Articulatable surgical instruments with conductive pathways

• US 10,285,695 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Jaworek, Gary S., Koch, Jr., Robert L., Auld, Michael D., Kimsey, John S., Baber, Daniel L., Leimbach, Richard L., Ulrich, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desai, Hemant
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imam, Tanzim
• Application Number:
  US15/274,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20170007255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00123 and automatic shutdown
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• 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 for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• 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 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• 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 2090/064 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• 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 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A surgical instrument system comprising a housing, a shaft assembly, and an end effector is disclosed. The housing comprises a plurality of electric motors. The shaft assembly comprises a plurality of rotatable shafts. The electric motors are simultaneously coupled to the rotatable shafts as the shaft assembly is connected to the housing. The shaft assembly further comprises an articulation joint including an electrically conductive articulation joint conductor that traverses the articulation joint, an electrically conductive shaft conductor in communication with the articulation joint conductor, and a distal coupler. The end effector is releasably connectable to the distal coupler and comprises an electrically conductive end effector conductor. The distal coupler comprises an electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor. The distal coupler comprises a lock configured to releasably lock the end effector to the distal coupler and form the electrically conductive coupler pathway.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly comprising a plurality of electric motors;

a shaft module releasably connected to the handle assembly, wherein the shaft module comprises;

a plurality of rotatable shaft members corresponding to the plurality of electric motors, wherein each electric motor is coupled to a separate rotatable shaft member, and wherein at least two of the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to corresponding rotatable shaft members as the shaft module is connected to the handle assembly; and

an articulation joint;

at least one electrical shaft conductor positioned within the shaft module;

an end effector connected to the shaft module;

a coupler assembly configured to be detachably coupled to the end effector and form an electrically conductive coupler pathway from an end effector conductor in the end effector to the articulation joint;

an articulation joint conductor contacting the electrically conductive coupler pathway and traversing the articulation joint to contact the at least one electrical shaft conductor to form an electrically-conductive path therebetween, wherein the coupler assembly comprises a locking assembly configured to releasably lock the end effector to the coupler assembly, and wherein the locking assembly forms the electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor;

a battery positionable within the handle assembly and configured to supply power to the electric motors; and

a control system positioned within the handle assembly and configured to control operation of the electric motors.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly is slidingly engaged with the shaft module.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the handle assembly and the shaft module collectively define a slide axis.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein:

the handle assembly further comprises a motor mount;

the electric motors comprise corresponding motor shafts positioned in the handle assembly, wherein the motor shafts are parallel to the slide axis; and

the motor shafts are supported by the motor mount.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rotatable shaft members comprises:

a first rotatable shaft member configured to articulate the shaft module; and

a second rotatable shaft member configured to rotate the shaft module.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector is rotatable.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to operate multiple of the rotatable shaft members concurrently.

8. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a handle assembly comprising;

a plurality of electric motors;

a battery configured to supply power to the electric motors; and

a control system configured to control operation of the electric motors;

a shaft assembly detachably connected to the handle assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises a plurality of rotatable shaft members corresponding to the plurality of electric motors, wherein each electric motor is coupled to a different rotatable shaft member, and wherein at least two of the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to corresponding rotatable shaft members as the shaft assembly is connected to the handle assembly;

at least one electrical shaft conductor positioned within the shaft assembly;

an articulation joint;

a rotatable end effector connected to the shaft assembly;

a coupler assembly configured to be detachably coupled to the rotatable end effector and form an electrically conductive coupler pathway from an end effector conductor in the rotatable end effector to the articulation joint; and

an articulation joint conductor contacting the electrically conductive coupler pathway and traversing the articulation joint to contact the at least one electrical shaft conductor to form an electrically-conductive path therebetween, wherein the coupler assembly comprises a locking assembly configured to releasably lock the rotatable end effector to the coupler assembly, and wherein the locking assembly forms the electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the handle assembly is slidingly engaged with the shaft assembly.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein:

the handle assembly further comprises a motor mount;

the electric motors comprise corresponding motor shafts which are parallel to a slide axis collectively defined by the handle assembly and the shaft assembly; and

the motor shafts are supported by the motor mount.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the plurality of rotatable shaft members comprises:

a first rotatable shaft member configured to articulate the shaft assembly; and

a second rotatable shaft member configured to rotate the shaft assembly.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the control system is further configured to operate multiple of the rotatable shaft members concurrently.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the shaft assembly is articulable.

14. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a plurality of electric motors;

a modular shaft assembly comprising a plurality of rotatable shaft members releasably coupled to the plurality of electric motors, wherein each electric motor is coupled to a different rotatable shaft member, and wherein at least two of the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to corresponding rotatable shaft members as the plurality of electric motors are coupled to the plurality of rotatable shaft members;

at least one electrical shaft conductor positioned within the modular shaft assembly;

an articulation joint;

an end effector connected to the modular shaft assembly;

a coupler assembly configured to be detachably coupled to the end effector and form an electrically conductive coupler pathway from an end effector conductor in the end effector to the articulation joint;

an articulation joint conductor contacting the electrically conductive coupler pathway and traversing the articulation joint to contact the at least one electrical shaft conductor in the modular shaft assembly to form an electrically-conductive path therebetween, wherein the coupler assembly comprises a locking assembly configured to releasably lock the end effector to the coupler assembly, and wherein the locking assembly forms the electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor;

a power source configured to supply power to the electric motors; and

a control system positioned within the surgical instrument and configured to control operation of the electric motors.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the plurality of rotatable shaft members comprises:

a first rotatable shaft member configured to articulate the modular shaft assembly; and

a second rotatable shaft member configured to rotate the modular shaft assembly.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the power source comprises a battery positioned within the surgical instrument.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the control system is further configured to operate at least two of the rotatable shaft members concurrently.

18. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

a housing comprising a plurality of electric motors;

a shaft assembly releasably connectable to the housing, wherein the shaft assembly comprises;

a plurality of rotatable shafts, wherein each electric motor is couplable to a corresponding rotatable shaft, and wherein the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to the rotatable shafts as the shaft assembly is connected to the housing;

an articulation joint comprising an electrically conductive articulation joint conductor that traverses the articulation joint;

an electrically conductive shaft conductor in communication with the articulation joint conductor; and

a distal coupler; and

an end effector releasably connectable to the distal coupler, wherein the end effector comprises an electrically conductive end effector conductor, wherein the distal coupler comprises an electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor in the end effector to the articulation joint conductor, wherein the distal coupler comprises a lock configured to releasably lock the end effector to the distal coupler, and wherein the lock forms the electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor.

19. The surgical instrument system of claim 18, wherein the housing comprises a handle.

20. The surgical instrument system of claim 19, further comprising a battery configured to supply power to the electric motors.

21. The surgical instrument system of claim 20, further comprising a control system configured to control operation of the electric motors.