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

• US 9,241,716 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• 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:
  US14/192,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20140175148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 606/219, 606/139, 606/142, 606/167, 606/157, 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: 1/1
• 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
• 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 activateable sensor assemblies in the surgical instrument attachment.

Claims

1. A surgical system, comprising:

a handheld electromechanical driver including;

a handle portion supporting at least one actuation member;

at least one motor supported in the handle portion;

a power source supported in the handle portion and in communication with each motor;

a processor in communication with the power source;

an elongate drive shaft portion extending from the handle portion;

at least one torque transmitting shaft rotatably disposed within the elongate drive shaft portion and being operatively connected to a respective motor; and

an interchangeable surgical attachment assembly selectively connectable to a distal end of the elongate drive shaft portion of the electromechanical driver, the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly including;

a first jaw including an anvil;

a second jaw coupled to the first jaw, the second jaw including a unitary blade and staple driver component and being coupleable to a distal end of a respective one of the at least one torque transmitting shaft, wherein the first and second jaws are movable relative to one another, upon a rotation of the respective one of the at least one torque transmitting shaft, so as to staple a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws; and

a memory unit configured to store identification information and status information of the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly, wherein the identification information includes at least one of size, diameter, shape, length, and stapling arrangement of the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly, and wherein the status information includes at least one of functionality and usage history of the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly;

wherein the memory unit of the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly is in communication with the processor of the handheld electromechanical driver.

2. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the communications is wireless.

3. The surgical system according to claim 2, wherein the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly includes a sensor assembly capable of sensing and transmitting data corresponding to at least one of a condition of the section of tissue and an interaction between the section of tissue and the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly.

4. The surgical system according to claim 3, wherein the processor of the handheld electromechanical driver is capable of receiving the data of the sensor assembly and controlling the handheld electromechanical driver in correspondence with the data of the sensor assembly.

5. The surgical system according to claim 4, wherein the sensor assembly is activated upon, and is capable of, receiving an activation signal transmitted by the processor of the handheld electromechanical driver.

6. The surgical system according to claim 5, wherein the handheld electromechanical driver further comprises an alert element in communication with the processor and capable of communicating at least one of an aspect of the data received by the processor and an aspect of the processor'"'"'s control of the handheld electromechanical driver.

7. The surgical system according to claim 3, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a tissue proximity detector.

8. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is capable of preventing activation of the handheld electromechanical driver.

9. The surgical system according to claim 1, wherein the unitary blade and staple driver component are formed as a single element having two concentric cylindrical portions.

10. An interchangeable surgical attachment assembly for use in a surgical system to staple a section of tissue, wherein the surgical system includes at least one torque transmitting shaft, the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly comprising:

a first jaw including an anvil;

a second jaw coupled to the first jaw, the second jaw including a unitary blade and staple driver component and being coupleable to a distal end of a respective one of the at least one torque transmitting shaft, wherein the first and second jaws are movable relative to one another, upon a rotation of the respective one of the at least one torque transmitting shaft, so as to staple a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws; and

a memory unit configured to store identification information and status information of the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly, wherein the identification information includes at least one of size, diameter, shape, length, and stapling arrangement of the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly, and wherein the status information includes at least one of functionality and usage history of the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly;

wherein the memory unit of the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly is in communication with a processor of the surgical system.

11. The interchangeable surgical attachment assembly according to claim 10, wherein the communication is wireless.

12. The interchangeable surgical attachment assembly according to claim 11, wherein the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly includes a sensor assembly capable of sensing and transmitting data corresponding to at least one of a condition of the section of tissue and an interaction between the section of tissue and the interchangeable surgical attachment assembly.

13. The interchangeable surgical attachment assembly according to claim 12, wherein the processor of the surgical system is capable of receiving the data of the sensor assembly and controlling an electromechanical driver in correspondence with the data of the sensor assembly.

14. The interchangeable surgical attachment assembly according to claim 13, wherein the sensor assembly is activated upon, and is capable of, receiving an activation signal transmitted by the processor of the surgical system.

15. The interchangeable surgical attachment assembly according to claim 14, further comprising an alert element in communication with the processor of the surgical system and capable of communicating at least one of an aspect of the data received by the processor of the surgical system and an aspect of the processor'"'"'s control of the electromechanical driver.

16. The interchangeable surgical attachment assembly according to claim 12, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a tissue proximity detector.

17. The interchangeable surgical attachment assembly according to claim 10, wherein the unitary blade and staple driver component are formed as a single element having two concentric cylindrical portions.

18. A surgical system, comprising:

a handheld electromechanical driver including;

a handle portion supporting at least one actuation member;

at least one motor supported in the handle portion;

a power source supported in the handle portion and in communication with each motor;

a processor in communication with the power source;

an elongate drive shaft portion extending from the handle portion;

at least one torque transmitting shaft rotatably disposed within the elongate drive shaft portion and being operatively connected to a respective motor; and

an interchangeable surgical attachment assembly according to claim 13.

19. The surgical system according to claim 18, wherein the processor is capable of preventing activation of the electromechanical driver.

20. The surgical system according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the communications is wireless.

21. The surgical system according to claim 20, wherein the handheld electromechanical driver includes the processor.