MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

• US 20170231623A1
• Filed: 02/12/2016
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Overmyer, Mark D., Yates, David C., Harris, Jason L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,258,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00075 Motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 Calibration or performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/003 of rotating machines G01H1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 17/00 Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves, not provided for in the preceding groups see provisionally also G01H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for affecting tissue includes an end effector configured to interact with a tissue. The apparatus further includes a surgical instrument that includes one or more drivetrains configured to drive a plurality of gear components in order to perform operations of the surgical instrument, and one or more vibration sensors positioned relative to the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument to sense and record vibration information from the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument, wherein the one or more vibration sensors are configured to generate an output signal based on the vibration information for comparison to predetermined threshold values to determine a status of the surgical instrument.

Claims

1. An apparatus for affecting tissue, comprising:

an end effector configured to interact with a tissue; and

a surgical instrument, comprising;

one or more drivetrains configured to drive a plurality of gear components in order to perform operations of the surgical instrument; and

one or more vibration sensors positioned relative to the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument to sense and record vibration information from the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument, wherein the one or more vibration sensors are configured to generate an output signal based on the vibration information, and wherein the output signal is used to determine a status of the surgical instrument.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one frequency filter configured to receive the output signal of the one or more vibration sensors, wherein the at least one frequency filter is configured to generate a filtered signal based on the received output signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a memory storing predetermined threshold values; and

a processor in communication with the at least one frequency filter.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the memory includes program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to generate a processed signal based on the filtered signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the memory includes program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to employ a fast Fourier transform to develop the processed signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to compare the predetermined threshold values to corresponding values of the processed signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to detect a malfunction of the surgical instrument when the predetermined threshold values are equal to or less than the corresponding values of the processed signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the predetermined threshold values are generated from a test output signal of the one or more vibration sensors.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the test output signal is based on test vibration information recorded by the one or more vibration sensors during a testing procedure of the surgical instrument.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the predetermined threshold values are generated from a previously processed signal.

11. A method for assessing performance of a surgical instrument including one or more drivetrains, the method comprising:

sensing via one or more vibration sensors vibrations generated during operation of the one or more drivetrains of the surgical instrument;

generating an output signal based on the sensed vibrations;

filtering the output signal to generate a filtered signal of the vibrations from the one or more drivetrains;

processing the filtered signal to generate a processed signal of the vibrations from the one or more drivetrains;

comparing predetermined threshold values to corresponding values of the processed signal; and

detecting a malfunction of the surgical instrument when the predetermined threshold values are equal to or less than the corresponding values of the processed signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined threshold values are generated from a test output signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the test output signal is based on vibrations sensed by the one or more vibration sensors during a testing procedure of the surgical instrument.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined threshold values are generated from a previously processed signal.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein processing the filtered signal comprises using a fast Fourier transform.

16. A surgical stapler, comprising:

a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples deployable into tissue;

at least one drive mechanism operable to deploy the plurality of staples into the tissue during a firing sequence of the surgical stapler; and

one or more vibration sensors configured to record vibrations generated by the at least one drive mechanism, wherein the one or more vibration sensors are configured to generate an output signal based on the sensed vibrations, and wherein the output signal is used to determine a status of the at least one drive mechanism.

17. The surgical stapler of claim 16, further comprising at least one frequency filter configured to receive the output signal of the one or more vibration sensors, wherein the at least one frequency filter is configured to generate a filtered signal based on the received output signal.

18. The surgical stapler of claim 17, further comprising:

a memory storing predetermined threshold values; and

a processor in communication with the at least one frequency filter.

19. The surgical stapler of claim 18, wherein the memory includes program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to generate a processed signal based on the filtered signal.

20. The surgical stapler of claim 19, wherein the memory includes program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to employ a fast Fourier transform to develop the processed signal.