SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SOFT STOP

• US 20140246476A1
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Published: 09/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hall, Steven G., Leimbach, Richard L., Baber, Daniel L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,307,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00075 Motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00123 and automatic shutdown
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• 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 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 : Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00393 : with means for switching between functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 : using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 : with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 : for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 : Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 : Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 : with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0069 : with universal joint, cardan joint
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 : battery operated
• 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 2017/2903 : transferring rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 : Pistol grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 : for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 : with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 : node location
• 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 2018/00607 : Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 : Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• 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 2090/033 : Abutting means, stops, e.g. abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• 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 2090/0811 : 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 34/74 : Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 : Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 : with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04796 : for rectilinear control along the axis of the controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a drive member movable by a drive motor between a home position and an end of stroke. A mechanical stop is disposed at or near the end of stroke and is structured to increase resistance to movement of the drive member from a first position to a second position. A control system detects a current spike associated with the increased resistance and interrupts power to the drive motor.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising an electromechanical stop, where the surgical instrument comprises:

a drive motor;

a drive member movable by the drive motor through a drive stroke between a home position and an end of stroke, the end of stroke extending between a first position and a second position;

a mechanical stop disposed at or near the distal end of stroke and structured to increase resistance to movement of the drive member through the drive stroke from the first position to the second position; and

a control system configured to detect a current spike associated with the increased resistance, wherein delivery of power to the drive motor is interrupted when the control system detects the current spike.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the mechanical stop further comprises:

a bumper movable from the first position to the second position and configured to contact the drive member at the first position; and

a resistance member operatively coupled to the bumper and configured to increase resistance to movement of the drive member from the first position to the second position.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the resistance member is structured to be compressible to progressively increase the resistance to the movement of the drive member between the first position and the second position.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the resistance member comprises a spring.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the bumpers comprise contact surfaces dimensioned to complement a dimension of a drive member surface contacted at the first position.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the resistance member is configured to decelerate the drive member prior to the drive member actuating to the second position.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the mechanical stop further comprises a hard stop preventing movement of the drive member beyond the second position.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the control system monitors voltage associated with the delivery of power to the drive motor to detect the current spike.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the current spike comprises a predetermined threshold current.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the predetermined threshold current comprises at least one predetermined threshold current differential over at least one defined time period.

11. A mechanical stop for use in a surgical instrument for producing a detectable current spike associated with an electromechanical stop, the mechanical stop comprising:

one or more bumpers; and

one or more resistance members;

the mechanical stop disposed at or near an end of stroke associated with a drive stroke of a drive member, wherein the end of stroke extends between a first position and a second position;

the bumpers movable from the first position to the second position of the end of stroke and configured to contact the drive member at the first position;

the resistance members operatively coupled to the bumpers and configured to increase resistance to movement of the drive member from the first position to the second position to produce the current spike; and

wherein the resistance members are configured to decelerate the drive member prior to the drive member driving to the second position.

12. The mechanical stop of claim 11, wherein one or more of the resistance members are structured to be compressible to progressively increase the resistance to the movement of the drive member between the first position and the second position.

13. The mechanical stop of claim 12, wherein the bumpers comprise contact surfaces dimensioned to complement a dimension of a drive member surface contacted at the first position.

14. The mechanical stop of claim 11, wherein the one or more resistance members structured to be compressible comprise at least one spring.

15. The mechanical stop of claim 11, wherein the mechanical stop further comprises a hard stop preventing movement of the drive member beyond the second position.

16. The mechanical stop of claim 11, wherein the current spike is detectable by a control system associated with the electromechanical surgical instrument, and wherein the control system is configured monitor voltage associated with power delivery to a drive motor and to interrupt the delivery of power to the drive motor when the current spike comprises at least one predetermined threshold current.

17. The mechanical stop of claim 16, wherein the at least one threshold current comprises a current differential over at least one defined time period.