Hand held surgical device for manipulating an internal magnet assembly within a patient

• US 9,883,910 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Eticon Endo-Surgery LLC
• Inventors: Conlon, Sean P., Moreno, Victor C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANNU, JOSHUA DARYL DEANON
• Application Number:
  US14/712,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20150374444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/731 Arrangement of the coils or magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/733 arranged only on one side of the patient, e.g. under a table
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0223 Magnetic field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/73 Manipulators for magnetic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/13 guided by light, e.g. laser pointers

Abstract

A device for manipulating a magnetic coupling force across tissue in response to a monitored coupling force is described. The device includes a magnetic field source assembly, a positioning assembly operatively connected to the magnetic field force assembly, and a magnetic coupling force monitor. The magnetic field source assembly includes magnets that provide an external magnetic field source for providing a magnetic field across tissue. The positioning assembly adjusts the position of the magnetic field source. The magnetic field creates a magnetic coupling force between the external magnetic field source and an object positioned in use in a patient during a procedure, wherein the object has or is associated with an internal magnetic field.

Claims

1. A device for manipulating a magnetic coupling force across tissue comprising:

a magnetic field source assembly comprising a first magnetic field source for providing, in use, a magnetic field across tissue, the first magnetic field source providing a magnetic coupling force between the first magnetic field source and an object providing a second magnetic field source, wherein the magnetic field source assembly further comprises;

a magnet housing, and a magnet support,

wherein the first magnetic field source comprises at least one magnet, the at least one magnet being held by the magnet support and suspended within the magnet housing;

a positioning assembly operatively connected to the magnetic field source assembly for adjusting a position of the first magnetic field source, the positioning assembly comprising;

a driver for adjusting a position of the magnetic field source assembly, and an actuator for moving the driver,

wherein the actuator further comprises a gear set operatively connected to the driver and a motor operatively connected to the gear set for motorized control of the driver;

a magnetic coupling force monitor;

an outer housing comprising a cover and containing at least the magnetic field source assembly, wherein the outer housing is configured to allow positional adjustment of the magnetic field source assembly within the outer housing; and

a pressure transducer positioned beneath the cover and operatively connected to the cover by one or more suspension springs.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the motor is positioned beside the magnet housing.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the gear set comprises a pinion gear and a ring gear.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer housing comprises a cut-out portion configured to receive the cover.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a programmable controller configured to analyze a magnetic force signal generated by the magnetic coupling force monitor.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the one or more suspension springs are electrically coupled to the pressure transducer.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the pressure transducer is configured to produce a pressure signal depending at least in part on a load induced on the cover.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the programmable controller is further configured to analyze the pressure signal and adjust the magnetic force signal according to the analyzed pressure signal.

9. A device for manipulating a magnetic coupling force across tissue comprising:

a magnetic field source assembly, comprising;

a first magnetic field source for providing, in use, a first magnetic field across tissue, the magnetic field providing a magnetic coupling force between the first magnetic field source and an object providing a second magnetic field source;

a magnet housing; and

a magnet support,

wherein the first magnetic field source comprises at least one magnet, the at least one magnet being held by the magnet support and suspended within the magnet housing;

a positioning assembly operatively connected to the magnetic field source assembly for adjusting a position of the first magnetic field source, the positioning assembly having a driver for adjusting a position of the magnetic field source assembly and an actuator for moving the driver; and

a magnetic coupling force monitor.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the actuator is a manually controllable actuator operatively connected to the driver and having a rotatable knob mounted on a proximal end of the driver which, when turned, rotates the driver to adjust a position of the magnet housing to adjust the magnetic coupling force in response to the second magnetic field source.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the actuator further comprises a gear set operatively connected to the driver and a motor operatively connected to the gear set for motorized control of the driver.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the magnetic coupling force monitor comprises a sensor positioned at a distal end of the magnet support on which the magnet support rests, the sensor being calibrated to sense any change in a force exerted on the sensor, and a communication circuit from the sensor to the motor to control an operation of the motor in response to the sensed changes in the force exerted on the sensor.

13. A method for manipulating a magnetic coupling force across tissue comprising:

providing a magnetic field source assembly having a magnet housing, a magnet support, and a first magnetic field source, wherein the first magnetic field source comprises at least one magnet;

suspending the at least one magnet by the magnet support within the magnet housing;

providing, by the first magnetic field source, a magnetic coupling force between the first magnetic field source and an object comprising a second magnetic field source;

adjusting a position of the first magnetic field source by a positioning assembly operatively connected to the magnetic field source assembly, wherein the positioning assembly comprises a driver for adjusting a position of the magnetic field source assembly and an actuator for moving the driver;

coupling a first magnetic field of the first magnetic field source with the object providing a second magnetic field; and

monitoring the magnetic coupling force.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the position of the first magnetic field source comprises manually rotating a rotatable knob mounted on a proximal end of the driver which, when turned, rotates the driver to adjust a position of the magnet housing thereby adjusting the magnetic coupling force in response to a value of the monitored magnetic coupling force.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the position of the first magnetic field source comprises controlling the driver by a gear set in operative connection to a motor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising preventing a travel of the driver outside of predetermined limits by a fail-safe mechanism.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein preventing the travel of the driver outside of the predetermined limits comprises:

transmitting a beam of light across a channel of an optical sensor by a light source located on a first side of the channel;

detecting a presence or absence of the beam of light by a receiver on a second and opposing side of the channel;

providing a light blocking member operatively connected to the magnetic field source assembly and configured to pass through the channel; and

signaling the presence or absence of the beam of light detected by the receiver to the motor to stop the motor when the beam of light is blocked by the light blocking member.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein preventing the travel of the driver outside of the predetermined limits comprises signaling the motor to stop by one or more trip switches when the driver travels outside of the predetermined limits.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein monitoring the magnetic coupling force comprises:

positioning a sensor at a distal end of the magnet support on which the magnet support rests;

calibrating the sensor to sense any change in a force exerted on the sensor;

communicating, by the sensor, changes in the force exerted on the sensor to the motor; and

controlling an operation of the motor in response to the sensed changes in the force exerted on the sensor.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein monitoring the magnetic coupling force comprises:

positioning a transducer adjacent to a floor of the magnet housing;

measuring, by the transducer, changes in the magnetic coupling force between the at least one magnet and the object;

transmitting, by the transducer, signals representative of a measured change in the magnetic coupling force to a control unit;

converting the signals representative of the measured change in the magnetic coupling force to output signals; and

adjusting the position of the magnet housing by the motor, based at least in part on the output signals, until a predetermined magnetic coupling force is measured by the transducer.