SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

• US 20130186933A1
• Filed: 03/09/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Ouwerkerk, John N., Morgan, Jerome R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,010,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/176.1
• 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 17/105 Wound clamp magazines for packaging sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0042 with special provisions for gripping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• 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 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• 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 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/069 : using a plummet or weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 : Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• 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 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/74 : Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 : Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 : Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence

Abstract

A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.

Claims

1. A surgical stapler, comprising:

an end effector, comprising;

a firing member configured to move at least partially through said end effector;

a stop configured to create a lockout condition by impeding the advancement of said firing member through said end effector; and

a sensor configured to detect the lockout condition; and

a handle, comprising;

an electric motor configured to transmit a force to said firing member; and

a control system configured to control said electric motor, wherein said sensor is in communication with said control system, and wherein said control system controls said electric motor to adjust the force transmitted to said firing member when the lockout condition is communicated to said control system.

2. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said end effector further comprises a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, and wherein said stop impedes movement of said firing member when the staple cartridge positioned in said staple cartridge channel has been fired.

3. The surgical stapler of claim 2, wherein said stop impedes movement of said firing member when said staple cartridge channel is empty.

4. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said stop comprises a lockout pocket, and wherein said lockout pocket receives a portion of said firing member to impede movement of said firing member through said end effector.

5. The surgical stapler of claim 1, wherein said end effector comprises a biasing member configured to bias said firing member toward said stop.

6. The surgical stapler of claim 5, further comprising a staple cartridge, wherein said staple cartridge further comprises a firing element moveable from a proximal position to a distal position during a firing stroke, and wherein said firing element holds said firing member out of engagement with said stop when said firing element is in the proximal position.

7. The surgical stapler of claim 1, further comprising a shaft between said handle and said end effector, wherein said shaft comprises an articulation joint.

8. A surgical instrument for cutting and stapling tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:

a handle, comprising;

an electric motor; and

a control system for controlling said electric motor;

a shaft extending from said handle;

an end effector extending from said shaft;

a firing member, wherein said electric motor is configured to transmit a firing motion to said firing member, and wherein the firing motion advances said firing member at least partially through said end effector when said firing member is in a unlocked configuration;

a lockout configured to prevent the advancement of said firing member when said firing member is in a locked configuration; and

a sensor configured to detect a lockout condition when said firing member is in the locked configuration, wherein said sensor and said control system are in signal communication, and wherein said control system prevents said electric motor from transmitting the firing motion to said firing member when said sensor detects the lockout condition.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein said lockout comprises a pocket in said end effector, and wherein said pocket receives a portion of said firing member when said firing member is in the locked configuration.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein said end effector further comprises a staple cartridge channel configured to receive a staple cartridge, and wherein said firing member is biased toward the locked configuration when the staple cartridge positioned in said staple cartridge channel has been fired.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said firing member is biased toward the locked configuration when said staple cartridge channel is empty.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising said staple cartridge.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein said electric motor is configured to transmit a retracting motion to said firing member, and wherein the retracting motion retracts said firing motion at least partially though said end effector when said firing member is in the locked configuration.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 8, further comprising an articulation joint between said handle and said end effector.

15. A surgical instrument for cutting and stapling tissue, said surgical instrument comprising:

a handle, comprising;

motor means for driving firing means; and

controlling means for controlling said motor means;

firing means for ejecting staples, wherein said motor means advances said firing means;

lockout means for locking said firing means; and

sensing means for sensing when said lockout means is locking said firing means, wherein said sensing means is in communication with said controlling means, and wherein said controlling means prevents said motor means from advancing said firing means when said sensing means senses said lockout means is locking said firing means.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein said firing means is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein said lockout means locks said firing means when said firing means is in the locked position.

17. The surgical stapler of claim 16, wherein said lockout means comprises a pocket, and wherein said pocket receives a portion of said firing means to prevent the advancement of said firing means.

18. The surgical stapler of claim 15, further comprising an end effector configured to receive a staple cartridge.

19. The surgical stapler of claim 18, further comprising said staple cartridge.

20. The surgical stapler of claim 18, further comprising a shaft between said handle and said end effector, wherein said shaft comprises articulation means for articulating said end effector relative to said handle.

21. A surgical instrument for cutting and stapling tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:

a handle, comprising;

a motor; and

a motor controller configured to operate said motor;

a shaft extending from said handle, wherein said shaft comprises a distal end;

a firing member, wherein said motor controller is configured to operate said motor to advance said firing member toward said distal end in an operating state of said surgical instrument;

lockout means for impeding said firing member and for placing said surgical instrument in a locked operating state; and

sensing means for sensing when said surgical instrument is in said locked operating state, wherein said sensing means is in communication with said motor controller, and wherein said motor controller is configured to alter the operation of said motor during said locked operating state.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein said motor controller is configured to operate said motor to retract said firing member away from said distal end when said surgical instrument is in said locked operating state.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 21, further comprising a staple cartridge, wherein the advancement of said firing member toward said distal end is configured to eject staples from said staple cartridge.