Surgical cutting and fastening instrument including a sensing system

• US 10,470,763 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2015
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Yates, David C., Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Giordano, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael F
• Application Number:
  US14/668,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20150196348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,693 Days
• 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 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3205 Excision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• 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 2017/00398 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 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A surgical instrument system comprising an end effector, a staple cartridge, a cutting member, an electric motor, a sensing system, and a control system is disclosed. The end effector comprises a proximal portion, a distal end, a first iaw, and a second iaw movable relative to the first iaw to clamp tissue between the first and second iaw. The cutting member is configured to move within a longitudinal channel of the staple cartridge. The electric motor is couplable to the cutting member and configured to drive the cutting member. The sensing system comprises a plurality of sensing circuits. Each sensing circuit comprises first and second sensing elements positioned adjacent the longitudinal channel. The control system is configured to determine impedances of the tissue at multiple locations along a staple line as the cutting member progresses distally within the longitudinal channel and automatically control a speed of the electric motor.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a proximal portion;

a distal end;

a first jaw; and

a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw to clamp tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw;

a staple cartridge comprising a longitudinal channel;

a cutting member configured to move within the longitudinal channel from the proximal portion toward the distal end;

an electric motor couplable to the cutting member and configured to drive the cutting member within the longitudinal channel;

a sensing system comprising a plurality of sensing circuits, wherein each sensing circuit comprises first and second sensing elements positioned adjacent the longitudinal channel; and

a control system electrically couplable to the electric motor and the sensing system, wherein the control system is configured to;

determine impedances of the tissue at multiple locations along a staple line as the cutting member progresses distally within the longitudinal channel; and

automatically control a speed of the electric motor.

2. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein the first sensing element and the second sensing element are positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal channel.

3. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, wherein the sensing system further comprises a single-input, multiple-output device, and wherein the single-input, multiple-output device comprises a portion of each sensing circuit.

4. The surgical instrument system of claim 3, wherein the control system comprises a controller electrically coupled to the single-input, multiple-output device.

5. The surgical instrument system of claim 1, further comprising a battery electrically couplable to the electric motor.

6. A surgical instrument system, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a proximal portion;

a distal end;

a first jaw; and

a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw to clamp tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw;

a staple cartridge comprising a longitudinal channel;

a cutting member configured to move within the longitudinal channel from the proximal portion toward the distal end;

an electric motor coupled to the cutting member, wherein the electric motor is configured to move the cutting member within the longitudinal channel toward the distal end of the end effector;

a sensing system comprising a plurality of sensing circuits, wherein each sensing circuit comprises a pair of sensing elements positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal channel; and

a control system in communication with the electric motor and the sensing system, wherein the control system is configured to;

determine impedances of the tissue at multiple locations along a staple line as the cutting member moves distally within the longitudinal channel; and

automatically control a speed of the electric motor.

7. The surgical instrument system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the pairs of sensing elements comprises a first sensing element and a second sensing element positioned adjacent the longitudinal channel.

8. The surgical instrument system of claim 7, wherein the first sensing element and the second sensing element are positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal channel.

9. The surgical instrument system of claim 6, wherein the sensing system further comprises a single-input, multiple-output device, and wherein the single-input, multiple-output device comprises a portion of each sensing circuit.

10. The surgical instrument system of claim 9, wherein the control system comprises a controller electrically coupled to the single-input, multiple-output device.