Disposable motor-driven loading unit for use with a surgical cutting and stapling apparatus

• US 7,793,812 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Morgan, Jerome R., Moore, Kyle P., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Weisenburgh, William B. II, Timperman, Eugene L., Ransick, Mark H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US12/031,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20090206136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/176.1, 227/175.1, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 606/139, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated

Abstract

A self contained motor-powered disposable loading unit for use with a surgical cutting and stapling apparatus. The disposable loading unit may contain a battery that is retained in a disconnected position when the disposable loading unit is not in use and is moved to a connected position when the disposable loading unit is coupled to the surgical cutting and stapling apparatus to permit the motor to be selectively powered thereby. Indicators may be supported on the disposable loading unit to indicate when the axial drive assembly thereof is in a starting position and an ending position. Another indicator may be provided to indicate when the anvil assembly is in a closed position.

Claims

1. A disposable loading unit for attachment to a surgical cutting and stapling apparatus, said disposable loading unit comprising:

a carrier;

a staple cartridge supported in said carrier;

an anvil assembly movably coupled to said carrier for selective movable travel between open and closed positions relative to said staple cartridge;

an axial drive assembly supported within said carrier to move in a distal direction from a start position to an end position through said carrier and said staple cartridge and in a proximal direction from said end position to said start position;

a motor supported within said carrier and interfacing with said axial drive assembly to drive said axial drive assembly in said distal and proximal directions;

a battery holder movably supported within said carrier and attachable to a control rod of the surgical cutting and stapling apparatus; and

a battery supported within said battery holder such that said battery is retained in a disconnected position prior to coupling said disposable loading unit to the surgical cutting and stapling apparatus and is movable therefrom to at least one subsequent position upon coupling said disposable loading unit to said surgical stapling apparatus.

2. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 further comprising an indicator supported on said disposable loading unit for indicating when said axial drive assembly is in a starting position.

3. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 further comprising an indicator supported on said disposable loading unit for indicating when said anvil assembly is in said closed position.

4. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 further comprising an indicator supported on said disposable loading unit for indicating when said axial drive assembly is in a distal-most position.

5. The disposable loading unit of claim 1 further comprising means for stopping said motor from driving said drive assembly in said proximal direction when said axial drive assembly encounters resistance that exceeds a predetermined amount of resistance.

6. The disposable loading unit of claim 5 wherein said means for stopping said motor comprises a current limiter operably coupled to said motor.

7. A disposable loading unit for attachment to a surgical cutting and stapling apparatus, said disposable loading unit comprising:

a carrier;

a staple cartridge supported in said carrier;

an anvil assembly movably coupled to said carrier for selective movable travel between open and closed positions relative to said staple cartridge;

a housing coupled to said carrier and configured for removable operable attachment to the surgical cutting and stapling apparatus;

an axial drive assembly supported within said carrier and said housing to move in a distal direction from a start position to an end position through said carrier and said staple cartridge and in a proximal direction from said end position to said start position;

a motor supported within said carrier and interfacing with said axial drive assembly to drive said axial drive assembly in said distal and proximal directions;

a battery holder movably supported within said carrier and attachable to a control member of the surgical cutting and stapling apparatus, said battery holder being movable from a deactivated position to at least one subsequent position upon attachment to the control member; and

a battery supported within said movable battery holder such that when said battery holder is in said deactivated position, said battery does not supply control power and when said battery holder is moved from said deactivated position to said at least one subsequent position, said battery supplies control power.

8. The disposable loading apparatus of claim 7 wherein said battery is retained in said deactivated position prior to said movable battery housing being coupled to the control member of the surgical cutting and stapling apparatus.

9. The disposable loading unit of claim 8 further comprising means for stopping said motor when said axial drive assembly encounters resistance that exceeds a predetermined amount of resistance.

10. The disposable loading unit of claim 7 further comprising means on said housing for indicating when said axial drive assembly is in a starting position and an ending position.

11. The disposable loading unit of claim 7 further comprising means on said housing for indicating when said anvil is in said closed position.

12. The disposable loading unit of claim 7 further comprising a biasing member within said carrier for biasing said movable battery holder to said deactivated position.

13. The disposable loading unit of claim 7 wherein said at least one subsequent position comprises a first contact arrangement in said carrier such that when said battery is moved into electrical contact with said first contact arrangement, said battery supplies control power therethrough.

14. The disposable loading unit of claim 13 wherein said at least one subsequent position further comprises a second contact arrangement in said carrier such that when said battery is moved into electrical contact with said second contact arrangement, said battery supplies control power therethrough.

15. A surgical cutting and stapling apparatus comprising:

a handle assembly;

a drive system operable supported in said handle assembly and constructed to impart drive motions and a retraction motion;

a movable handle portion operably supported on said handle assembly and interfacing with said drive system such that manipulation of said movable handle causes said drive system to impart said drive motions;

an elongated body protruding from said handle assembly and having a distal end couplable to a disposable loading unit, said disposable loading unit comprising;

a carrier;

a staple cartridge supported in said carrier;

an anvil assembly movably coupled to said carrier for selective movable travel between open and closed positions relative to said staple cartridge;

an axial drive assembly supported within said carrier to move in a distal direction from a start position to an end position through said carrier and said staple cartridge and move in a proximal direction from said end position to said start position;

a motor supported within said carrier and interfacing with said axial drive assembly to drive said axial drive assembly in said distal and proximal directions;

a battery holder movably supported within said carrier and interfacing with a control rod operably supported by said elongated body to receive said drive motions therefrom upon manipulation of said moveable handle portion; and

a battery supported within said battery holder such that said battery is retained in a disconnected position prior to coupling said disposable loading unit to said distal end of said elongated body and said battery is movable therefrom to at least one connected position when said disposable loading unit is coupled to said distal end of said elongated body.

16. The surgical cutting and stapling apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for stopping said motor when said axial drive assembly encounters resistance that exceeds a predetermined amount of resistance.

17. The surgical cutting and stapling apparatus of claim 16 wherein said means for stopping said motor comprises a current limiter operably coupled to said motor.

18. The surgical cutting and stapling apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a first indicator on said disposable loading unit for indicating when said axial drive assembly is in a starting position;

a second indicator on said disposable loading unit for indicating when said anvil is in said closed position; and

a third indicator on said disposable loading unit for indicating when said axial drive assembly is in said end position.