Battery powered surgical instrument

• US 8,505,799 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Viola, Frank J., Krehel, Gregg, Pedros, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US13/442,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20120193393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/176.1, 227/175.1, 227/178.1, 227/180.1, 227/175.2, 606/139, 606/143, 606/151, 606/219
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• 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 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 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00132 Setting operation time of a device A61B2017/00123 takes precedence
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395

Abstract

A powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided and includes a handle including a housing, a power source supported in the housing; an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing of the handle; an end effector assembly coupled to a distal end of the endoscopic portion, the end effector assembly including a pair of jaws configured to perform a surgical function; a driving member; a drive source including a motor powered by the power source and connected to the driving member; and a gear assembly engaged with the motor. The gear assembly including a gear rack provided on the driving member; and a main gear operatively connected with the gear rack, the motor spinning the main gear such that rotary motion of the main gear moves the driving member in an axial direction such that the driving member actuates the end effector to perform the surgical function.

Claims

1. A powered endoscopic surgical apparatus, comprising:

a handle including a housing, a power source supported in the housing;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing of the handle;

a fastening assembly coupled to a distal end of the endoscopic portion, the fastening assembly including a pair of jaws defining a stapling mechanism, at least one of the jaws being movable with respect to the other jaw;

a firing member extending between the handle and the fastening assembly;

a drive source proximal of the endoscopic portion, the drive source including a motor powered by the power source and connected to the firing member; and

a gear assembly engaged with a drive shaft of the motor, the gear assembly being disposed within the housing, the gear assembly including;

a gear rack provided on the firing member; and

a main gear operatively connected with the gear rack of the firing member, the motor being adapted and configured to spin the main gear such that rotary motion of the main gear moves the firing member linearly in an axial direction such that a distal end of the firing member engages and actuates the stapling mechanism in the fastening assembly.

2. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main gear is a spur gear.

3. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gear rack is formed along a bottom surface of the firing member.

4. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle further includes:

a manually actuated closing lever supported on the housing; and

a closure member having a proximal end operatively connected to the closing lever and a distal end extending through the endoscopic portion to the fastening assembly, wherein manual actuation of the lever imparts linear movement of the closure member in an axial direction such that the distal end of the closure member engages and actuates the fastening assembly to open and close the pair of jaws.

5. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 4, wherein the handle further includes a trigger supported on the housing, wherein the trigger is operatively connected to the power source, the power source being operatively connected to the motor of the drive source such that manipulation of the trigger actuates the power source to activate the motor and rotate the main gear to actuate the firing member.

6. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a controller configured to control the motor, the controller delaying activation of the motor for a predetermined time period after actuation of the lever.

7. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 6, wherein the predetermined time period is suitable in length to allow compression of the tissue for the predetermined time period and to allow tissue to settle from a first initial state into a second compressed state when the pair of jaws are in a closed position.

8. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a dampening device, the controller configured to control the dampening device, the dampening device modulating the motor for the predetermined time period to allow for compression of tissue when the pair of jaws are in a closed position.

9. The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 6, wherein the controller controls the motor and delays an actuation thereof, the delay permitting a predetermined compression time period when the pair of jaws are in a closed position.

10. The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 9, wherein the controller slows an operation of the motor to provide for the delay to compress the tissue.

11. The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 6, wherein the handle includes a switch supported on the housing, wherein the lever actuates the switch upon actuation thereof,

wherein the switch, when actuated, outputs a signal to the controller to complete a suitable timer circuit for a predetermined time interval.

12. The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 11, wherein upon passage of the predetermined time interval, actuation of the motor is permitted.

13. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery.

14. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 13, wherein the battery is modular.

15. A powered endoscopic surgical apparatus, comprising:

a handle including a housing, a power source supported in the housing;

an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing of the handle;

an end effector assembly coupled to a distal end of the endoscopic portion, the end effector assembly including a pair of jaws configured to perform a surgical function, at least one of the jaws being movable with respect to the other jaw;

a driving member extending between the handle and the end effector assembly;

a drive source proximal of the endoscopic portion, the drive source including a motor powered by the power source and connected to the driving member; and

a gear assembly engaged with a drive shaft of the motor, the gear assembly being disposed within the housing, the gear assembly including;

a gear rack provided on the driving member; and

a main gear operatively connected with the gear rack of the driving member, the motor being adapted and configured to spin the main gear such that rotary motion of the main gear moves the driving member linearly in an axial direction such that a distal end of the driving member actuates the end effector to perform the surgical function.

16. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 15, wherein the end effector is a stapling mechanism and the surgical function includes a stapling function.

17. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 16, wherein linear movement of the driving member actuates the end effector to perform a fastening function.

18. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 17, wherein the main gear is a spur gear.

19. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 17, wherein the gear rack is formed along a bottom surface of the firing member.

20. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 17, wherein the handle further includes:

a manually actuated closing lever supported on the housing; and

a closure member having a proximal end operatively connected to the closing lever and a distal end extending through the endoscopic portion to the fastening assembly, wherein manual actuation of the lever imparts linear movement of the closure member in an axial direction such that the distal end of the closure member engages and actuates the fastening assembly to open and close the pair of jaws.

21. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 20, wherein the handle further includes a trigger supported on the housing, wherein the trigger is operatively connected to the power source, the power source being operatively connected to the motor of the drive source such that manipulation of the trigger actuates the power source to activate the motor and rotate the main gear to actuate the firing member.

22. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a controller configured to control the motor, the controller delaying activation of the motor for a predetermined time period after actuation of the lever.

23. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 22, wherein the predetermined time period is suitable in length to allow compression of the tissue for the predetermined time period and to allow tissue to settle from a first initial state into a second compressed state when the pair of jaws are in a closed position.

24. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a dampening device, the controller configured to control the dampening device, the dampening device modulating the motor for the predetermined time period to allow for compression of tissue when the pair of jaws are in a closed position.

25. The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 22, wherein the controller controls the motor and delays an actuation thereof, the delay permitting a predetermined compression time period when the pair of jaws are in a closed position.

26. The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 25, wherein the controller slows an operation of the motor to provide for the delay to compress the tissue.

27. The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 22, wherein the handle includes a switch supported on the housing, wherein the lever actuates the switch upon actuation thereof,

wherein the switch, when actuated, outputs a signal to the controller to complete a suitable timer circuit for a predetermined time interval.

28. The endoscopic surgical stapler of claim 27, wherein upon passage of the predetermined time interval, actuation of the motor is permitted.

29. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 15, wherein the power source is a battery.

30. The endoscopic surgical apparatus of claim 29, wherein the battery is modular.