Electromechanical surgical device with signal relay arrangement

• US 9,358,003 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hall, Steven G., Baber, Daniel L., Leimbach, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancho, Ronnie
• Application Number:
  US13/782,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20140246474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 700/251, 700/250, 700/245, 700/258, 227/175.1, 227/156, 606/130
• 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 17/072 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• 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 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00075 Motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00123 and automatic shutdown
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• 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 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00327 with actuating members moving in opposite directions
• 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 2017/00393 : with means for switching between functions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 : using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 : with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• 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 2017/00477 : Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 : with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0069 : with universal joint, cardan joint
• 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 2017/2903 : transferring rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 : Pistol grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 : for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 : with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 : node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 : additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 : additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 : with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320097 : with stapling means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 : Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 : Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/742 : Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/033 : Abutting means, stops, e.g. abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 : abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• 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 34/74 : Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 : Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 : with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04796 : for rectilinear control along the axis of the controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A surgical instrument configured to relay a low-power signal from an end effector to a remote device is disclosed. The surgical instrument may comprise a handle, a shaft extending distally from the handle, and an end effector attached to the distal end of the shaft. A sensor may be disposed in the end effector. The sensor may generate a signal indicative of a condition at the end effector. A transmitter may be located in the end effector. The transmitter may transmit the signal from the sensor at a first power level. The signal may be received by a relay station located proximally to the shaft. The relay station is configured to retransmit the signal at a second power level, wherein the second power level is higher than the first power level.

Claims

1. A handheld surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector;

a shaft extending proximally from the end effector;

a handle located proximal to the shaft;

a sensor disposed in the end effector configured to generate a first signal indicative of a condition at the end effector;

a transmitter communicatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the first signal at a first power level suitable for wireless transmission within a distance defined by the handheld surgical instrument;

a relay station located intermediate the end effector and a proximal portion of the handle, wherein the relay station is configured to;

receive the first signal from the transmitter, convert the first signal to a second signal indicative of the condition at the end effector, and

transmit the second signal at a second power level to a remote system, wherein the second power level is suitable for transmission over a distance greater than the first power level.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises an antenna configured to transmit the first signal at a first frequency and at the first power level.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the relay station transmits the second signal at a second frequency.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the first and second frequencies are different.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the relay station comprises a memory module configured to store a plurality of frequencies, wherein the second frequency is selected from the plurality of stored frequencies.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the first frequency is a human-tissue permeable frequency.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the first frequency is 2.4 GHz.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the relay station comprises a transceiver.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the relay station comprises a receiver comprising a first antenna and a transmitter comprising a second antenna.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an analog to digital converter, wherein the first signal is generated as an analog signal, wherein the first signal is converted into a digital signal by the analog to digital converter prior to transmission of the first signal.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first signal is transmitted using a first communication protocol and the second signal is transmitted using a second communication protocol.

12. A surgical relay station in a handheld surgical instrument for relaying a signal to a remote location during surgery, the surgical relay station comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a signal from a sensor located in an end effector of the handheld surgical instrument, wherein the signal is transmitted at a first power level suitable for wireless transmission within a distance defined by the handheld surgical instrument;

an amplifier configured to increase a transmission power of the signal from the first power level to a second power level;

a transmitter configured to transmit the signal at the second power level to the remote location, wherein the second power level is suitable for transmission over a distance to the remote location, and wherein the distance to the remote location is greater than the distance defined by the handheld surgical instrument.

13. The surgical relay station of claim 12, comprising:

a processing module configured to convert the signal from a first frequency to a second frequency, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the signal at the second frequency.

14. The surgical relay station of claim 13, wherein the first frequency comprises a frequency outside of a water absorption band.

15. The surgical relay station of claim 13, wherein the signal comprises a digital signal.

16. The surgical relay station of claim 13, comprising:

a memory module configured to store a plurality of frequencies, wherein the second frequency is selected from the plurality of frequencies.

17. A method for relaying a surgical sensor signal, the method comprising:

generating, by a sensor, a first signal indicative of a condition at a surgical end effector of a handheld surgical instrument;

transmitting, by a transmitter, the first signal at a first power level suitable for wireless transmission within a distance defined by the handheld surgical instrument;

receiving, by a relay station located in the handheld surgical instrument, the first signal;

converting, by the relay station, the first signal to a second signal, wherein the second signal is indicative of the condition at the surgical end effector;

transmitting, by the relay station, the second signal at a second power level, wherein the second power level is suitable for transmission over a distance greater than the first power level.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first signal comprises a first frequency and the second signal comprises a second frequency.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first signal comprises a first communication protocol and the second signal comprises a second communication protocol.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising:

receiving, by a monitoring device, the second signal.