Couplings for interconnecting components of an electro-mechanical surgical device

• US 9,033,868 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2011
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Whitman, Michael P., Burbank, John E., Zeichner, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Anhtuan T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Jae
• Application Number:
  US13/093,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20110257636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 600/101, 600/103, 600/104, 600117-118, 600/137, 600/154
• US Class Current: 600/137
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• 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 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1631 Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0208 Biopsy devices with actuators, e.g. with triggered spring mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• 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 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• 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 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 : Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 : with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 : battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 : Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 : Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 : flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 : Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32113 : with extendable or retractable guard or blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 : Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 : Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A flexible shaft includes a flexible, elongated outer sheath, at least one drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath and a moisture sensor disposed within the outer sheath configured to detect moisture within the outer sheath. Another flexible shaft includes a flexible, elongated outer sheath, at least one flexible drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath and a coupling connected to a distal end of the outer sheath configured to couple to a surgical attachment.

A sleeve includes an elongated shaft configured to receive a flexible shaft therein and a securing arrangement configured to selectively and variably retain the elongated shaft in any one of a number of longitudinal positions along the flexible shaft.

A surgical system includes an electro-mechanical driver, an elongated, flexible sheath, at least one drive shaft disposed within the flexible sheath, a surgical attachment coupled to the at least one drive shaft, the electro-mechanical driver configured to drive the surgical attachment, a shape-retaining sleeve, at least a portion of the flexible sleeve being disposed in the shape-retaining sleeve, the shape-retaining sleeve configured to maintain the at least portion of the flexible sheath in a predetermined shape, and an arrangement variably securing the shape-retaining member to the flexible sheath in any one of a number of longitudinal positions along the flexible sheath.

Claims

1. A coupling, comprising:

a distal cover;

a link having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being configured for attachment to a shaft of an electro-mechanical surgical device and the distal end being configured to be selectively detachably connected to the distal cover to form a fluid-tight and air-tight seal therebetween;

a flexible strip locking mechanism for detachably coupling the distal cover to the distal end of the link, wherein the distal cover defines a first annular recess and the link defines a second annular recess such that upon connecting the distal cover and the link, the first annular recess and the second annular recess together form an annular cavity having the flexible strip locking mechanism removably disposed therein;

a rotatable shaft engagement member configured to engage a rotatable drive shaft, at least a portion of the rotatable shaft engagement member being disposed in the distal cover; and

a moisture sensor disposed in the distal cover configured to sense moisture in the distal cover.

2. The coupling according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory unit disposed in the distal cover.

3. The coupling according to claim 2, wherein the memory unit stores data including at least one of serial number data, identification data or usage data.

4. The coupling according to claim 2, further comprising:

a data transfer cable electrically connected to the memory unit.

5. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the coupling is configured to detachably couple to a surgical instrument.

6. The coupling according to claim 1, wherein the distal cover defins a tangential slit extending from an outer surface of a distal tip thereof to the annular cavity, the tangential slit configured for receiving the flexible strip locking mechanism.

7. The coupling according to claim 6, wherein the flexible strip locking mechanism takes on an annular shape upon being inserted into the annular cavity.