Powered surgical stapling device platform

• US 8,459,521 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zemlok, Michael, Racenet, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US12/869,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20100320254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 227/179.1, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 606/139, 606/205, 901/15, 901/30, 901/37, 901/39
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• 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 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07221 curved
• 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 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a surgical instrument which includes a housing and an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument also includes an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion. The end effector includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly is pivotally coupled to the cartridge assembly to be movable from a first actuation position to at least one other second actuation position. The surgical instrument further includes a firing rod having a shaft defining a second longitudinal axis, the shaft having a cam member which is in mechanical cooperation with the anvil assembly and is configured to move the anvil assembly from the first actuation position to the at least one other second actuation position upon rotation of the firing rod about the second longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing including a drive motor, a drive gear, and a shift motor disposed therein;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing;

an intermediate shaft having a proximal end configured for connection to a distal end of the endoscopic portion, the intermediate shaft being flexible; and

a loading unit having an end effector for performing a surgical function, the loading unit having a proximal portion configured for connection to a distal end of the intermediate shaft;

wherein the drive motor mechanically cooperates with the drive gear and is configured to rotate the drive gear along a longitudinal axis extending through the housing; and

wherein the shift motor is configured to selectively move the drive gear between a plurality of positions.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positions include a first position of the drive gear allowing for rotation of the end effector via a ring gear, a second position of the drive gear allowing for articulation of the end effector via an articulation gear, and a third position of the drive gear allowing for actuation of the surgical instrument via an actuator gear, the drive gear mechanically cooperating with the ring gear, the articulation gear, and the actuator gear in the first, second, and third positions, respectively.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the housing includes a power source disposed therein, the power source configured to power the drive motor and the shift motor.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2, further including a sensor configured to electrically communicate with at least one switch disposed external to the housing to actuate the shift motor and provide feedback related to a position of the drive motor.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, further including a user interface disposed external to the housing, the user interface including a plurality of switches, at least one switch being a mode switch configured to enable switching between the plurality of positions.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the user interface communicates, via the sensor, with the drive motor and the shift motor to determine positioning of the drive gear.

7. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing including a drive motor, a drive gear, and a shift motor disposed therein;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and having at least a first flexible segment and a second flexible segment, each segment being rotatably movable with respect to the other between a plurality of positions via a drive end cap in mechanical cooperation with the drive gear, the drive end cap rotated continuously until each segment attains an articulated position; and

an end effector disposed adjacent a distal portion of the endoscopic portion;

wherein the plurality of positions include a first position of the drive gear allowing for rotation of the end effector via a ring gear, a second position of the drive gear allowing for articulation of the end effector via an articulation gear, and a third position of the drive gear allowing for actuation of the surgical instrument via an actuator gear, the drive gear mechanically cooperating with the ring gear, the articulation gear, and the actuator gear in the first, second, and third positions, respectively; and

wherein the drive motor mechanically cooperates with the drive gear and is configured to rotate the drive gear along a longitudinal axis extending through the housing and wherein the shift motor is configured to selectively move the drive gear between the plurality of positions.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the end effector includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly configured to be pivotally coupled to the cartridge assembly and to be movable between a first open position spaced from the cartridge assembly and a second position in approximation with the cartridge assembly.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the end effector defines a circular stapling assembly.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7, further comprising a power source disposed within the housing, the power source configured to power the drive motor and the shift motor.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the first flexible segment is rotatably driven by the drive motor, to rotate the first flexible segment with respect to the second flexible segment.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising a digital control module configured to control operation of the drive motor.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the end effector includes a component in communication with the digital control module, the component communicating to the digital control module an end effector type.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the digital control module is part of an operating room monitoring system.