Instrument for optically detecting tissue attributes

• US 9,301,691 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hufnagel, Elizabeth, Chen, Xingrui, Chowaniec, Matthew, Collings, Peter T., Richard, Paul D., Zemlok, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Remaly, Mark
• Application Number:
  US14/516,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20150238088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00004 characterised by electronic signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00055 for alerting the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• 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 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00123 and automatic shutdown
• 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 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00785 Reflected power
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/302 specifically adapted for manipulations within body cavities, e.g. within abdominal or thoracic cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/304 using chemi-luminescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/05 Surgical care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 : by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 : for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1075 : for measuring dimensions by non-invasive methods, e.g. for determining thickness of tissue layer A61B8/0858 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1079 : using optical or photographic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 : Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 : Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6847 : mounted on an invasive device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 : Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A jaw assembly including first and second jaw members configured to clamp tissue therebetween. The first jaw member includes a surface opposing a surface of the second jaw member, a light source, and a light detector. The light source is configured to emit light from an opening defined in the surface of the first jaw member. The light detector is disposed within the opening and is configured to sense properties of light reflected off tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members and to generate signals indicative of the sensed properties of light. A processor is operatively associated with the light detector and is configured to receive the signals from the light detector. The processor is also configured to analyze the signals to determine an attribute of tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members and to provide feedback to a user of the attribute of the tissue.

Claims

1. A jaw assembly comprising:

first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another between an open configuration and a clamped configuration, the first and second jaw members configured to clamp tissue therebetween in the clamped configuration, the first jaw member including;

a surface opposing a surface of the second jaw member;

an opening defined in the surface of the first jaw member;

a light source configured to emit light from the opening; and

a light detector disposed within the opening, the light detector configured to sense properties of light reflected off tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members and to generate signals indicative of the sensed properties of light; and

a processor operatively associated with the light detector, the processor configured to;

receive signals indicative of properties of light from the light detector;

analyze the signals to determine an attribute of tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members; and

provide feedback to a user of the attribute of tissue clamped between the first and second jaw member.

2. The jaw assembly of claim 1, wherein the feedback is at least one of auditory, haptic, or visual.

3. The jaw assembly of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine a thickness of tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members.

4. The jaw assembly of claim 1, wherein the second jaw member includes a second light detector disposed within a second opening defined in the surface of the second jaw member, the second light detector configured to sense properties of light emitted from the light source of the first jaw member and transmitted through tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members, the second light detector operatively associated with the processor.

5. The jaw assembly of claim 1, wherein the second jaw member includes a second light source configured to emit light through a second opening defined in the surface of the second jaw member and includes a second light detector disposed within the second opening, the second light detector configured to sense properties of light emitted from the second light source and reflected off tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members.

6. The jaw assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to generate light from at least one of electron-stimulation, incandescent lamps, light emitting diodes, electroluminescence, gas discharge, high-intensity discharge, laser, chemoluminescence, fluorescence, or phosphorescence.

7. The jaw assembly of claim 1, wherein the first jaw member includes an anvil and the second jaw member includes a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples configured to be driven through tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members.

8. A surgical instrument comprising:

a handle;

an elongated shaft extending from the handle; and

a jaw assembly coupled to a distal end of the elongated shaft, the jaw assembly including first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another between an open configuration and a clamped configuration, the first and second jaw members configured to clamp tissue therebetween in the clamped configuration, the first jaw member including;

a surface opposing a surface of the second jaw member;

an opening defined in the surface of the first jaw member;

a light source configured to emit light from the opening; and

a light detector disposed within the opening, the light detector configured to sense properties of light reflected off tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members and to generate signals indicative of the sensed properties of light; and

a processor operatively associated with the light detector, the processor configured to;

receive signals indicative of properties of light from the light detector;

analyze the signals to determine an attribute of tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members; and

provide feedback to a user of the attribute of the tissue clamped between the first and second jaw member.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 further including a control interface disposed on the handle, the control interface operatively associated with the jaw assembly and configured to actuate a transition of the first and second jaw members between the open and clamped configurations, the control interface operatively associated with the light source and configured to activate the light source to emit light from the opening.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 8 further including a display panel disposed on the handle, the display panel operatively associated with the processor and configured to display feedback of the attribute of the tissue.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the processor is disposed within the elongated shaft.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the processor is disposed within the handle.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein one of the first and second jaw members includes a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge including a plurality of staples configured to fire through tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to control the firing of staples from the surgical instrument.

15. A method for detecting tissue attributes comprising:

providing a jaw assembly including first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another between an open configuration and a clamped configuration;

clamping tissue between the first and second jaw members of the jaw assembly;

emitting light from an opening in a surface of the first jaw member;

sensing properties of light reflected off the tissue clamped within the jaw assembly into the opening with a light detector positioned within the opening;

transmitting signals indicative of the properties of light to a processor;

determining tissue attributes from the signals with the processor; and

providing feedback of the tissue attributes to a user.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising sensing properties of light transmitted through the tissue clamped between the first and second jaw member of the jaw assembly, the first jaw member including a light source and the second jaw member including a second light detector.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein emitting light from the opening includes activating a light source of the first jaw member.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising firing staples from a staple cartridge coupled to one of the first and second jaw members through tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining tissue attributes comprises determining tissue thickness and the method further includes:

comparing the determined tissue thickness to a predetermined tissue thickness value; and

preventing additional functions of the surgical instrument when the tissue thickness is greater than the predetermined value.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising inputting the predetermined tissue thickness value into a control interface operatively associated with the processor.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising coupling the staple cartridge to one of the first and second jaw members, the staple cartridge transmitting the predetermined value to the processor.