Motorized surgical cutting and fastening instrument

• US 8,636,736 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• 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., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ram, Jocelyn D
• Application Number:
  US12/031,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20140005652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,175 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/45, 606/49, 606/51, 606/52, 2271751-1821
• US Class Current: 606/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• 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 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07242 achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• 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 2017/2927 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 : Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument. The instrument comprises an end effector, a shaft connected to the end effector, and a handle connected to the shaft. The handle comprises an electric, DC motor connected to a drive train for powering the drive train and a plurality of series-connected DC power source connected to the motor for supplying electrical power to the motor. The handle also comprises a power source selection switch for connecting, when in a first state, all of the DC power sources to the motor, and, when in a second state, a subset of the DC power sources to the motor. Also disclosed are means for actuating a RF electrode in the end effector and means for indicating actuation of the RF electrode.

Claims

1. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:

a linear-cutting end effector;

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

a handle connected to the shaft;

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

a power pack that is insertable in and removable from the handle, wherein the power pack comprises;

a chargeable DC power source connected to the motor for supplying electrical power to the motor;

a primary power source for charging the chargeable DC power source, wherein the primary power source is removable from the power pack when the power pack is inserted in the handle prior to operation of the instrument such that the primary power source does not supply electrical power to the motor during operation of the instrument; and

a charge management circuit connected between the primary power source and the chargeable DC power source, wherein the charge management circuit;

determines when the chargeable DC power source is sufficiently charged by the primary power source to operate the instrument; and

comprises means for displaying a charge status of the chargeable DC power source.

2. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, further comprising a power regulator having an input connected to the chargeable DC power source and an output connected to an input of the motor.

3. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 2, wherein the power regulator comprises a DC-DC power converter.

4. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 3, wherein the DC-DC power converter comprises a switch-mode power converter.

5. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 3, wherein the DC-DC power converter comprises a buck-boost converter.

6. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the means for displaying the charge status comprises at least one LED.

7. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises at least one RF electrode, and further comprising means for indicating actuation of the at least one RF electrode.

8. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 7, wherein the means for indicating actuation of the at least one RF electrode comprises a display device.

9. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 7, wherein the means for indicating actuation of the at least one RF electrode comprises a speaker.

10. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 7, wherein the means for indicating actuation of the at least one RF electrode comprises a vibrator.

11. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 7, wherein the means for indicating actuation of the at least one RF electrode comprises a light source.

12. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 7, further comprising means for actuating the at least one RF electrode.

13. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 12, wherein the means for actuating the at least one RF electrode comprise a microphone.

14. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 12, wherein the means for actuating the at least one RF electrode comprise a transceiver.

15. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 12, wherein the means for actuating the at least one RF electrode comprise a dial control.

16. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1, wherein:

the primary power source comprises one or more battery cells; and

the chargeable DC power source comprises one or more chargeable secondary accumulator devices.