Active braking electrical surgical instrument and method for braking such an instrument
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a surgical end effector;
at least one actuator mechanically coupled to the end effector for actuating the end effector;
a handle;
mechanically coupled to the end effector; and
having an electric motor disposed therein and operable to actuate the at least one actuator when the motor is supplied with power;
a post-termination braking circuit including a power supply switch at the handle, the power supply switch having;
a break-before-make switch configuration;
a power-supplying state in which power is supplied to the motor; and
a power-removed state in which power is not supplied to the motor,the post-termination braking circuit operable to short-circuit the power supplied to the motor when the power supply switch is in the power-removed state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes an end effector, an actuator coupled to the end effector and actuating it, a handle coupled to the end effector and having an electric motor disposed therein actuating the actuator when supplied with power, and a post-termination braking circuit including a power supply switch at the handle. The switch has a break-before-make configuration, a power-supplying state in which power is supplied to the motor, and a power-removed state in which power is not supplied to the motor. The braking circuit short-circuits power to the motor when the switch is in the power-removed state. A method for post-termination braking of the motor utilizes the permanent magnetic field to counteract inertia-induced over-stroke of the motor, drive train, and/or actuation assembly after powered operation by short-circuiting the still-spinning motor to create an electrically generated magnetic field in opposition to the permanent magnetic field upon ceasing supply of power.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a surgical end effector; at least one actuator mechanically coupled to the end effector for actuating the end effector; a handle; mechanically coupled to the end effector; and having an electric motor disposed therein and operable to actuate the at least one actuator when the motor is supplied with power; a post-termination braking circuit including a power supply switch at the handle, the power supply switch having; a break-before-make switch configuration; a power-supplying state in which power is supplied to the motor; and a power-removed state in which power is not supplied to the motor, the post-termination braking circuit operable to short-circuit the power supplied to the motor when the power supply switch is in the power-removed state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for post-termination braking of an electrical motor in an electrically powered surgical instrument, which comprises:
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coupling a surgical end effector to a handle, the end effector having at least one actuator to effect a surgical procedure, and the handle having an electric motor disposed therein; mechanically coupling the motor to the at least one actuator; actuating the at least one actuator by selectively supplying the motor with power with a break-before-make power supply switch of a post-termination braking circuit, the power supply switch having an off state that ceases supply of power to the motor; and upon ceasing supply of power to the motor, short-circuiting power terminals of the still-spinning motor with the off state of the power supply switch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification