Method of switching a surgical device

• US 8,497,437 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Palmer, Matthew A., Smith, Kevin W., Bales, Thomas O. Jr., Deville, Derek Dee
• Primary Examiner(s): LEON MUNOZ, EDWIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/655,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20130046322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 200/1.B, 200/1.R, 200/19.01, 200/5.R, 200/5.A, 200/42.01, 200/43.17, 227/19, 227/176.1, 227/175.1, 227/175.2, 227/180.1, 227/179.1, 606/169, 606/139, 606/219, 600/437, 600/461, 600/471, 601/2, 604/22, 433/86, 433/119, 173/29, 173/217, 173/2, 483/16, 483/901, 295/94, 298/31, 298/32, 298/54
• US Class Current: 200/1.B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00137 Details of operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0038 Simultaneous actuation of two tools by pushing one button or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00389 Button or wheel for performing multiple functions, e.g. rotation of shaft and end effector
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00402 Piezo electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00415 having power generation near the working tip of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320097 with stapling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/301 carried on the medical practitioner's clothing or back
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/64 wherein the switch has more than two electrically distinguishable positions, e.g. multi-position push-button switches

Abstract

Method for operating a self-powered surgical device, comprising providing a handle with a self-contained power supply and control circuit operable to carry out at least two operational conditions of the surgical device and effecting the at least two operational conditions with a two-stage switch electrically connected to the control circuit, a first stage of the switch effecting a first of the two operational conditions and a second stage of the switch effecting a second of the two operational conditions different from the first operational condition, the two-stage switch having a variable resistance such that the first stage occurs when a first depression force is applied to the switch, the second stage occurs when a second depression force greater than the first depression force is applied to the switch, and a holding force lower than the second depression force is required to maintain the switch in the second stage.

Claims

1. A method for operating a self-powered surgical device, comprising:

providing a handle with;

a self-contained power supply; and

a control circuit operable to carry out at least two operational conditions of the surgical device; and

effecting the at least two operational conditions with a two-stage switch electrically connected to the control circuit, a first stage of the switch effecting a first of the at least two operational conditions and a second stage of the switch effecting a second of the at least two operational conditions different from the first operational condition, the two-stage switch having a variable resistance such that;

the first stage occurs when a first depression force is applied to the switch;

the second stage occurs when a second depression force greater than the first depression force is applied to the switch; and

a holding force lower than at least the second depression force is required to maintain the switch in the second stage.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises controlling an amount of power delivered from the power supply with the control circuit.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first operational condition is a first amount of power delivered from the power supply and the second operational condition is a second amount of power delivered from the power supply.

4. The method according to claim 2, which further comprises delivering a first amount of power from the power supply in the first operational condition and delivering a second amount of power different from the first amount from the power supply in the second operational condition.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first amount of power is less than the second amount.

6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises effecting the first and second operational conditions using at least one electrical contact of the two-stage switch to electrically close the control circuit.

7. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises effecting the first and second operational conditions using at least one electrical contact of the two-stage switch to electrically break the control circuit.

8. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises switching between the first and second stages by changing a position of the two-stage switch.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two-stage switch is in the first stage when placed in a first position by applying the first depression force.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the two-stage switch is in the second stage when placed in a second position by applying the second depression force.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first and second positions are operably connected in a stacked configuration.

12. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises switching to the first stage by applying the first depression force to partially depress the two-stage switch.

13. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises switching to the second stage by applying the second depression force to fully depress the two-stage switch.

14. The method according to claim 8, which further comprises:

coupling a plunger to the two-stage switch; and

changing the position of the two-stage switch by applying pressure to the plunger.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the plunger is spring-biased.

16. The method according to claim 14, which further comprises:

applying a variable amount of pressure to the plunger to cause the two-stage switch to change position.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein an amount of pressure needed to position the two-stage switch in the first stage is less than the amount of pressure needed to position the two-stage switch in the second stage.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two-stage switch is comprised of at least a first sub-switch and a second sub-switch, the first sub-switch effecting the first stage and the second sub-switch effecting the second stage.