Electromechanical drive and remote surgical instrument attachment having computer assisted control capabilities

• US 8,690,913 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Whitman, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US13/191,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20110303734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 606/219, 606/139, 606/142, 606/167, 606/151, 606/171, 606/75, 606/170, 606/145, 606/148, 606/153, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/180.1, 227/179, 227/19
• US Class Current: 606/219
• 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1152 applying the staples on the outside of the lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• 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 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

A medical tool comprising an electromechanical driver and a surgical instrument attachment for use in invasive surgery, including a handle coupled to a flexible sheath which is in turn coupled to a surgical attachment. The handle of the driver includes the electromechanical driver and at least one processor element which controls the actions of the electromechanical driver, and therefore the application elements of the surgical attachment, based on information relayed between the processor element and remotely activatable sensor assemblies in the surgical instrument attachment.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

an electromechanical driver;

an elongate shaft having first and second drive components actuatable by the electromechanical driver;

a surgical stapling attachment coupleable to the first and second drive components of the shaft, the surgical stapling attachment including a stapling portion, a blade, and an anvil;

at least one sensor in the surgical stapling attachment, the at least one sensor being arranged to confirm that tissue to be stapled together is disposed between the stapling portion and the anvil;

a first motor connected to a first drive component, the first motor configured to be actuated by a first actuation switch;

a second motor connected to a second drive component, the second motor configured to be actuated by a second actuation switch; and

a drive switch configured to selectively alter a turning direction of at least one of the first and second motors.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a pulse oximetry sensor.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the shaft has a distal end configured to couple with surgical stapling attachments having one or more of different diameters, shapes, lengths and stapling arrangements.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the stapling portion has a circular shape.

5. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a remote status indicator.

6. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a controller having a processor and a memory unit.

7. The medical device of claim 6, wherein the controller and electromechanical driver are integral components.

8. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising an output display device.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical driver is disposed in a handle.

10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the elongate shaft is removably attached to the handle.

11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes a light detecting element.

12. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the shaft is flexible.

13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the shaft is steerable.

14. The medical device of claim 13, further comprising steering wires for steering the shaft.

15. The medical device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second drive components rotates.

16. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the surgical stapling attachment includes a nut, the blade and a staple driver being attached to the nut.

17. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the nut is mounted on the rotatable first and second drive components.

18. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a memory unit disposed in the surgical stapling attachment.

19. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a controller that communicates wirelessly.

20. A medical device, comprising;

an electromechanical driver;

an elongate shaft having first and second drive components actuatable by the electromechanical driver;

a surgical stapling attachment coupleable to the first and second drive components of the shaft, the surgical stapling attachment including a stapling portion, a blade, and an anvil;

a plurality of sensors around a circumferential rim of the stapling portion, the sensors being arranged to confirm that tissue to be stapled together is disposed between the stapling portion and the anvil;

a first motor connected to a first drive component, the first motor configured to be actuated by a first actuation switch;

a second motor connected to a second drive component, the second motor configured to be actuated by a second actuation switch; and

a drive switch configured to selectively alter a turning direction of at least one of the first and second motors.

21. A medical device, comprising:

an electromechanical driver;

an elongate shaft having first and second drive components actuatable by the electromechanical driver;

a surgical stapling attachment coupleable to the first and second drive components of the shaft, the surgical stapling attachment including a stapling portion, a blade, and an anvil;

at least one sensor in the surgical stapling attachment, the at least one sensor being arranged to determine a distance between the stapling portion and the anvil;

a controller component arranged to interact with the at least one sensor and to determine the distance between the stapling portion and the anvil;

a first motor connected to a first drive component, the first motor configured to be actuated by a first actuation switch;

a second motor connected to a second drive component, the second motor configured to be actuated by a second actuation switch; and

a drive switch configured to selectively alter a turning direction of at least one of the first and second motors.