to the first jaw member from an open position wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member are apart from one another to a closed position; and

a firing bar positioned to fire by translating distally within the end effector when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position;

a drive system mechanically coupled to the firing bar;

a power supply for powering the drive system;

an enclosure, wherein the drive system, the power supply and the control circuit are at least partially contained with the enclosure, and wherein the enclosure defines an access opening;

an access door positioned to cover the access opening; and

a retraction lever to retract the firing bar proximally; and

a control circuit, wherein the control circuit comprises;

a firing switch having a first firing switch position and a second firing switch position; and

an access door switch mechanically coupled to the access door, wherein the access door switch has a first access door switch position when the access door is open and a second access door switch position when the access door is closed, wherein the access door switch is connected to interrupt power from the power supply to the drive system when the access door switch is in the second access door switch position.

37. The surgical instrument of claim 36, further comprising a clamp device having a first state and a second state, wherein the clamp device is mechanically coupled to take the second state when the first jaw member and the second jaw member are in the closed position, wherein the firing switch and the clamp device are connected to provide power from the power supply to drive the drive system when the firing switch is in the second firing switch position and when the clamp device is in the second state.

38. The surgical instrument of claim 37, further comprising a clamp actuator mechanically coupled to at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member and actuatable to lock the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the closed position.

39. The surgical instrument of claim 38, wherein the clamp device is mechanically coupled to the clamp actuator such that the clamp device is in the first state when the lock actuator is unlocked and in the second state when the lock actuator is locked.

40. The surgical instrument of claim 36, further comprising an end-of-stroke switch having a first end-of-stroke switch position and a second end-of-stroke switch position, wherein the end-of-stroke switch is mechanically coupled to take the second end-of-stroke switch position when the firing bar reaches an end of its stroke, and wherein the end-of-stroke switch is connected to interrupt power from the power supply to the drive system when the end-of-stroke switch is in the second end-of-stroke switch position.

41. The surgical instrument of claim 36, wherein the retraction lever defines a geared portion, and wherein the drive system comprises a corresponding geared portion such that actuation of the retraction level retracts the firing bar proximally.

42. The surgical instrument of claim 41, wherein the drive system comprises a rack translatable distally and proximally within the handle, wherein the rack is in mechanical communication with the firing bar, and wherein the rack defines the corresponding geared portion.

43. The surgical instrument of claim 41, wherein the drive system comprises a motor positioned to rotate a gear in mechanical communication with the rack.

44. The surgical instrument of claim 43, wherein rotational motion of the motor and gear in a first direction causes the rack and firing bar to translate distally, and wherein rotational motion of the motor and gear in a second direction causes the rack and firing bar to translate proximally.

45. The surgical instrument of claim 43, wherein the first jaw member is shaped to receive a staple cartridge and the second jaw member defines at least one staple pocket for receiving and forming a staple, and wherein the firing bar is in mechanical communication with the staple driver to push the staple driver distally upon firing.