SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT SYSTEM

• US 20150272583A1
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Leimbach, Richard L., Adams, Shane R., Overmyer, Mark D., Swensgard, Brett E., Lytle, Thomas W. IV, Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Houser, Kevin L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,750,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• 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 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00123 and automatic shutdown
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00137 Details of operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00225 Systems for controlling multiple different instruments, e.g. microsurgical systems
• 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 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00407 Ratchet means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 : for use with different instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 : Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 : Calibration or performance testing
• 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 2017/07285 : characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2912 : transmission of forces to actuating rod or piston
• 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 2034/302 : specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 : Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 : Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0808 : for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/081 : for contamination or dirt
• 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 2090/0813 : Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 : Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 : Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for
• 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: A61L 2/07 : Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/081 : Gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/082 : X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/087 : Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/16 : using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/206 : Ethylene oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 : Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 : Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 : Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 3/00 : Associations of tools for different working operations with one portable power-drive means; Adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/00 : Details or components of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operations performed and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 : Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 : Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 : Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• 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: H01R 2201/12 : for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/025 : having a flexible conductor wound around a rotation axis
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/08 : Slip-rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/10 : other than with external cylindrical contact surface, e.g. flat slip-rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/64 : Devices for uninterrupted current collection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 : Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007188 : the charge cycle being controlled or terminated in response to non-electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007192 : in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 : for charging batteries from ac mains by converters

Abstract

A surgical system can include an electric motor, a sensor and a microcontroller in signal communication with the electric motor and the sensor. In various instances, the microcontroller can adjust the velocity of a firing element when the sensor detects a change in current drawn by the electric motor that exceeds a threshold amount.

Claims

1. A surgical system, comprising:

an end effector comprising a pair of jaws;

a firing element configured to move relative to said pair of jaws during a firing stroke;

an electric motor in communication with said firing element, wherein said electric motor is configured to draw a current to move said firing element throughout the firing stroke;

a sensor configured to detect a change in the current drawn by said electric motor throughout the firing stroke; and

a microcontroller in signal communication with said electric motor and said sensor, wherein said microcontroller is configured to adjust the velocity of said firing element when said sensor detects a change in the current that is greater than a threshold amount.

2. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein said end effector further comprises a plurality of fasteners, and wherein said firing element is configured to fire said fasteners during the firing stroke.

3. The surgical system of claim 1, further comprising a cutting member configured to translate within said pair of jaws during the firing stroke.

4. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is configured to reduce the velocity of said firing element when said sensor detects a change in the current greater than the threshold amount.

5. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is configured to pause said firing element when said sensor detects a change in the current greater than the threshold amount.

6. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller further comprises a velocity control module, and wherein said velocity control module comprises an adjuster selected from a group consisting of a resistor, a variable resistor, a pulse width modulation circuit, and a frequency modulation circuit.

7. A surgical system, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a pair of jaws comprising a plurality of fasteners; and

firing means for firing said plurality of fasteners during a firing stroke;

an electric motor in communication with said firing means;

sensing means for sensing the force-to-fire said firing means; and

adjusting means for adjusting the velocity of said firing means, wherein the adjustment is determined by the force-to-fire sensed by said sensing means.

8. The surgical system of claim 7, further comprising means for cutting tissue clamped intermediate said pair of jaws during the firing stroke.

9. The surgical system of claim 7, wherein said adjusting means is configured to reduce the velocity of said firing means when said sensing means senses a force-to-fire that exceeds a threshold value.

10. The surgical system of claim 7, wherein said adjusting means is configured to pause said firing means when said sensing means senses a force-to-fire that exceeds a threshold value.

11. A surgical method, comprising:

obtaining a surgical instrument comprising an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises a pair of jaws and a moveable cutting element;

positioning the pair of jaws relative to a piece of tissue;

clamping the piece of tissue intermediate the pair of jaws;

detecting a condition of the clamped piece of tissue; and

automatically adjusting the velocity of the moveable cutting element relative to the pair of jaws based on the detected condition.

