SURGICAL STAPLING APPARATUS COMPRISING A USAGE LOCKOUT

• US 20150060520A1
• Filed: 11/11/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• 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: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Swayze, Jeffrey S., Doll, Kevin R., Timperman, Eugene L.
• Application Number:
  US14/538,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20150060520A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.3
• 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 stapling apparatus, comprising:

a handle, comprising;

a gripping portion;

an electric motor; and

a battery configured to supply electrical power to said electric motor;

a shaft extending from said handle;

a replaceable cartridge assembly, comprising;

a proximal end;

a distal end;

a cartridge body; and

staples removably stored in said cartridge body;

a firing system movable toward said distal end by said electric motor to eject said staples from said cartridge body during a firing cycle, wherein said firing system is retractable toward said proximal end to reset said firing system; and

a lockout system comprising a counter configured to detect the number of firing cycles performed by said firing system, wherein said lockout system is configured to prevent said firing system from performing another firing cycle after said firing system has performed a predetermined number of firing cycles.

22. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 21, wherein said counter comprises an electronic device having an input for incrementing a maintained count based on the transition of an electrical signal provided thereto.

23. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a display configured to display said maintained count.

24. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a display configured to display the difference between said predetermined number and said maintained count.

25. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 21, wherein said predetermined number is selectively adjustable.

26. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 21, wherein said counter is configured to maintain a count, and wherein said surgical stapling apparatus further comprises a display configured to display said count.

27. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 21, wherein said counter is configured to maintain a count, and wherein said surgical stapling apparatus further comprises a display configured to display the difference between said predetermined number and said count.

28. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a handle, comprising;

a gripping portion;

an electric motor; and

a battery;

a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said handle and said shaft are reusable with a replaceable staple cartridge assembly; and

an interlock circuit comprising a counter configured to detect the number of uses incurred by said surgical stapling apparatus, wherein said interlock circuit is configured to prohibit said surgical stapling apparatus from firing another replaceable staple cartridge assembly after said number of uses has exceeded a predetermined number.

29. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 28, wherein said counter comprises an electronic device having an input for incrementing a maintained count based on the transition of an electrical signal provided thereto.

30. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a display configured to display said maintained count.

31. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a display configured to display the difference between said predetermined number and said maintained count.

32. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 28, wherein said predetermined number is selectively adjustable.

33. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 28, wherein said counter is configured to maintain a count, and wherein said surgical stapling apparatus further comprises a display configured to display said count.

34. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 28, wherein said counter is configured to maintain a count, and wherein said surgical stapling apparatus further comprises a display configured to display the difference between said predetermined number and said count.

35. A surgical stapling apparatus which is usable with a staple cartridge assembly, wherein each staple cartridge assembly comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a cartridge body, and staples removably stored in the cartridge body, said surgical stapling apparatus comprising:

a housing comprising an electric motor;

a firing system drivable toward the distal end of a staple cartridge assembly by said electric motor to eject staples from the cartridge body of the staple cartridge assembly during a firing cycle; and

an interlock circuit configured to detect the number of uses incurred by said housing, wherein said interlock circuit is configured to prevent said housing from being used after said number of uses has exceeded a predetermined number.

36. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 35, wherein said interlock circuit comprises a counter including an electronic device having an input for incrementing a maintained count based on the transition of an electrical signal provided thereto.

37. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a display configured to display said maintained count.

38. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 36, further comprising a display configured to display the difference between said predetermined number and said maintained count.

39. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 35, wherein said predetermined number is selectively adjustable.

40. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 35, wherein said interlock circuit comprises a counter configured to maintain a count, and wherein said surgical stapling apparatus further comprises a display configured to display said count.

41. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 35, wherein said interlock circuit comprises a counter configured to maintain a count, and wherein said surgical stapling apparatus further comprises a display configured to display the difference between said predetermined number and said count.

42. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising:

a handle usable with a replaceable staple cartridge, said handle comprising;

a gripping portion;

an electric motor; and

a battery,

a firing system configured to fire a replaceable staple cartridge during a firing operation; and

an interlock circuit comprising a counter configured to detect the number of uses incurred by said handle, wherein said interlock circuit is in a first state when said number of uses has not exceeded a predetermined number, wherein said interlock circuit is in a second state when said number of uses has exceeded said predetermined number, and wherein said interlock circuit is configured to prevent a said firing operation when said interlock circuit is in said second state.