Motorized surgical instrument

• US 10,485,537 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Yates, David C., Huitema, Thomas W., Shelton, IV, Frederick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Szpira, Julie A
• Application Number:
  US15/274,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20170007237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• 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 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, a firing member configured to move longitudinally within the end effector, a drive system coupled to the firing member, an electric motor configured to drive the drive system, a battery, and a control circuit coupled to the electric motor is disclosed. The control circuit comprises a first switching device and a second switching device. The control circuit is configured to deliver a maximum voltage from the battery to the electric motor to apply a first torque to the drive system and selectively deliver an increased voltage to the electric motor to apply a second torque to the drive system. The second torque is greater than the first torque. The increased voltage is greater than the maximum voltage from the battery.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector;

a firing member configured to move longitudinally within the end effector;

a drive system coupled to the firing member;

an electric motor configured to drive the drive system;

a battery; and

a control circuit coupled to the electric motor, wherein the control circuit comprises a first switching device and a second switching device, and wherein the control circuit is configured to;

deliver a maximum voltage from the battery to the electric motor to apply a first torque to the drive system; and

selectively deliver an increased voltage to the electric motor to apply a second torque to the drive system, wherein the second torque is greater than the first torque, and wherein the increased voltage is greater than the maximum voltage from the battery.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises:

a first jaw; and

a second jaw movably coupled to the first jaw.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the first jaw is configured to support a staple cartridge.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the firing member comprises a cutting member.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the battery comprises at least one of the following:

a replaceable battery; and

a rechargeable battery.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises a charge accumulator device selectively couplable to the electric motor.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the charge accumulator device comprises a capacitor.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a replaceable staple cartridge supported by the end effector.

9. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector;

a firing system;

an electric motor coupled to the firing system;

a battery coupled to the electric motor;

a charge accumulator device selectively couplable to the electric motor; and

a control circuit coupled to the electric motor, wherein the control circuit comprises a first switching device and a second switching device, and wherein the control circuit is configured to;

selectively combine a first maximum potential from the battery with a second potential from the charge accumulator device to establish a third potential which is greater than the first maximum potential from the battery; and

apply the third potential to the electric motor to increase an output torque of the electric motor.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the end effector comprises an articulable end effector.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the firing system comprises a firing member configured to move longitudinally within the end effector.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the firing member comprises a cutting member.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the battery comprises a battery pack.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the charge accumulator device comprises a capacitor.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 9, further comprising a replaceable staple cartridge supported by the end effector.

16. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an end effector;

an electric motor;

a battery coupled to the electric motor;

a capacitor selectively couplable to the electric motor; and

means for selectively supplementing a maximum power from the battery to increase an output torque of the electric motor, wherein the means for selectively supplementing comprises a first switching device and a second switching device.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the battery comprises a plurality of battery cells.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the capacitor comprises an ultracapacitor.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the means for selectively supplementing further comprises a processing device.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 16, further comprising a replaceable staple cartridge supported by the end effector.