Powered surgical instrument

• US 8,506,557 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zemlok, Michael A., Racenet, David C., Ross, Adam J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIPITZ, JEFFREY BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US13/545,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20120277790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/130, 606/205
• US Class Current: 606/1
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• 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 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an elongated portion extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;

a loading unit configured to mechanically engage a distal portion of the elongated portion, the loading unit including an end effector, the loading unit including a sensor for relaying information including a type of end effector that is part of the loading unit;

a drive motor disposed at least partially within the housing and being configured to actuate the end effector; and

a control module configured to measure at least one of voltage or current from the drive motor, the control module configured for receiving information from the sensor of the loading unit relating to the type of end effector that is part of the loading unit, the control module for controlling a force being applied to the end effector depending on the type of end effector that is part of the loading unit, the control module including a storage unit for storing information relating to a force to be applied to each type of end effector of the loading units.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a mechanical sensor.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an electronic sensor.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the instrument is configured to determine whether the end effector is clamping tissue that exceeds a predetermined thickness.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein power provided to the drive motor is configured to be at least one of interrupted and ceased when at least one of the current and the voltage measured by the control module corresponds to when the end effector is clamping tissue that exceeds a predetermined thickness.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising at least one switch accessible to the user of the instrument.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising at least one screen to provide feedback to the user of the instrument.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the control module includes an electric braking circuit.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the control module is arranged to communicate with a video screen in an operating room.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a drive tube defining a drive tube axis extending therethrough, the drive tube being disposed at least partially within the housing.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the drive motor is mechanically engaged with the drive tube.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, further comprising a rod disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive tube, at least a portion of the rod being translatable with respect to the drive tube.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, further comprising an actuator gear disposed at least partially within the housing and being disposed in mechanical cooperation with the rod.

14. The surgical instrument according to claim 13, further comprising a transducer disposed in electrical communication with the actuator gear and being configured for measuring forces applied to the actuator gear.

15. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a shift motor disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive motor and being configured for changing the longitudinal position of the drive motor.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further including an actuator gear disposed at least partially within the housing, and a drive gear associated with the drive motor, the drive gear being movable to a position along a drive gear axis to matingly engage the actuator gear and wherein rotation of the actuator gear causes at least a partial actuation of the end effector.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the control module is digital.

18. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly;

an elongated portion extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis;

a loading unit configured to mechanically engage a distal portion of the elongated portion, the loading unit including an end effector engaged therewith and a sensor for relaying information including the type of end effector that is engaged with the loading unit;

a drive motor disposed at least partially within the handle assembly and being configured to advance a firing rod to actuate the end effector; and

a control module disposed at least partially within the handle assembly and being configured to measure at least one of voltage or current from the drive motor, the control module for controlling a force being applied to the firing rod depending on at least one of the voltage and the current reading from the drive motor, wherein the control module receives information from the sensor.

19. The surgical instrument according to claim 18, wherein the information from the sensor relates to the type of end effector that is part of the loading unit, and wherein the control module includes a storage unit for storing information relating to a force to be applied to each type of end effector of the loading units.

20. The surgical instrument according to claim 19, wherein power provided to the drive motor is configured to be at least one of interrupted and ceased when at least one of the current and the voltage measured by the control module corresponds to when the end effector is clamping tissue that exceeds a predetermined thickness.

21. The surgical instrument according to claim 18, further comprising a sled disposed within the end effector and configured to be actuated by the firing rod to cause ejection of fasteners from a jaw member of the end effector.

22. The surgical instrument according to claim 21, further comprising a knife disposed within the end effector and configured to sever tissue between jaw members of the end effector after at least one fastener has been ejected from the jaw member of the end effector.

23. The surgical instrument according to claim 18, wherein full power provided to the drive motor is configured to be ceased when at least one of the current and the voltage measured by the control module exceeds a predetermined value.

24. The surgical instrument according to claim 18, wherein the firing rod includes a sensor thereon for relaying information relating to the firing rod to the control module.