OVERLAID MULTI SENSOR RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) ELECTRODE SYSTEM TO MEASURE TISSUE COMPRESSION

• US 20160256071A1
• Filed: 03/06/2015
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Yates, David C., Harris, Jason L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,548,504 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3209 Incision instruments
• 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 2017/00075 Motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00123 and automatic shutdown
• 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 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• 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 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 2090/0803 : 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 2560/0468 : Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 : Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 : Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 : Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 : Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 : invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 : Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6847 : mounted on an invasive device

Abstract

A tissue compression sensor system is disclosed. The tissue compression system includes an RF electrode positioned on an end-effector; a first electrical contact positioned on one of an anvil or a channel frame of the end-effector; and a first filter communicatively coupled to the first electrical contact.

Claims

1. A tissue compression sensor system comprising:

an RF electrode positioned on an end-effector;

a first electrical contact positioned on one of an anvil or a channel frame of the end-effector; and

a first filter communicatively coupled to the first electrical contact.

2. The tissue compression sensor system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second electrical contact positioned on one of the anvil or the channel frame of the end-effector; and

a second filter communicatively coupled to the second electrical contact.

3. The tissue compression sensor system of claim 2, further comprising:

a multiplexor configured to transmit two or more RF signals to the end-effector.

4. The compression sensor system of claim 2, wherein the first and second electrical contacts lead to a common return path.

5. The tissue compression sensor system of claim 3, wherein the RF signals are transmitted down a single power side of the end-effector.

6. The tissue compression sensor system of claim 2, further comprising:

an impedance calculator in communication with the first and second filters.

7. The tissue compression sensor system of claim 3, further comprising:

a frequency generator configured to generate the two or more RF signals.

8. The tissue compression sensor system of claim 1, wherein the RF electrode is positioned on a staple cartridge of the end-effector.

9. The tissue compression sensor system of claim 1, further comprising:

multiple RF electrodes positioned on the end-effector at discrete points.

10. The tissue compression sensor system of claim 1, further comprising:

multiple RF electrodes positioned on the end-effector in multiple zones.

11. A method for sensing tissue compression, the method comprising:

overlaying two or more RF signals and transmitting the RF signals to an end-effector;

returning the two or more RF signals on a common path via electrical contacts on at least one of an anvil or a channel frame of the end-effector; and

filtering the two or more RF signals prior to joining the RF signals on the common path.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

calculating an impedance associated with a tissue compressed by the end-effector based on at least one of the two or more RF signals.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the two or more RF signals are overlaid via a multiplexor.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the two or more RF signals are generated by a frequency generator outside the end-effector.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein a vertical tissue compression is calculated based on one of the RF signals and a lateral tissue compression is calculated based on another of the RF signals.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein a proximal tissue compression is calculated based on one of the RF signals and a distal tissue compression is calculated based on another of the RF signals.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein two or more filters are used to filter the two or more RF signals prior to joining the common return path to differentiate separate tissue impedances represented by the two or more RF signals.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the frequency generator is located on a circuit board of a shaft or a handle of an endocutter.