Active braking electrical surgical instrument and method for braking such an instrument

• US 9,713,473 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2013
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bales, Jr., Thomas O., Deville, Derek Dee, Rivera, Carlos, Palmer, Matthew A., Smith, Kevin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US13/863,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20130284789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 2271751, 2271752
• 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 17/1114 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 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes an end effector, an actuator coupled to the end effector and actuating it, a handle coupled to the end effector and having an electric motor disposed therein actuating the actuator when supplied with power, and a post-termination braking circuit including a power supply switch at the handle. The switch has a break-before-make configuration, a power-supplying state in which power is supplied to the motor, and a power-removed state in which power is not supplied to the motor. The braking circuit short-circuits power to the motor when the switch is in the power-removed state. A method for post-termination braking of the motor utilizes the permanent magnetic field to counteract inertia-induced over-stroke of the motor, drive train, and/or actuation assembly after powered operation by short-circuiting the still-spinning motor to create an electrically generated magnetic field in opposition to the permanent magnetic field upon ceasing supply of power.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical end effector;

at least one actuator mechanically coupled to the end effector for actuating the end effector;

a handle;

mechanically coupled to the end effector; and

having an electric motor disposed therein and operable to actuate the at least one actuator when the motor is supplied with power;

a post-termination braking circuit including a power supply switch at the handle, the power supply switch having;

a break-before-make switch configuration;

a power-supplying state in which power is supplied to the motor; and

a power-removed state in which power is not supplied to the motor,

the post-termination braking circuit operable to short-circuit the power supplied to the motor when the power supply switch is in the power-removed state.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor includes:

power terminals at which the motor is supplied with power; and

a drive train operatively coupled to the at least one actuator to actuate the at least one actuator when the motor is supplied with power,

wherein the post-termination braking circuit is operable to short-circuit the power terminals of the motor when the power supply switch is in the power-removed state.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the drive train has a rotational inertia when operating;

the motor has;

a rotational inertia when spinning; and

a permanent magnetic field; and

the post-termination braking circuit is operable to create an electrically-generated magnetic field in opposition to the permanent magnetic field with the rotational inertia of at least one of the drive train and the motor when short-circuiting the power terminals.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the handle further includes a power supply disposed therein and electrically connected to the motor through the post-termination braking circuit.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the power supply is a removable battery pack.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the power supply switch is a three-position switch including:

a forward position in which the three-position switch is in the power-supplying state and is configured to cause the motor to rotate in a forward direction;

a reverse position in which the three-position switch is in the power-supplying state and is configured to cause the motor to rotate in a reverse direction; and

an off position in which the three-position switch is in the power-removed state and the motor is caused to prevent rotation at the motor.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the power supply switch is a double-pole, double throw switch.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the end effector, the handle, the motor, the power supply switch, and the post-termination braking circuit are all operable with only a single hand.

9. A method for post-termination braking of an electrical motor in an electrically powered surgical instrument, which comprises:

coupling a surgical end effector to a handle,

the end effector having at least one actuator to effect a surgical procedure, and

the handle having an electric motor disposed therein;

mechanically coupling the motor to the at least one actuator;

actuating the at least one actuator by selectively supplying the motor with power with a break-before-make power supply switch of a post-termination braking circuit, the power supply switch having an off state that ceases supply of power to the motor; and

upon ceasing supply of power to the motor, short-circuiting power terminals of the still-spinning motor with the off state of the power supply switch.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein:

the step of mechanically coupling the motor to the at least one actuator is carried out by mechanically coupling a drive train of the motor to the at least one actuator;

the motor has a permanent magnetic field;

at least one of the motor, the drive train, and the at least one actuator has an inertia-induced over-stroke characteristic after powered operation; and

the step of short-circuiting the power terminals of the motor creates an electrically generated magnetic field in opposition to the permanent magnetic field.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising counteracting the inertia-induced over-stroke of at least one of the motor, the drive train, and the at least one actuator with the short-circuit.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising carrying out the short-circuiting step to slow the still-spinning motor at a rate that substantially eliminates the inertia-induced over-stroke of at least one of the motor, the drive train, and the at least one actuator.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing a power supply within the handle and electrically connecting the power supply to the motor.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the power supply is a removable battery pack.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising carrying out the short-circuiting step without short-circuiting the power supply.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

providing a power supply within the handle and electrically connecting the power supply to the motor; and

carrying out the short-circuiting step without short-circuiting the power supply.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the break-before-make power supply switch is a double-pole, double throw switch.