MOTORIZED SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT

• US 20140107640A1
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Yates, David C., Shelton, Frederick E. IV
• Granted Patent: US 10,660,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• 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 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 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00203 with speech control or speech recognition
• 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 2017/07242 achieving different staple heights during the same shot, e.g. using an anvil anvil having different heights or staples of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0725 with settable gap between anvil and cartridge, e.g. for different staple heights at different shots
• 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 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 34/70 : Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 : using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprises an end effector, a shaft connected to the end effector, and a handle connected to the shaft. The handle comprises an electric, DC motor connected to a drive train for powering the drive train and a plurality of series-connected DC power source connected to the motor for supplying electrical power to the motor. The handle also comprises a power source selection switch for connecting, when in a first state, all of the DC power sources to the motor, and, when in a second state, a subset of the DC power sources to the motor. Also disclosed are means for actuating a RF electrode in the end effector and means for indicating actuation of the RF electrode.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A surgical instrument comprising:

an end effector;

a shaft connected to the end effector, the shaft comprising a drive train for powering the end effector;

a handle connected to the shaft;

an electric DC motor connected to the drive train for powering the drive train; and

a power pack that is insertable in and removable from the handle, wherein the power pack comprises;

a plurality of rechargeable battery cells; and

an electronic control circuit for controlling an output voltage provided by the power pack to the motor based on an input from the surgical instrument indicative of a status of the end effector, wherein;

the electronic circuit connects a first voltage to the motor under a first load condition of the motor; and

the electronic circuit connects a second voltage to the motor under a second load condition of the motor, wherein the second voltage is less than the first voltage.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the electronic circuit comprises at least one switch:

for connecting a first set of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells to the motor to connect the first voltage to the motor under a first load condition of the motor; and

for connecting a second set of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells to the motor to connect the second voltage to the motor under a first load condition of the motor.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the second set of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells has fewer rechargeable battery cells than the first set of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein:

the first set of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells comprises all of the rechargeable battery cells; and

the second set of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells comprises less than all, and at least one, of the rechargeable battery cells.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the at least one switch comprises at least one solid-state switch.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the at least one switch comprises at least one electro-mechanical switch.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the power pack is configured to be connected, when removed from the handle, to a charger base, separate from the surgical instrument, that charges the power pack.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the power pack comprises a memory unit for storing operating parameters from a surgical procedure involving the surgical instrument.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the power pack is configured to be connected, when removed from the handle, to an auxiliary device, separate from the surgical instrument and that comprises a processor and a memory unit, wherein the auxiliary device is for downloading the operating parameters from the memory unit of the battery pack to the memory unit of the auxiliary device.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the end effector comprises a stapler for stapling tissue clamped by the end effector.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the end effector comprises RF electrodes for transmitting RF energy into tissue clamped by the end effector.

13. A method of performing surgical procedures, the method comprising:

inserting a removable battery pack into a first motorized surgical instrument for powering the first motorized surgical instrument during a first surgical procedure, wherein the first motorized surgical instrument comprises a first end effector of a first type, and wherein the battery pack;

outputs a first voltage to power the first motorized surgical instrument; and

comprises one or more rechargeable battery cells;

after inserting the removable battery pack into the first motorized surgical instrument, performing the first surgical procedure with the first motorized surgical instrument;

after the first surgical procedure, recharging the one or more rechargeable battery cells of the removable battery pack;

after recharging the one or more rechargeable battery cells of the removable battery pack, inserting the removable battery pack into a second motorized surgical instrument for powering the second motorized surgical instrument during a second surgical procedure, wherein the second motorized surgical instrument comprises a second end effector of a second type that is different from the first type, and wherein the battery pack outputs a second voltage to power the second motorized surgical instrument, wherein the second voltage is different from the first voltage; and

after inserting the removable battery pack into the second motorized surgical instrument, performing the second surgical procedure with the second motorized surgical instrument.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein recharging the one or more rechargeable battery cells of the removable battery pack comprises:

removing the removable battery pack from the first motorized surgical instrument after the first surgical procedure; and

connecting the removable battery pack to charger base for sufficient time to recharge the one or more rechargeable battery cells.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the battery pack comprises a memory unit; and

the method further comprises, after inserting the removable battery pack into the first motorized surgical instrument, downloading one or more operating parameters from the first surgical procedure to an auxiliary device that comprises a processor and a memory unit.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein downloading the one or more operating parameters comprises:

removing the removable battery pack from the first motorized surgical instrument after the first surgical procedure; and

connecting the removable battery pack to the auxiliary device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the second voltage is less than the first voltage;

the removable battery pack comprises a plurality of rechargeable battery cells; and

the second motorized surgical instrument comprises a circuit for connecting less than all of the plurality of rechargeable battery cells to a motor of the second motorized surgical instrument for powering the motor of the second motorized surgical instrument.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the first end effector of the first motorized surgical instrument comprises a stapler; and

the second effector of the second motorized surgical instrument does not comprise a stapler.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second effector of the second motorized surgical instrument comprises one or more RF electrodes.