Powered surgical instrument

• US 8,685,004 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zemlock, Michael A., Racenet, David, Ross, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIPITZ, JEFFREY BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US13/937,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20130292450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 266 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 606/1
• 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
• 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 control module for use with a surgical instrument, the control module comprising:

a storage unit for storing information relating to a force to be applied to different types of end effectors of the surgical instrument, wherein the control module is configured to measure at least one of voltage and current from a drive motor of the surgical instrument, wherein the control module is configured for receiving information from a sensor relating to the type of end effector that is engaged with the surgical instrument, and wherein the control module is configured to control a force being applied to the end effector that is engaged with the surgical instrument.

2. The control module of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to control the force being applied to the end effector that is engaged with the surgical instrument depending on the type of end effector that is engaged with the surgical instrument.

3. The control module of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to determine whether the end effector is clamping tissue that exceeds a predetermined thickness.

4. The control module of claim 3, wherein the control module is configured to either interrupt or cease power provided to the drive motor 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.

5. The control module of claim 1, wherein the control module includes an electric braking circuit.

6. The control module of claim 1, wherein the control module is arranged to communicate with a video screen in an operating room.

7. The control module of claim 1, wherein the control module is digital.

8. A control module for use with a surgical instrument, wherein the control module is configured to measure at least one of voltage and current from a drive motor of the surgical instrument, and wherein the control module is configured for controlling a force being applied to a firing rod of the surgical instrument depending on at least one of the voltage and the current reading from the drive motor.

9. The control module of claim 8, wherein the control module receives information from a sensor of the surgical instrument.

10. The control module of claim 9, wherein the information from the sensor relates to a type of end effector that is engaged with a portion of the surgical instrument, and wherein the control module includes a storage unit for storing information relating to a force to be applied to different types of end effectors.

11. The control module of claim 10, wherein the control module is configured to either interrupt or cease power provided to the drive motor 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.

12. The control module of claim 10, wherein the control module is configured to cease full power provided to the drive motor when at least one of the current and the voltage measured by the control module exceeds a predetermined value.

13. A control module for use with a surgical stapling instrument, the control module comprising:

a storage unit for storing information relating to a force to be applied to a firing rod of the surgical stapling instrument based on a type of end effector that is engaged with the surgical stapling instrument, wherein the control module is configured to measure at least one of voltage and current from a drive motor of the surgical stapling instrument, and wherein the control module is configured to control a force being applied to the firing rod of the surgical stapling instrument.

14. The control module of claim 13, wherein the control module is configured for receiving information from a sensor relating to the type of end effector that is engaged with the surgical stapling instrument.

15. The control module of claim 14, wherein the control module is configured to control a force being applied to the firing rod depending on the type of end effector that is engaged with the surgical stapling instrument.

16. The control module of claim 13, wherein the control module is configured to determine whether the end effector that is engaged with the surgical stapling instrument is clamping tissue that exceeds a predetermined thickness.

17. The control module of claim 16, wherein the control module is configured to either interrupt or cease power provided to the drive motor 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.