Motorized surgical cutting and fastening instrument having a magnetic drive train torque limiting device

• US 8,459,525 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• 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: Yates, David C., Huitema, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US12/031,542
• Publication Number:
  US 20130041371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/175.2, 227/180.1, 227/178.1, 173/178, 173/176, 606/139, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/180.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• 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 2017/00203 with speech control or speech recognition
• 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 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/031 torque limiting

Abstract

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument. The instrument comprises an end effector and a shaft connected to the end effector. The shaft comprises a drive train for powering the end effector. The instrument also comprises an electric, DC motor connected to the drive train for powering the drive train. The instrument also comprises a torque-limiting device connected between to an output pole of the motor and an input pole of the drive train.

Claims

1. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising;

a cutting instrument for cutting tissue clamped in the end effector; and

fastening means for fastening the tissue cut by the cutting instrument;

a shaft connected to the end effector, the shaft comprising a drive train for powering the end effector;

an electric, DC motor connected to the drive train for powering the drive train; and

a torque-limiting device connected between to an output pole of the motor and an input pole of the drive train.

2. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1 further comprising a handle connected to the shaft, wherein the motor is located in the handle.

3. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the torque-limiting device comprises a clutch.

4. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 3, wherein the clutch comprises an electromagnetic clutch.

5. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 4, wherein the electromagnetic clutch comprises:

a horseshoe-shaped stator having a first magnetic disk at a first end of the stator and a second magnetic disk at a second end of the stator, wherein the first magnetic disk is connected to the output pole of the motor and the second magnetic disk is connected to the input pole of the drive train; and

a coil, such that when the coil conducts a current, the electromagnetic flux from the coil actuates the clutch.

6. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 5, wherein:

when the coil conducts the current, the two magnetic disks are attracted to each other so that they come in contact; and

when the coil is not conducting the current, the two magnetic disks are not in contact.

8. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 3, wherein the clutch comprises a permanent magnet.

9. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 8, wherein the clutch comprises a horseshoe-shaped stator having a first disk at a first end of the stator and a second disk at a second end of the stator, wherein the first disk is connected to the output pole of the motor and the second disk is connected to the input pole of the drive train, and wherein the permanent magnet is connected to the output pole of the motor and attracts the input pole of the drive train such that the magnetic disks are in contact.

10. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises:

upper and lower opposing jaws for clamping the tissue in the end effector; and

wherein the cutting instrument comprises a knife that transverses for transversing a longitudinal channel of the lower jaw.

11. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 10, wherein the fastening means comprises at least one RF electrode.

12. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the torque-limiting device comprises a permanent magnet, horseshoe-shaped stator having a first disk at a first end of the stator and a second disk at a second end of the stator, wherein the first disk is connected to the output pole of the motor and the second disk is connected to the input pole of the drive train.

13. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the instrument is a linear endocutter.

14. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the instrument is a circular cutting and stapling device.

15. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprises a staple cartridge.

7. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument 6, wherein the coil is wrapped around the stator.