Surgical stapler having downstream current-based motor control

• US 10,863,986 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2018
• Issued: 12/15/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Yates, David C., Shelton, IV, Frederick E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US16/164,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20190046187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 227 19, 2271752, 2271761, 2271751, 2271781, 2271801, 606139, 606153, 606 32, 606 34, 606219, 318244, 31840011, 318599, 323212
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/072 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00123 and automatic shutdown
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00137 Details of operation mode
• 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 2017/00486 Adaptors for coupling parts with incompatible geometries
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/04 by means of a H-bridge circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/28 using semiconductor devices

Abstract

A surgical stapler. The surgical stapler includes a firing system, an electric motor and a control circuit. Then electric motor is mechanically coupled to the firing system. The control circuit is electrically connected to the electric motor and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes an H-bridge circuit which includes a high side and a low side. The second portion is electrically connected in parallel with the electric motor. The control circuit is configured to control a rotation of the electric motor based on a parameter sensed within the second portion of the control circuit.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a firing system;

an electric motor mechanically coupled to the firing system; and

a control circuit electrically connected to the electric motor, wherein the control circuit comprises;

a first portion comprising an H-bridge circuit; and

a second portion electrically connected in parallel with the electric motor, wherein the control circuit is configured to control a rotation of the electric motor based on a parameter sensed within the second portion of the control circuit.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the H-bridge circuit comprises a high side and a low side, and wherein the low side of the H-bridge circuit comprises first and second switching devices.

3. The surgical stapler of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the control circuit is electrically connected across with the first and second switching devices.

4. The surgical stapler of claim 2, wherein the low side of the H-bridge circuit comprises first and second legs, and wherein the second portion of the control circuit is electrically connected across the first and second legs of the H-bridge circuit.

5. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the parameter sensed within the second portion of the control circuit comprises a current within the second portion of the control circuit.

6. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the parameter sensed within the second portion of the control circuit comprises a temperature within the second portion of the control circuit.

7. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the parameter sensed within the second portion of the control circuit comprises a magnetic field associated with the second portion of the control circuit.

8. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the parameter sensed within the second portion of the control circuit comprises a light associated with the second portion of the control circuit.

9. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the control circuit comprises a sensing device.

10. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to control a force applied to the firing system based on the parameter sensed within the second portion of the control circuit.

11. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising a battery electrically couplable to the electric motor and the control circuit.

12. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a firing system;

an electric motor mechanically coupled to the firing system; and

a control circuit electrically connected to the electric motor, wherein the control circuit comprises;

a first portion comprising an H-bridge circuit, wherein the H-bridge circuit comprises a high side and a low side; and

a second portion electrically connected in parallel with the electric motor, wherein the control circuit is configured to control a force applied to the firing system based on a parameter sensed within the second portion of the control circuit.

13. The surgical stapler of claim 12, wherein the low side of the H-bridge circuit comprises first and second switching devices, and wherein the second portion of the control circuit is electrically connected across the first and second switching devices.

14. The surgical stapler of claim 12, wherein the parameter sensed within the second portion of the control circuit comprises one of the following:

a current within the second portion of the control circuit;

a temperature within the second portion of the control circuit;

a magnetic field associated with the second portion of the control circuit; and

a light associated with the second portion of the control circuit.

15. The surgical stapler of claim 12, wherein the second portion of the control circuit comprises a sensing device.

16. The surgical stapler of claim 12, further comprising a battery electrically couplable to the electric motor and the control circuit.

17. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a firing system;

an electric motor mechanically coupled to the firing system;

a battery electrically couplable to the electric motor; and

a control system electrically connected to the electric motor and the battery, wherein the control system comprises;

an H-bridge circuit comprising a high side and a low side, wherein the low side of the H-bridge circuit comprises a first leg and a second leg; and

a portion electrically connected in parallel with the electric motor, wherein the control system is configured to control a rotation of the electric motor based on a parameter sensed within the portion of the control system.

18. The surgical stapler of claim 17, wherein the portion of the control system is electrically connected across the first and second legs of the H-bridge circuit.

19. The surgical stapler of claim 17, wherein the parameter sensed within the portion of the control system comprises one of the following:

a current within the portion of the control system;

a temperature within the portion of the control system;

a magnetic field associated with the portion of the control system; and

a light associated with the portion of the control system.

20. The surgical stapler of claim 17, wherein the portion of the control system comprises a sensing device.