CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

• US 20140263539A1
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Leimbach, Richard L., Overmyer, Mark D., Adams, Shane R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,629,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• 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 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• 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 2017/00716 simulating physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0808 for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus
• 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: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Surgical instruments and control systems therefor are disclosed. A surgical instrument can comprise: a power circuit comprising a power source and a switch, a microcontroller coupled to the power circuit, a handle comprising an attachment portion, and a control circuit in signal communication with the microcontroller. The attachment portion can comprise a first electrical contact in signal communication with the microcontroller. The control circuit can comprise a sensor configured to detect an attachment state of the attachment portion. The control circuit can communicate the detected attachment state to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller can ignore signals from the first electrical contact when the control circuit communicates a detached state. The attachment portion can comprise a second electrical contact coupled to a second power circuit, and the second power circuit can decouple the second electrical contact and the second power source when the sensor detects the detached state.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a power circuit, comprising;

a power source; and

a switch;

a microcontroller coupled to said power circuit;

a handle comprising a handle attachment portion, wherein said handle attachment portion comprises an electrical contact in signal communication with said microcontroller; and

a control circuit in signal communication with said microcontroller, wherein said control circuit comprises a shaft attachment sensor configured to detect an attachment state of said handle attachment portion, and wherein said control circuit is configured to communicate the detected attachment state to said microcontroller;

wherein said microcontroller is configured to ignore signals from said electrical contact when said control circuit communicates a detached attachment state to said microcontroller.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said shaft attachment sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, further comprising a shaft, wherein said shaft comprises:

a shaft attachment portion releasably attached to said handle attachment portion; and

a magnetic element.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said control circuit further comprises a sensor power source.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a second power circuit, comprising:

a second power source; and

a transistor.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein said handle attachment portion further comprises:

a second electrical contact coupled to said second power circuit; and

a third electrical contact coupled to a ground.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said second power circuit couples said second electrical contact to said second power source when said control circuit communicates an attached attachment state to said microcontroller, and wherein said second power circuit decouples said second electrical contact from said second power source when said control circuit communicates the detached attachment state to said microcontroller.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said handle attachment portion further comprises a plurality of additional electrical contacts in signal communication with said microcontroller.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is configured to ignore signals from said electrical contact when said control circuit communicates a partially attached attachment state to said microcontroller.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a first power circuit comprising a first power source and a first switch;

a second power circuit comprising a second power source and a second switch;

a microcontroller coupled to said first power circuit;

a handle comprising a handle attachment portion, wherein said handle attachment portion comprises;

a first electrical contact in signal communication with said microcontroller; and

a second electrical contact coupled to said second power circuit; and

a control circuit in signal communication with said microcontroller, wherein said control circuit comprises a shaft attachment sensor configured to detect an attachment state of said handle attachment portion;

wherein said second power circuit decouples said second electrical contact and said second power source when said shaft attachment sensor detects a detached attachment state.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said shaft attachment sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, further comprising a shaft, wherein said shaft comprises:

a shaft attachment portion releasably attached to said handle attachment portion; and

a magnetic element.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said handle attachment portion further comprises a third electrical contact coupled to a ground.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said handle attachment portion comprises a plurality of additional electrical contacts in signal communication with said microcontroller.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein said microcontroller is configured to ignore signals from said first electrical contact when said shaft attachment sensor detects the detached attachment state.

16. A handle for a surgical instrument, wherein the handle comprises:

a power circuit, comprising;

a power source; and

a switch;

a microcontroller coupled to said power circuit, wherein said microcontroller comprises an output channel, and wherein said input channel is switchable between a powered-up state and a powered-down state;

an attachment portion comprising an electrical contact in signal communication with said input channel of said microcontroller; and

a control circuit in signal communication with said microcontroller, wherein said control circuit comprises a shaft attachment sensor configured to detect an attachment state of said attachment portion, and wherein said control circuit is configured to communicate the detected attachment state to said microcontroller;

wherein said microcontroller is configured to switch said input channel from said powered-up state to said powered-down state when said when said control circuit communicates a detached attachment state to said microcontroller.

17. The handle of claim 16, wherein said shaft attachment sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor.

18. The handle of claim 16, further comprising a second power circuit, comprising:

a second power source; and

a second switch; and

wherein said attachment portion further comprises;

a second electrical contact coupled to said second power circuit; and

a third electrical contact coupled to a ground.

19. The handle of claim 18, wherein said second power circuit couples said second electrical contact to said second power source when said control circuit communicates an attached attachment state to said microcontroller, and wherein said second power circuit decouples said second electrical contact from said second power source when said control circuit communicates the detached attachment state to said microcontroller.

20. The handle of claim 16, wherein said microcontroller comprises a plurality of input channels, and wherein said attachment portion comprises a plurality of electrical contacts in signal communication with said plurality of input channels.