Surgical instrument system

• US 9,113,874 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2014
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Giordano, James R., Swayze, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US14/312,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20140299649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 227/175.1, 227/19
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• 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 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00424 ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• 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 2017/2946 Locking means
• 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 2090/0811 : 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 34/76 : Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 : Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags

Abstract

A surgical instrument system is disclosed including a surgical instrument and a remote user-controlled actuation console for controlling the surgical instrument.

Claims

1. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising an anvil with staple forming features thereon, a housing frame generally opposed to the anvil to hold a cartridge, a replaceable cartridge holding staples that can be urged out of the cartridge with a distal actuation of a deploying wedge, and at least one sensor;

an elongated shaft, said shaft having a motor therein that is operably coupled to an actuation mechanism, said shaft having at least one articulation joint for positioning the cartridge at an angle not parallel to a longitudinal axis of said shaft;

an electrically coupled remote user-controllable actuation console; and

a linear drive motion converter to convert rotary motion from said motor to linear motion.

2. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1 wherein said elongated shaft further comprises a closure element configured to reciprocate relative to said end effector in response to closing and opening motions applied thereto.

3. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 2 wherein said closure element is configured to move said anvil to a closed position when said closure element is driven in a distal direction and to move said anvil to an open position when said closure element is driven in a proximal direction.

4. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 2 wherein said closing and opening motions are applied to said closure element by manual manipulation of a closure actuator interfacing with said closure element.

5. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1 further comprising a firing element configured for longitudinal travel through said end effector in response to an application of linear drive motions from said linear drive motion converter.

6. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 5 wherein said firing element comprises a tissue cutting surface.

7. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1 wherein said linear drive motion converter comprises:

a rotary drive shaft operably interfacing with said motor; and

a driver element in threaded engagement with said rotary drive shaft, said driver element supported for reciprocatable travel through said cartridge in response to rotation of said rotary drive shaft.

8. The surgical cutting and fastening instrument of claim 1 wherein said motor is battery powered.

9. A surgical instrument comprising:

a surgical end effector comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw, wherein said first and second jaws are supported relative to each other such that one of said first and second jaws is movable between open and closed positions relative to the other of said first and second jaws in response to opening and closing motions applied thereto; and

a driver element supported for axial travel through the surgical end effector in response to firing motions applied thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises;

a motor powered firing element configured to apply said firing motions to said driver element;

a remotely user-controlled console electrically coupled to said surgical instrument; and

a reciprocatable closure element configured to apply said opening and closing motions to said one of said first and second jaws.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 wherein said closure element is configured to move said one of said first and second jaws to a closed position when said closure element is driven in a distal direction and to move said one of said first and second jaws to an open position when said closure element is driven in a proximal direction.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein said closure element is controlled through manual manipulation of a closure actuator interfacing with said closure element.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein said other of said first and second jaws is configured to support a surgical staple cartridge.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said driver element comprises a tissue cutting surface.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13 wherein said firing element comprises a rotary drive shaft in threaded engagement with said driver element.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 10 wherein said closure element comprises a hollow tubular shaft configured to interface with said one of said first and second jaws.

16. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:

an end effector comprising an anvil with staple forming features thereon, a housing frame generally opposed to the anvil to hold a cartridge, a replaceable cartridge holding staples that can be urged out the cartridge with a distal actuation of a deploying wedge, and at least one sensor;

an elongated shaft coupled to said housing frame, said elongated shaft comprising;

a rotary drive shaft operably interfacing with said deploying wedge such that rotation of said rotary drive shaft in a first rotary direction causes said deploying wedge to move longitudinally in a distal direction and rotation of said rotary drive shaft in a second rotary direction causes said deploying wedge to move longitudinally in a proximal direction; and

a reciprocatable closure element and wherein said surgical cutting and fastening instrument further comprises;

a motor operably coupled to said rotary drive shaft; and

a remote user-controllable actuation console electrically coupled to said motor.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said deploying wedge comprises a tissue cutting surface.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said reciprocatable closure member comprises a tubular structure that is substantially coextensive with said rotary drive shaft and longitudinally movable relative thereto.

19. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

an anvil;

a cartridge including staples that can be ejected out of said cartridge with a distal actuation of a firing member; and

at least one sensor;

an assembly, comprising;

an elongate shaft including a longitudinal axis;

a motor; and

an articulation joint for positioning said cartridge at an angle to said longitudinal axis of said elongate shaft;

a remote user-controllable actuation console electrically coupled to said motor; and

a motion converter configured to convert a rotary drive motion produced by said motor to a linear drive motion.

20. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a first jaw;

a second jaw, wherein one of said first and second jaws is movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the other of said first and second jaws in response to a closing motion; and

a driver element supported for axial travel through said end effector in response to a firing motion;

a motor-powered firing element configured to apply the firing motion to said driver element; and

a remote user-controlled console electrically coupled to said motor.

21. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a firing member;

an end effector, comprising;

an anvil;

a cartridge comprising staples that can be urged out of said staple cartridge by said firing member; and

at least one sensor;

an elongate shaft, comprising;

a drive shaft operably interfacing with said firing member such that rotation of said drive shaft in a first rotary direction causes said firing member to move longitudinally in a distal direction and rotation of said drive shaft in a second rotary direction causes said firing member to move longitudinally in a proximal direction; and

a closure member configured to close said end effector;

a motor operably coupled to said drive shaft; and

a remote user-controlled actuation console electrically coupled to said motor.