POWER CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND BATTERIES

• US 20150080868A1
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• 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: Kerr, Wendy A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,595,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/13
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2833 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/10 Power sources therefor
• 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 18/20 using laser
• 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 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• 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
• 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 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00297 Means for providing haptic feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 : Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 : specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• 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 unit for use with surgical instruments. The battery units may comprise a plurality of cells and include a translatable discharge drain. When attached to the surgical instrument, the discharge drain may electrically connect an anode of the battery unit to a cathode of the battery unit, for example, via a resistive element in order to drain the battery unit.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector;

a handle operatively coupled to the end effector, wherein the handle comprises a trigger to actuate the end effector, the handle comprising a battery dock;

the battery dock comprising a protruding member;

a battery unit attachable to the battery dock, wherein the battery unit is in electrical contact with at least one of the handle and the end effector when attached to the battery dock, and wherein the battery unit comprises;

a casing; and

a first anode and a first cathode positioned within the casing; and

a translatable discharge drain, wherein, upon attachment of the battery unit to the battery dock, the protruding member contacts the discharge drain and the discharge drain translates with respect to casing to electrically couple the first anode of the battery unit to the first cathode of the battery.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the discharge drain comprises a first contact and a second contact, and at least one resistive element electrically coupled to the first and second contact, wherein, upon attachment of the battery unit to the battery dock, the discharge drain electrically couples the first anode to the first cathode through the at least one resistive element.

3. The surgical system of claim 2, wherein the at least one resistive element has a resistance in the range of about 90 ohms to about 110 ohms.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein battery unit comprises a second anode and a second cathode positioned within the casing and wherein, upon attachment of the battery unit to the battery dock, the discharge drain electrically couples the second anode to the second cathode.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises at least one implement selected from the group consisting of:

a cutter, a clasper, a stapler, an RF implement, an ultrasonic implement, and a laser implement.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein battery unit comprises at least one cell selected from the group consisting of a CR123 cell and a CR2 cell.

7. A surgical system comprising:

a surgical instrument comprising a battery compartment;

a protruding member positioned proximate the battery compartment; and

a battery unit, wherein the battery unit comprises;

a casing;

a plurality of cells positioned within the casing, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of cells are not electrically connected to one another;

a discharge switch having an open position and a closed position, wherein, when in the closed position, the discharge switch electrically couples an anode of the battery unit to a cathode of the battery unit, wherein the discharge switch is mechanically biased towards the closed position, wherein the discharge switch is held in the open position by a non-conductive portion of the casing, and wherein the discharge switch is translated into the closed position by the protruding member upon attachment of the battery unit into the battery compartment of the surgical instrument.

8. The surgical system of claim 7, wherein the end effector comprises at least one implement selected from the group consisting of:

a cutter, a clasper, a stapler, an RF sealing implement, and an ultrasonic implement.

9. The surgical system of claim 7, wherein the discharge switch translates relative to the non-conductive portion of the casing upon attachment of the battery unit into the battery compartment of the surgical instrument.

10. The surgical system of claim 9, wherein the non-conduction portion of the casing comprises a non-conductive finger.

11. The surgical system of claim 7, wherein the discharge switch comprises a circuit board and least one resistive element is mounted to the circuit board and electrically coupled to at least one cell when the discharge switch is in the closed position.

12. The surgical system of claim 7, wherein the casing defines a cavity dimensioned to receive the protruding portion.

13. The surgical system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of cells comprises at least one cell selected from the group consisting of a CR123 cell and a CR2 cell.

14. A surgical system comprising:

a surgical device comprising a battery dock;

a battery unit, wherein the battery unit comprises;

a first and second grouping of cells;

a translatable battery drain positioned proximate the first and second grouping of cells;

wherein the translatable battery drain comprises a first and second set of contacts;

wherein, in a first position, the first and second set of contacts are not electrically coupled to first and second grouping of cells; and

wherein, in a second position, the first set of contacts is electrically coupled to the first grouping of cells and the second set of contacts is electrically coupled to the second grouping of cells;

wherein the translatable battery drain translates from the first position to the second position upon attachment of the battery unit to the battery dock.

15. The surgical system of claim 14, wherein the battery unit comprises at a first conductive path and a second conductive path, wherein the first and second contacts engage the first and second conductive paths, respectively, upon attachment of the battery unit to the battery dock.

16. The surgical system of claim 14, wherein the battery dock comprises a ram dimensioned to engage the translatable battery drain.

17. The surgical system of claim 14, wherein the translatable battery drain comprises first and second resistive elements, wherein the first set of contacts are electrically coupled to the first resistive element and the second set of contacts are electrically coupled to the second resistive element.

18. The surgical system of claim 17, wherein the first and second resistive elements each have a resistance in the range of about 90 ohms to about 110 ohms.

19. The surgical system of claim 14, wherein the first and second grouping of cells each comprise at least one cell selected from the group consisting of a CR123 cell and a CR2 cell.

20. The surgical system of claim 14, comprising a locking cam, the locking cam comprising a body portion and a spring portion pivotable with respect to the body portion.