12. The surgical method of claim 11, wherein said detecting step further comprises sensing the resistance to the moveable cutting element.

13. The surgical method of claim 11, wherein said adjusting step further comprises reducing the velocity of the moveable cutting element when the detecting step detects over-compression of the piece of tissue.

14. The surgical method of claim 11, wherein said adjusting step further comprises stopping movement of the moveable cutting element when the detecting step detects over-compression of the piece of tissue.

15. The surgical method of claim 14, wherein said adjusting step further comprises restarting movement of the moveable cutting element when the detecting step no longer detects over-compression of the piece of tissue.

16. A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:

a first modular component comprising a plurality of sensors;

a second modular component comprising a jaw defining a channel;

a fastener cartridge removably positionable in said channel, wherein said fastener cartridge comprises;

a plurality of fasteners; and

a drivable element configured to translate relative to said channel, wherein said drivable element comprises a magnetic element; and

a microcontroller in signal communication with said plurality of sensors.

17. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 16, wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a Hall Effector sensor.

18. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 16, wherein said plurality of sensors is configured to communicate a first state to said microcontroller when said fastener cartridge is absent from said channel and a second state to said microcontroller when said fastener cartridge is positioned in said channel.

19. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 16, wherein said fastener cartridge assembly further comprises a nonvolatile memory unit in signal communication with said plurality of sensors.

20. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 16, further comprising a different fastener cartridge comprising a different magnetic element, wherein said plurality of sensors are configured to detect if said fastener cartridge or said different fastener cartridge is positioned in said channel.

21. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 16, wherein said first modular component comprises a handle comprising a first attachment portion, and wherein said second modular component comprises a shaft comprising a second attachment portion.

22. A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:

a first modular component;

a second modular component comprising a jaw defining a channel, wherein said channel comprises a first electrical contact;

a fastener cartridge removably positionable in said channel, wherein said fastener cartridge comprises;

a plurality of fasteners; and

a drivable element configured to translate between an unfired position and a plurality of fired positions relative to said channel, wherein said drivable element comprises a second electrical contact, wherein said second electrical contact is in signal communication with said first electrical contact when said drivable element is in said unfired position, and wherein said second electrical contact is out of signal communication with said first electrical contact when said drivable element in is said plurality of fired positions; and

a microcontroller in signal communication with said first electrical contact.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein one of said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact comprises an electromechanical fuse.

24. A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:

a first modular component;

a second modular component comprising a pair of opposing jaws moveable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said pair of opposing jaws comprises;

a first jaw comprising a channel; and

a second jaw comprising a magnetic element;

a fastener cartridge removably positionable in said channel, wherein said fastener cartridge comprises;

a plurality of fasteners;

a drivable element configured to translate relative to said channel; and

a magnetoresistive sensor; and

a microcontroller in signal communication with said magnetoresistive sensor.

25. The surgical instrument assembly of claim 24, wherein said second modular component comprises an antenna, and wherein said antenna is configured to receive a wireless signal from said magnetoresistive sensor.

26. A method, comprising:

selecting a surgical instrument from a group of surgical instruments, wherein the selected surgical instrument is configured to record feedback during use;

using the selected surgical instrument for a surgical procedure;

transmitting the recorded feedback from the selected surgical instrument to an external display; and

broadcasting the recorded feedback from the selected surgical instrument to the external display.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein transmitting the recorded feedback comprises wirelessly transmitting the recorded feedback to an external microcontroller in signal communication with the external display.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the external display automatically detects the group of surgical instruments.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein a user selectively interfaces with the external display to select the surgical instrument.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein a user selectively interfaces with the surgical instrument to select the surgical instrument.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the external display notifies a user when additional surgical instruments are detected in the proximity of the external display.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the recorded feedback comprises a live video feed of the surgical procedure.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the recorded feedback comprises data detected by the selected surgical instrument during the surgical procedure.