Surgical instrument having a power control circuit

• US 9,687,236 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Leimbach, Richard L., Swensgard, Brett E., Schwemberger, Richard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US14/188,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20140236184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751, 2271761
• 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 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• 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 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/103 Fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A powered surgical instrument for cutting and fastening tissue comprises an end effector having first and second jaw members that move relatively between open and closed positions. A control circuit comprises a relay, a firing switch having first and second firing switch positions, and a clamp device that can take first and second states. The clamp device takes a second state when the jaw members are in the closed position such that the clamp device activates the relay. Upon activation of the relay, the firing switch is connected to provide power from a power supply to drive a drive system of the instrument when the firing switch is in a second firing switch position.

Claims

1. A powered surgical instrument for cutting and fastening tissue, the instrument comprising:

an end effector, the end effector comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member coupled to move relative to the first jaw member from an open position wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member are apart from one another to a closed position; and

a firing bar positioned to fire by translating distally within the end effector when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position;

a drive system mechanically coupled to the firing bar;

a power supply for powering the drive system; and

a control circuit, wherein the control circuit comprises;

a relay;

a firing switch having at least a first firing switch position and a second firing switch position; and

a clamp device having a first state and a second state, wherein the clamp device is configured to take the second state when the first jaw member and the second jaw member are in the closed position, wherein the clamp device is connected to activate the relay when the clamp device is in the second state, and wherein, upon activation of the relay, the firing switch is connected to provide power from the power supply to drive the drive system when the firing switch is in the second firing switch position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an end-of-stroke switch having a first end-of-stroke switch position and a second end-of-stroke switch position, wherein the end-of-stroke switch is mechanically coupled to take the second end-of-stroke switch position when the firing bar reaches an end of its stroke, and wherein the end-of-stroke switch is connected to interrupt power from the power supply to the drive system when the end-of-stroke switch is in the second end-of-stroke switch position.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a clamp actuator mechanically coupled to at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member and actuatable to lock the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the closed position.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the clamp device is mechanically coupled to the clamp actuator such that the clamp device is in the first state when the clamp actuator is unlocked and in the second state when the clamp actuator is locked.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising:

an enclosure, wherein the drive system, the power supply and the control circuit are at least partially contained within the enclosure, and wherein the enclosure defines an access opening;

an access door positioned to cover the access opening; and

a retraction lever defining a geared portion, wherein the drive system comprises a corresponding geared portion such that actuation of the retraction lever retracts the firing bar proximally.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the control circuit further comprises an access door switch mechanically coupled to the access door, wherein the access door switch has a first access door switch position when the access door is open and a second access door switch position when the access door is closed, wherein the access door switch is connected to interrupt power from the power supply to the drive system when the access door switch is in the second access door switch position.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first jaw member is shaped to receive a staple cartridge and the second jaw member defines at least one staple pocket for receiving and forming a staple.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the end effector further comprises a staple driver, and wherein the firing bar is in mechanical communication with the staple driver to push the staple driver distally upon firing.

9. A powered surgical instrument for cutting and fastening tissue, the instrument comprising:

an end effector, the end effector comprising;

a first jaw member;

a second jaw member coupled to move relative to the first jaw member from an open position wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member are apart from one another to a closed position; and

a firing bar positioned to fire by translating distally within the end effector when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position;

a drive system mechanically coupled to the firing bar;

a power supply for powering the drive system;

a control circuit;

an enclosure, wherein the drive system, the power supply, and the control circuit are at least partially contained within the enclosure, and wherein the enclosure defines an access opening;

an access door positioned to cover the access opening;

a user-actuated retraction lever to retract the firing bar proximally when actuated by a user of the surgical instrument; and

wherein the control circuit comprises;

a firing switch having a first firing switch position and a second firing switch position; and

an access door switch mechanically coupled to the access door, wherein the access door switch has a first access door switch position when the access door is open and a second access door switch position when the access door is closed, wherein the access door switch is connected to interrupt power from the power supply to the drive system when the access door switch is in the second access door switch position.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, further comprising a clamp device having a first state and a second state, wherein the clamp device is mechanically coupled to take the second state when the first jaw member and the second jaw member are in the closed position, and wherein the firing switch and the clamp device are connected to provide power from the power supply to drive the drive system when the firing switch is in the second firing switch position and when the clamp device is in the second state.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising a clamp actuator mechanically coupled to at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member and actuatable to lock the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the closed position.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the clamp device is mechanically coupled to the clamp actuator such that the clamp device is in the first state when the clamp actuator is unlocked and in the second state when the clamp actuator is locked.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 9, further comprising an end-of-stroke switch having a first end-of-stroke switch position and a second end-of-stroke switch position, wherein the end-of-stroke switch is mechanically coupled to take the second end-of-stroke switch position when the firing bar reaches an end of its stroke, and wherein the end-of-stroke switch is connected to interrupt power from the power supply to the drive system when the end-of-stroke switch is in the second end-of-stroke switch position.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the retraction lever defines a geared portion, and wherein the drive system comprises a corresponding geared portion such that actuation of the retraction lever retracts the firing bar proximally.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the drive system comprises a rack translatable distally and proximally within a handle of the surgical instrument, wherein the rack is in mechanical communication with the firing bar, and wherein the rack defines the corresponding geared portion.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the drive system further comprises a motor positioned to rotate a gear in mechanical communication with the rack.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein rotational motion of the motor and the gear in a first direction causes the rack and the firing bar to translate distally, and wherein rotational motion of the motor and the gear in a second direction causes the rack and the firing bar to translate proximally.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the first jaw member is shaped to receive a staple cartridge and the second jaw member defines at least one staple pocket for receiving and forming a staple, and wherein the firing bar is in mechanical communication with a staple driver to push the staple driver distally upon firing.