SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH VARIABLE DURATION TRIGGER ARRANGEMENT

• US 20180360443A1
• Filed: 06/20/2017
• Published: 12/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Harris, Jason L., Yates, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,881,396 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 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• 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 2017/00393 with means for switching between functions
• 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 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• 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 2090/0811 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 90/08 Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B25C 5/10 Driving means

Abstract

A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member, a motor coupled to displacement member, a control circuit coupled to the motor, a parameter sensor coupled to the control circuit and a position sensor coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive a parameter output of the parameter sensor indicative of a force applied to translate the displacement member, determine a duration during which the parameter output is maintained at or above a predetermined fault threshold, receive a position output of the position sensor indicative of at least one position of the displacement member during the duration, and effect a motor control action based on the duration and the at least one position.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a displacement member;

a motor coupled to displacement member, the motor operable to translate the displacement member;

a control circuit coupled to the motor;

a parameter sensor coupled to the control circuit; and

a position sensor coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to;

receive a parameter output of the parameter sensor indicative of a force applied to translate the displacement member;

determine a duration during which the parameter output is maintained at or above a predetermined fault threshold;

receive a position output of the position sensor indicative of at least one position of the displacement member during the duration; and

effect a motor control action based on the duration and the at least one position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the motor control action comprises a dynamic brake.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the motor control action comprises retracting the displacement member.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the motor control action comprises changing velocity of the motor.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a timer circuit coupled to the control circuit, wherein the timer circuit is configured to measure the duration.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to effect the motor control action when the duration is equal to or exceeds a predetermined time period.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the predetermined time period is a first predetermined time period, wherein the control circuit is configured to effect the motor control action when the time period is less than the first predetermined time period but greater than a second predetermined time period, and when the at least one position is in a predetermined zone along the distance.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising and end effector coupled to the displacement member.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the end effector comprises a staple cartridge housing a plurality of staples, and wherein translation of the displacement member causes the staples to be deployed form the staple cartridge.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a displacement member;

a motor coupled to the displacement member;

a current sensor coupled to the motor, the current sensor configured to measure current drawn by the motor while translating the displacement member;

a position sensor; and

a control circuit coupled to the motor, the current sensor, and the position sensor, wherein the control circuit is configured to;

determine a duration during which the current drawn by the motor is maintained at or above a predetermined fault threshold;

receive a position output of the position sensor indicative of at least one position of the displacement member during the duration; and

effect a motor control action based on the duration and the at least one position.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the motor control action comprises a dynamic brake.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the motor control action comprises retracting the displacement member.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the motor control action comprises changing velocity of the motor.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising a timer circuit coupled to the control circuit, wherein the timer circuit is configured to measure the duration.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the control circuit is configured to effect the motor control action when the duration is equal to or exceeds a predetermined time period.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the predetermined time period is a first predetermined time period, wherein the control circuit is configured to effect the motor control action when the duration is less than the first predetermined time period but greater than a second predetermined time period, and when the at least one position is in a predetermined zone along the distance.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising an end effector coupled to the displacement member.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the end effector comprises a staple cartridge housing a plurality of staples, and wherein translation of the displacement member causes the staples to be deployed form the staple cartridge.

19-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a displacement member;

a motor coupled to the displacement member;

a current sensor coupled to the motor, the current sensor configured to measure current drawn by the motor while translating the displacement member;

a position sensor; and

a control circuit coupled to the motor, the current sensor, and the position sensor, wherein the control circuit is configured to;

count data points representing current (t) values at or above a predetermined current threshold;

receive a position output of the position sensor indicative of at least one position of the displacement member corresponding to at least one of the data points; and

effect a motor control action based on the number of data points counted and the at least one position.

27. The surgical instrument of claim 26, wherein the motor control action comprises a dynamic brake.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 26, wherein the motor control action comprises retracting the displacement member.

29. The surgical instrument of claim 26, wherein the motor control action comprises changing velocity of the motor.

30. The surgical instrument of claim 26, further comprising a timer circuit coupled to the control circuit.

31. The surgical instrument of claim 26, wherein the control circuit is configured to effect the motor control action if the counted number of data points is equal to or exceeds a predetermined number.

32. The surgical instrument of claim 31, wherein the predetermined number is a first predetermined number, wherein the control circuit is configured to effect the motor control action when the counted number of data points is less than the first predetermined number but greater than a second predetermined number, and when the at least one position is in a predetermined zone along the distance.

33. The surgical instrument of claim 26, further comprising an end effector coupled to the displacement member.

34. The surgical instrument of claim 33, wherein the end effector comprises a staple cartridge housing a plurality of staples, and wherein translation of the displacement member causes the staples to be deployed form the staple cartridge.