Cordless medical cauterization and cutting device

• US 8,377,059 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Deville, Derek Dee, Palmer, Matthew A., Bales, Thomas O., Kline, Korey, McBrayer, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/403,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/45, 606 48- 52, 606205-208
• US Class Current: 606/45
• 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 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws

Abstract

A cordless surgical device includes a modular battery, a radio-frequency signal generating assembly, a surgical handle and an interchangeable circuit casing. The RF signal generating assembly includes RF-signal-generating circuitry, a voltage-control circuit and an external output. The voltage circuit is configured to control an output of the RF-signal-generating circuitry. The handle is configured to support a bipolar end effector having jaws with bipolar contacts and a cutting blade disposed between the jaws. The handle includes leads operable to receive RF signals from the external output and defines an aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment configured to hold the battery. The circuit casing is configured to house the RF signal generating assembly and includes a securing connection adapted to couple the external output of the RF signal generating assembly to the leads. The external output is operable to impart RF signals to the handle when the circuit casing connects to the handle.

Claims

1. A radio-frequency assembly removably connectable to a control handle of a cordless cautery and cutting surgical device, the assembly comprising:

a radio-frequency signal generating assembly including radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry, a voltage-control circuit and an external output, the radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry having a circuitry output, the voltage-control circuit configured to control the circuitry output; and

an interchangeable circuit casing shaped to be removably connected to the control handle, the interchangeable circuit casing configured to house the radio-frequency signal generating assembly and including a securing connection adapted to couple the external output to leads of the control handle, the external output being operable to impart radio-frequency signals to the control handle when the securing connection connects the external output to the leads of the control handle.

2. The radio-frequency assembly according to claim 1, wherein the interchangeable circuit casing is aseptically sealed.

3. The radio-frequency assembly according to claim 1, wherein the securing connection is at least one of a T-slide connection, a tongue-and-groove connection, a press-fit connection, and a magnetic connection.

4. The radio-frequency assembly according to claim 1, wherein the voltage-control circuit drives at least one energy storage cell to a current capacity discharge that is greater than a rated storage capacity of the at least one energy storage cell.

5. The radio-frequency assembly according to claim 1, wherein the voltage-control circuit drives at least one energy storage cell to a current capacity discharge that is about 10 to about 15 times greater than a rated storage capacity of the at least one energy storage cell.

6. The radio-frequency assembly according to claim 1, wherein the voltage-control circuit includes at least one of a buck power supply, a boost power supply, and a buck-boost power supply.

7. The radio-frequency assembly according to claim 1, wherein the external output is of gold-plated copper.

8. The radio-frequency assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the voltage-control circuit is communicatively coupled to the radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry and controls the circuitry output;

the interchangeable circuit casing houses therein the radio-frequency signal generating assembly; and

the securing connection is shaped to removably connect the external output to the leads of the control handle.

9. A cordless surgical device for cautery and cutting, comprising:

at least one modular battery;

a radio-frequency signal generating assembly including radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry, a voltage-control circuit and an external output, the voltage-control circuit configured to control an output of the radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry;

a surgical handle configured to support a bipolar end effector having jaws with bipolar contacts and a cutting blade disposed between the jaws, the surgical handle including leads operable to receive radio-frequency signals from the external output, the surgical handle defining an aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment configured to hold the at least one modular battery; and

an interchangeable circuit casing shaped to be removably connected to the surgical handle, the interchangeable circuit casing configured to house the radio-frequency signal generating assembly and including a securing connection adapted to couple the external output of the radio-frequency signal generating assembly to the leads of the surgical handle, the external output being operable to impart radio-frequency signals to the surgical handle when the interchangeable circuit casing connects to the surgical handle.

10. The cordless surgical device according to claim 9, wherein the external output is operable to impart radio-frequency signals to the surgical handle when the securing connection connects the external output to the leads of the surgical handle.

11. The cordless surgical device according to claim 9, wherein:

the surgical handle includes at least one conductor connected to at least one of the leads; and

the at least one modular battery has at least one contact electrically connected to the at least one conductor when the at least one modular battery is disposed within the battery-holding compartment.

12. The cordless surgical device according to claim 9, wherein the interchangeable circuit casing is aseptically sealed.

13. The cordless surgical device according to claim 9, wherein the securing connection includes at least one of a T-slide connection, a tongue-and-groove connection, a press-fit connection and a magnetic connection.

14. The cordless surgical device according to claim 9, wherein the voltage-control circuit drives the at least one modular battery to a current capacity discharge that is greater than a rated storage capacity of the at least one modular battery.

15. The cordless surgical device according to claim 9, wherein the voltage-control circuit drives the at least one modular battery to a current capacity discharge that is about 10 to about 15 times greater than a rated storage capacity of the at least one modular battery.

16. The cordless surgical device according to claim 9, wherein the voltage-control circuit includes at least one of a buck power supply, a boost power supply, and a buck-boost power supply.

17. The cordless surgical device according to claim 9, wherein the external output is of gold-plated copper.

18. The cordless surgical device according to claim 9, wherein:

the interchangeable circuit casing houses therein the radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry;

the external output is electrically coupled to the output of the radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry;

the bipolar end effector is a cautery and cutting end effector; and

the aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment is selectively exposed to an environment.

19. A cordless cautery and cutting surgical device, comprising:

at least one modular battery;

a radio-frequency signal generating assembly having;

radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry; and

a voltage-control circuit communicatively coupled to and controlling an output of the radio-frequency-signal-generation circuitry;

a surgical handle;

an interchangeable circuit casing shaped to be removably connected to the surgical handle;

housing therein the radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry generating an output radio-frequency signal at an output thereof;

having an external output couple electrically coupled to the output of the radio-frequency-signal-generating circuitry; and

having a securing connection shaped to removably connect the output couple to leads; and

the surgical handle having;

a first handle body portion having;

a bipolar cautery and cutting end effector having jaws with bipolar contacts and a cutting blade disposed between the jaws; and

the leads operable to receive radio-frequency signals from the output couple when the securing connection is connected to the surgical handle; and

a second handle body portion;

connected to the first handle body portion;

defining therein an aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment selectively exposed to an environment and removably holding therein the at least one modular battery; and

electrically connecting the at least one modular battery to the voltage-control circuit for supplying power to the voltage-control circuit when the at least one modular battery is in the battery-holding compartment.