SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING A FEEDBACK SYSTEM

• US 20140207166A1
• Filed: 03/25/2014
• Published: 07/24/2014
• 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, Morgan, Jerome R., Doll, Kevin R., Swayze, Jeffrey S., Timperman, Eugene L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,743,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/170
• 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 17/28 Surgical forceps for holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221; surgical scissors A61B17/3201 ; obstetrical forceps A61B17/44; for inserting intraocular lenses A61F2/1662; hand-held gripping tools in general B25B7/00 ]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• 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 34/76 Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprises an articulable end effector; a drive shaft connected to the end effector that drives the end effector; an electric motor connected to the drive shaft that drives the drive shaft; a battery unit for supplying power to the electric motor; at least one sensor for sensing a status of the instrument; and a visual status indicator located on the instrument and in communication with the at least one sensor. The visual status indicator is for displaying visually to a user of the instrument a status of the instrument based on an input from the at least one sensor.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A surgical instrument comprising:

an articulable end effector;

a drive shaft connected to the end effector that drives the end effector;

an electric motor connected to the drive shaft that drives the drive shaft;

a battery unit for supplying power to the electric motor;

at least one sensor for sensing a status of the instrument; and

a visual status indicator located on the instrument and in communication with the at least one sensor, wherein the visual status indicator is for displaying visually to a user of the instrument a status of the instrument based on an input from the at least one sensor.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the end effector comprises a removable cartridge, and wherein the visual status indicator visually indicates a status of the removable cartridge.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein the visual status indicator indicates whether the removable cartridge is loaded or whether the cartridge is spent.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein the visual status indicator indicates whether the cartridge is positioned in the end effector.

25. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the visual status indicator indicates an articulation angle of the end effector.

26. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the end effector comprises first and second jaw members for clamping tissue therebetween.

27. The surgical instrument of claim 26, wherein the visual status indicator indicates a time elapsed since tissue was clamped in the end effector.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 26, wherein the visual status indicator provides information related a clamping force exerted by the end effector.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 26, wherein the end effector further comprises a cutting instrument that is for, when fired, cutting tissue clamped in the end effector.

30. The surgical instrument of claim 29, wherein the visual status indicator indicates a status of a cutting force exerted by the cutting instrument.

31. The surgical instrument of claim 29, wherein the visual status indicator indicates whether the cutting force is within an expected range or whether the cutting force is outside the expected range.

32. The surgical instrument of claim 29, wherein the visual status indicator indicates a percentage of a maximum firing force exerted by the cutting instrument.

33. The surgical instrument of claim 29, wherein:

the cutting instrument in the end effector, when fired, moves from a first position in the end effector to a second position in the end effector to cut tissue clamped in the end effector;

the at least one sensor comprises at least one position sensor for sensing a position of the cutting instrument in the end effector; and

the visual status indicator indicates a position of the cutting instrument in the end effector.

34. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the visual status indicator is removably connected to the instrument.

35. A surgical instrument comprising:

an articulable end effector that comprises;

first and second opposing jaw member for clamping tissue therebetween;

a cutting instrument that is for, when fired, cutting tissue clamped in the end effector, wherein, when fired, the cutting instrument moves from a first position in the end effector to a second position in the end effector to cut the tissue clamped in the end effector; and

a removable cartridge;

a drive shaft connected to the end effector that drives the moveable working portion;

an electric motor connected to the drive shaft that drives the drive shaft;

a battery unit for supplying power to the electric motor;

at least one sensor for sensing a status of the instrument;

a handle housing at least a portion of the battery; and

a visual status indicator connected to the handle and in communication with the at least one sensor, wherein the visual status indicator is for displaying visually to a user of the instrument a status of the instrument based on an input from the at least one sensor, wherein the visual status indicator visually displays at least the following status to the user;

a status of the removable cartridge; and

an articulation angle of the end effector.

36. The surgical instrument of claim 35, wherein the visual status indicator further visually displays to the user a time elapsed since tissue is clamped in the end effector.

37. The surgical instrument of claim 35, wherein the visual status indicator further visually provides information related a clamping force exerted by the end effector.

38. The surgical instrument of claim 35, wherein the visual status indicator further visually displays a status of a cutting force exerted by the cutting instrument.

39. The surgical instrument of claim 35, wherein the visual status indicator further visually displays a position of the cutting instrument in the end effector.