Surgical devices having controlled tissue cutting and sealing

• US 9,802,033 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hibner, John, Yates, David C., Strobl, Geoffrey S., Houser, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): DELLA, JAYMI E
• Application Number:
  US14/166,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20150209573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00696 Controlled or regulated parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00922 by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly within the hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1452 including means for cutting A61B2018/146 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• 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 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 : Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 : Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00

Abstract

Various surgical devices and methods are provided for monitoring and regulating tissue compression and cutting to improve tissue effect. In general, these devices include a handle portion, an elongate shaft, and an effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft and configured to engage tissue. In one embodiment, one or more sensors can be positioned at various locations on the device and can determine a force applied to tissue engaged by the end effector. When the force exceeds a threshold, a notification signal can be issued to a user. In another embodiment, a sensor can determine an amount of current moving between jaws of the end effector and a controller can slow a speed of the cutting element when the sensed current exceeds a threshold amount.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a proximal handle portion that includes a motor;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the proximal handle portion;

an end effector having first and second jaws pivotably coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the first and second jaws including first and second electrodes configured to apply energy to a tissue disposed therebetween;

an actuator configured to receive an input of pressure from a user that causes the motor to provide power to advance a cutting element;

a sensor configured to sense current moving between the first and second electrodes; and

a controller configured to slow a speed of the cutting element in response to the sensed current exceeding a threshold amount, and the controller is configured to increase the speed of the cutting element in response to the sensed current being less than the threshold amount.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to control opening and closing of the first and second jaws.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to determine a relative position of the first and second jaws.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to apply RF energy to the tissue disposed therebetween.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to slow the speed of the cutting element only when the sensed current exceeds the threshold amount.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to slow the speed of the cutting element by causing a speed of the motor to decrease.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a speed sensor configured to sense the speed of the motor, wherein the controller is configured to cause the speed of the motor to decrease until the speed sensor senses the speed of the motor reaching a desired speed corresponding to a desired speed of the cutting element.

5. A surgical method, comprising:

engaging a tissue between first and second jaws of an end effector of a surgical device;

applying electrical energy to a portion of the tissue positioned between the end effector; and

causing a motor of the surgical device to supply power to a cutting element of the surgical device such that the cutting element advances through the tissue so as to cut the tissue; and

when the cutting element is advancing through the tissue, sensing an amount of the applied electrical energy traveling through the portion of tissue engaged by the end effector and generating a control signal in response to the sensed amount of the applied electrical energy that changes an amount of the power supplied to the motor between different non-zero levels of power so as to adjust a speed of the cutting element.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein sensing the amount of the applied electrical energy includes a sensor attached to the surgical device sensing the amount.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein sensing the amount of the applied electrical energy includes measuring an amount of current drawn from a generator of the surgical device that is operatively coupled to the motor.

11. A surgical device, comprising:

a proximal handle portion that includes a motor;

an elongate shaft extending distally from the proximal handle portion;

an end effector having first and second jaws pivotably coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, the first and second jaws including first and second electrodes configured to apply energy to a tissue disposed therebetween;

an actuator configured to receive an input of pressure from a user that causes the motor to provide power to advance a cutting element;

a sensor configured to sense current moving between the first and second electrodes;

a controller configured to slow a speed of the cutting element in response to the sensed current exceeding a threshold amount by causing a speed of the motor to decrease; and

a speed sensor configured to sense the speed of the motor, wherein the controller is configured to cause the speed of the motor to decrease until the speed sensor senses the speed of the motor reaching a desired speed corresponding to a desired speed of the cutting element.