Motorized surgical instrument

• US 9,005,230 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Yates, David C., Huitema, Thomas W., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): McEvoy, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZPIRA, JULIE ANN
• Application Number:
  US13/745,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20130126581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 606/180, 606/170, 318/400.08, 318/247, 320/167, 323/345, 323/351
• US Class Current: 606/180
• 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• 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 2017/07271 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 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument that is motorized. The instrument comprises in one embodiment a charge accumulator device, separate from a battery, that provides additional power to the motor under certain conditions. In addition, the motor may comprise multiple windings.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising a moveable firing member;

an electric motor for actuating the firing member; and

a motor control circuit for controlling the motor, wherein the motor control circuit comprises;

a power source connected to the motor for electrically powering the motor;

a charge accumulator device; and

a switching circuit connected to the power source and the charge accumulator device, wherein the switching circuit comprises a network of switches defining a charge state and a discharge state, wherein in the charge state the power source is connected to the charge accumulator device not in series to electrically charge the charge accumulator device, wherein in the charge state, the power source is connected to the motor and provides electric current to the motor, and wherein in the discharge state the charge accumulator is connected in series with the power source to provide additional power to the motor, wherein the network of switches does not assume the charge state and the discharge state simultaneously.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the charge accumulator device comprises a capacitor.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the charge accumulator device comprises an ultracapacitor.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a plurality of series connected battery cells.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, further comprising a power source selection switch connected to the power source for connecting, when in a first state, all of the battery cells to the motor, and, when in a second state, a subset of the battery cells to the motor.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises a circular-cutting end effector.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises a linear-cutting end effector.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the motor control circuit further comprises a current control circuit, connected to the power source, for varying the current supplied to the motor from the power source, such that the motor has at least:

a first, low power operational mode for a first portion of a cutting stroke cycle of the surgical instrument; and

a second, high power operational mode for a second portion the cutting stroke cycle of the surgical instrument.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein:

the motor comprises at least two windings; and

the motor control circuit is for selectively connecting the at least two windings in series or in parallel.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the moveable firing member comprises at least one of a cutting instrument and a staple driver.

11. A surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising a moveable firing member;

an electric motor for actuating the firing member;

a firing trigger switch;

a motor control circuit for controlling the motor, wherein the motor control circuit comprises;

a power source comprising a negative terminal and a positive terminal, wherein the firing trigger, when actuated, closes a connection between the power source and the electric motor for providing an electric current to the electric motor;

a charge accumulator device comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the charge accumulator device is configured to be chargeable with a voltage potential across the first and second terminals; and

a switching circuit connected to the power source and the charge accumulator device, wherein the switching circuit comprises;

a first switch in series with the firing trigger switch that, when closed, provides a current path from the positive terminal of the power source to the electric motor;

a second switch that, when closed, provides a current path from the positive terminal of the power source to the first terminal of the charge accumulator device wherein when the second switch is closed, the charge accumulator device is not in series with the power source; and

a third switch that, when closed, provides a current path from the negative terminal of the power source to the second terminal of the charge accumulator device.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein when the first switch is closed, the second switch is open, and the third switch is open, the switching circuit powers the motor with the power source.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein when the first switch is closed, the second switch is open, and the third switch is closed, the switching circuit powers the motor with the power source and simultaneously charges the charge accumulator device to the voltage potential.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein when the first switch is open, the second switch is closed, and the third switch is open, the switching circuit connects the charge accumulator device to the power source in series and powers the motor with the power source and the charge accumulator device.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the charge accumulator device comprises a capacitor.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the charge accumulator device comprises an ultracapacitor.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the moveable firing member comprises at least one of a cutting instrument and a staple driver.

18. A surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising a moveable firing member;

an electric motor for actuating the firing member;

a motor control circuit for controlling the motor, wherein the motor control circuit comprises;

a power source;

a charge accumulator device; and

control means for;

in a first instance, connecting the electric motor to the power source for powering the motor with the power source;

in a second instance, connecting the electric motor to the power source for powering the motor with the power source and simultaneously connecting the charge accumulator device to the power source for charging the charge accumulator device, wherein a voltage provided to the electric motor in the second instance is substantially equal to a voltage provided to the electric motor in the first instance; and

in a third instance, connecting the charge accumulator device to the power source in series for powering the electric motor with the power source and the charge accumulator device.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the moveable firing member comprises at least one of a cutting instrument and a staple driver.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the charge accumulator device comprises at least one of a capacitor and an ultracapacitor.