Surgical instrument having recording capabilities

• US 8,752,747 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2012
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Ouwerkerk, John N., Timperman, Eugene L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US13/424,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20120175399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 227/180.1, 227/19, 227/175.1, 227/177.1, 227/179.1
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0042 with special provisions for gripping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• 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 2017/07278 : characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• 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 2090/033 : Abutting means, stops, e.g. abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/069 : using a plummet or weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 : Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• 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 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/74 : Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 : Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 : Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence

Abstract

A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.

Claims

1. A method of recording the state of a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector to engage tissue, the end effector comprising a staple channel and an anvil pivotable relative to the staple channel, where at least one of the anvil and the staple channel defines a longitudinal channel;

a reciprocating knife positioned to slide distally through the longitudinal channel;

a longitudinal shaft extending proximally from the end effector;

a first sensor having an output representing a position of the anvil relative to the staple channel;

a second sensor having an output representing a position of the reciprocating knife; and

an externally accessible memory device;

the method comprising;

monitoring the outputs of the first sensor and the second sensor;

recording the output of the first sensor to the memory device when a change occurs in the output of the first sensor; and

recording the output of the second sensor to the memory device when a change occurs in the output of the second sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the output of the first sensor from the memory device to an outside device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the output of the first sensor from the memory device to the outside device further comprises providing the output of the first sensor to an output port of the memory device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the output of the first sensor from the memory device to the outside device further comprises providing the output of the first sensor to a removable storage medium.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the output of the first sensor from the memory device to the outside device comprises providing the output of the first sensor to the outside device wirelessly by the memory device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein providing the output of the first sensor from the memory device to the outside device comprises providing the output of the first sensor to the outside device wirelessly by the memory device via a wireless output port of the memory device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a third sensor having an output representing a pressure exerted by the end effector, the method further comprising:

monitoring the output of the third sensor; and

recording the output of the third sensor to the memory device when a change occurs in the output of the third sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the output of the first sensor comprises monitoring an output of at least one binary sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the output of the first sensor comprises monitoring an output of at least one analog sensor.

10. A method of recording the state of a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector to engage tissue, the end effector comprising a staple channel and an anvil pivotably translatable relative to the staple channel, wherein at least one of the anvil and the staple channel defines a longitudinal channel;

a reciprocating knife positioned to slide distally through the longitudinal channel;

a longitudinal shaft extending proximally from the end effector; and

an externally accessible memory device comprising a wireless output port;

the method comprising the steps of;

monitoring an output of a first sensor, wherein the output of the first sensor indicates a condition of at least one component selected from the group consisting of the anvil, the staple channel and the knife, then;

recording the output of the first sensor to the memory device when at least one condition of the surgical instrument changes; and

wirelessly communicating the output of the first sensor to an outside device via the wireless output port of the memory device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one condition of the surgical instrument comprises a position of the anvil relative to the staple channel.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one condition of the surgical instrument comprises a position of the knife within the end effector.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one condition of the surgical instrument comprises a pressure exerted by the end effector.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring the output of the first sensor comprises monitoring an output of a binary sensor.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein monitoring the output of the first sensor comprises monitoring an output of an analog sensor.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

monitoring outputs of a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises the first sensor and wherein each of the plurality of sensors provides an output indicating a condition of at least one component of the surgical instrument.