Electrical surgical instrument with optimized power supply and drive

• US 8,292,157 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Smith, Kevin W., Bales, Thomas O. Jr., Deville, Derek Dee, Rivera, Carlos, Palmer, Matthew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tawfik, Sameh H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US13/229,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20120022523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 227/179.1
• US Class Current: 227/179.1
• 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 17/072 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 17/1114 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 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• 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 2090/032 pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a surgical end effector operable to effect a surgical procedure when powered, an electric motor operationally connected to the end effector, and a power supply electrically connected to and selectively powering the motor to operate the end effector, the power supply having at least one battery cell with a critical current rate and having a switch that when activated to power the motor, operates the at least one battery cell at a super-critical current rate.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector operable to effect a surgical procedure when powered;

an electric motor operationally connected to the end effector; and

a power supply electrically connected to and selectively powering the motor to operate the end effector, the power supply;

having at least one battery cell with a critical current rate; and

having a switch that when activated to power the motor, operates the at least one battery cell at a super-critical current rate.

2. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein the motor is operationally connected to at least one actuation assembly of the end effector, the at least one actuation assembly being operable to operate the end effector when it is actuated by activation of the switch to power the motor.

3. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein the at least one battery cell is selected to operate at the super-critical current rate for an aggregate pulse time of no greater than approximately 300 seconds.

4. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one battery cell has a positive temperature coefficient device with a PTC threshold; and

the at least one battery cell operates at the super-critical current rate and below said PTC threshold over a super-critical pulse discharge period.

5. The instrument according to claim 2, wherein the power supply, the motor, and the at least one actuation assembly generate an output force sufficient to move approximately 82 kg over approximately 60 mm in approximately 3 seconds.

6. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein the at least one battery cell is a lithium-manganese dioxide cell.

7. The instrument according to claim 1, wherein the power supply has a series connection of between four and six power cells selected from the group consisting of CR123 power cells and CR2 power cells.

8. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector operable to effect a surgical procedure when powered;

an electric motor operationally connected to the end effector; and

a power supply electrically connected to and selectively powering the motor to operate the end effector, the power supply;

having at least one battery cell with a critical current rate; and

having a switch that when activated to power the motor, operates the at least one battery cell at an average current rate above the critical current rate.

9. The instrument according to claim 8, wherein the motor is operationally connected to at least one actuation assembly of the end effector, the at least one actuation assembly being operable to operate the end effector when actuated by activating the switch of the power supply to power the motor.

10. The instrument according to claim 8, wherein:

the at least one battery cell has a positive temperature coefficient device with a PTC threshold; and

the at least one battery cell operates above the critical current rate and below the PTC threshold over a super-critical pulse discharge period.

11. The instrument according to claim 9, wherein the power supply, the motor, and the at least one actuation assembly generate an output force sufficient to move approximately 82 kg over approximately 60 mm in approximately 3 seconds.

12. The instrument according to claim 8, wherein the at least one battery cell is a lithium-manganese dioxide cell.

13. The instrument according to claim 8, wherein the power supply has a series connection of between four and six power cells selected from the group consisting of CR123 power cells and CR2 power cells.

14. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector having at least one actuation assembly operable to effect a surgical procedure when powered;

an electric motor operationally connected to the end effector to operate the at least one actuation assembly; and

a power supply electrically connected to the motor and selectively powering the motor to actuate the at least one actuation assembly at least 1 and less than 16 times during a clinical life of at least one of the end effector, the motor, and the power supply, the power supply having at least one battery cell and a switch that, when activated, operates the at least one battery cell at a super-critical current rate to actuate the at least one actuation assembly only between approximately 0.5 seconds and approximately 15 seconds in duration.

15. The instrument according to claim 14, wherein the power supply, the motor, and the at least one actuation assembly generate an output force sufficient to move approximately 82 kg over approximately 60 mm in approximately 3 seconds.

16. The instrument according to claim 14, wherein the at least one battery cell is a lithium-manganese dioxide cell.

17. The instrument according to claim 14, wherein the power supply has a series connection of between four and six power cells selected from the group consisting of CR123 power cells and CR2 power cells.

18. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector having at least one actuation assembly to effect a surgical procedure when actuated;

an electric motor operationally connected to the end effector and having a rated operating voltage; and

a power supply electrically connected to and selectively powering the motor to operate the end effector, the power supply;

having at least one battery cell with a critical current rate;

having a switch that when activated to power the motor, operates the at least one battery cell at a super-critical current rate at any time during at least a portion of a super-critical pulse discharge period; and

operating the motor above the rated operating voltage during the super-critical pulse discharge period.

19. The instrument according to claim 18, wherein the motor is operationally connected to the at least one actuation assembly of the end effector, the at least one actuation assembly being operable to operate the end effector when it is actuated by activation of the switch to power the motor.

20. The instrument according to claim 19, wherein, when the power supply is activated to power the motor and actuate the at least one actuation assembly, the at least one battery cell is operated at the super-critical current rate throughout the super-critical pulse discharge period.

21. The instrument according to claim 18, wherein the super-critical pulse discharge period lasts between approximately 0.5 seconds and approximately 15 seconds.

22. The instrument according to claim 18, wherein the super-critical pulse discharge period lasts between approximately 1.5 seconds and approximately 4 seconds.

23. The instrument according to claim 18, wherein the super-critical pulse discharge period lasts approximately 3 seconds.

24. The instrument according to claim 18, wherein the at least one battery cell is selected to operate at the super-critical current rate for an aggregate pulse time of no greater than approximately 300 seconds.

25. The instrument according to claim 19, wherein the power supply, the motor, and the at least one actuation assembly generate an output force sufficient to move approximately 82 kg over approximately 60 mm in approximately 3 seconds.

26. The instrument according to claim 18, wherein the at least one battery cell is a lithium-manganese dioxide cell.

27. The instrument according to claim 18, wherein the power supply has a series connection of between four and six power cells selected from the group consisting of CR123 power cells and CR2 power cells.