Electrical surgical instrument with optimal tissue compression

• US 9,757,127 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Smith, Kevin W., Bales, Jr., Thomas O., Deville, Derek Dee, Rivera, Carlos, Palmer, Matthew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weeks, Gloria R
• Application Number:
  US14/449,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20140371768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 2271791
• 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 comprising a tissue-compressing device comprising opposing compression surfaces, a switching element having first and second switching states changed solely by mechanical movements, a biasing element mechanically coupled to the switching element, the biasing element retaining the switching element in one of the first and second switching states until a pre-determined force is imparted to the switching element, wherein the pre-determined force is an amount of force proportional to an optimal tissue compression force of compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces and the switching element is positioned in line with the tissue-compressing device to cause a force, proportional to a force placed upon compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces, to be imparted to the switching element.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a tissue-compressing device comprising opposing compression surfaces;

a switching element having first and second switching states changed solely by mechanical movements; and

a biasing element mechanically coupled to the switching element, the biasing element retaining the switching element in one of the first and second switching states until a pre-determined force is imparted to the switching element, wherein;

the pre-determined force is an amount of force proportional to an optimal tissue compression force of compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces; and

the switching element is positioned in line with the tissue-compressing device to cause a force, proportional to a force placed upon compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces, to be imparted to the switching element.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the switching element is a mechanical binary-output electrical switch.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2, wherein the first switching state is an open electrical state and the second switching state is a closed electrical state.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the biasing element is adjustable.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the pre-determined force of the biasing element is set to an amount proportional to the optimal tissue compression force of the compressed tissue.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein setting the pre-determined force to an amount proportional to the optimal tissue compression force of the compressed tissue causes a change of the switching state to occur when a compression force placed on tissue by the opposing compression surfaces of the tissue-compressing device is at least as great as the optimal tissue compression force.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the switching element is positioned to cause substantially the same force placed upon the compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces to be placed upon the switching element.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

the tissue-compressing device has a compression axis; and

the switching element comprises an actuation gap oriented to span along the compression axis and to cause a change of the switching state dependent upon a force expanding along the compression axis.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the tissue-compressing device comprises an end effector with two opposing jaws that compress tissue disposed therebetween.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a tissue-compressing device comprising opposing compression surfaces;

a switching element having first and second switching states changed solely by mechanical movements; and

a biasing element mechanically coupled to the switching element, the biasing element imparting a pre-determined force on the switching element to retain the switching element in one of the first and second switching states until a switching force at least as great as the pre-determined force imposed by the biasing element is imparted to the switching element and causes a change of the switching state to occur, wherein;

the pre-determined force is an amount of force proportional to an optimal tissue compression force of the compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces; and

the switching element is positioned in line with the tissue-compressing device to cause the switching force, proportional to the force placed upon compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces, to be imparted to the switching element.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the switching element is a mechanical binary-output electrical switch.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the first switching state is an open electrical state and the second switching state is a closed electrical state.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the biasing element is adjustable.

14. The surgical instrument according to claim 13, wherein the pre-determined force of the biasing element is set to an amount proportional to the optimal tissue compression force of the compressed tissue.

15. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein setting of the pre-determined force to an amount proportional to the optimal tissue compression force of the compressed tissue causes a change of the switching state to occur when a compression force placed on tissue by the opposing compression surfaces of the tissue-compressing device is at least as great as the optimal tissue compression force.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the switching element is positioned to cause substantially the same force placed upon the compressed tissue disposed between the opposing compression surfaces to be placed upon the switching element.

17. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein:

the tissue-compressing device has a compression axis; and

the switching element comprises an actuation gap oriented to span along the compression axis and to cause a change of the switching state dependent upon a force expanding along the compression axis.

18. The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the tissue-compressing device comprises an end effector with two opposing jaws that compress tissue disposed therebetween.