End effector force measurement with digital drive circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11950783-B2
Application number	US-202217857274-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2022
Priority date	Feb 6, 2019
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A surgical device includes a handle assembly having a controller and an adapter assembly including a tubular housing having a proximal end portion configured to couple to the handle assembly and a distal end portion. The adapter assembly also includes a load sensing assembly disposed with the tubular housing. The load sensing assembly is configured to measure a load exerted on the tubular housing and includes: a sensor body having a pocket defined therein; a load sensor circuit disposed within the pocket and coupled to the sensor body; and a signal processing circuit disposed within the pocket and electrically coupled to the load sensor circuit. The load sensing assembly further includes a cover disposed over the pocket and enclosing the load sensor circuit and the signal processing circuit therein, the cover being coupled to the sensor body thereby forming a first hermetic seal therebetween. The surgical device further includes a surgical end effector configured to couple to the distal end portion of the adapter assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A load sensing assembly comprising:
a sensor body including a pocket defined therein;
a load sensor circuit disposed within the pocket and coupled to the sensor body;
a signal processing circuit disposed within the pocket and electrically coupled to the load sensor circuit; and
a cover disposed over the pocket and hermetically enclosing the load sensor circuit and the signal processing circuit therein.

2. The load sensing assembly according to claim 1 further comprising:
a header including a contact coupled to the load sensor circuit and the signal processing circuit, wherein the header is coupled to the sensor body thereby forming a hermetic seal therebetween.

3. The load sensing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor body further includes a slot defined therein, the slot being connected to the pocket.

4. The load sensing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the load sensing assembly includes a strain gauge.

5. The load sensing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the signal processing circuit includes a flexible circuit board.

6. The load sensing assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the signal processing circuit is covered by a dielectric wrap.

7. An adapter assembly comprising:
a tubular housing having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
an actuation assembly; and
a load sensing assembly disposed with the tubular housing, the load sensing assembly configured to measure a load exerted on the tubular housing, the load sensing assembly including:
a sensor body including a pocket defined therein;
a load sensor circuit disposed within the pocket and coupled to the sensor body;
a signal processing circuit disposed within the pocket and electrically coupled to the load sensor circuit; and
a cover disposed over the pocket and hermetically enclosing the load sensor circuit and the signal processing circuit therein.

8. The adapter assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the load sensing assembly includes a strain gauge.

9. The adapter assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the signal processing circuit includes a flexible circuit board.

10. The adapter assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the sensor body includes a lumen defined therethrough and the actuation assembly is movable through the lumen.

11. The adapter assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the sensor body further includes a slot defined therein, the slot being connected to the pocket.

12. The adapter assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the load sensing assembly further includes a header including a contact coupled to the load sensor circuit and the signal processing circuit and the header is coupled to the sensor body thereby forming a hermetic seal therebetween.

13. The adapter assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising:
an electrically conductive lead coupled to the contact; and
an electrical connector disposed at the proximal end portion and coupled to the electrically conductive lead.

14. A surgical device including:
a handle assembly including a controller;
an adapter assembly including:
a tubular housing having a proximal end portion configured to couple to the handle assembly and a distal end portion;
a load sensing assembly disposed with the tubular housing, the load sensing assembly configured to measure a load exerted on the tubular housing, the load sensing assembly including:
a sensor body including a pocket defined therein;
a load sensor circuit disposed within the pocket and coupled to the sensor body;
a signal processing circuit disposed within the pocket and electrically coupled to the load sensor circuit; and
a cover disposed over the pocket and hermetically enclosing the load sensor circuit and the signal processing circuit therein; and

a surgical end effector configured to couple to the distal end portion of the adapter assembly.

15. The surgical device according to claim 14 , wherein the load sensing assembly includes a strain gauge.

16. The surgical device according to claim 14 , wherein the signal processing circuit includes a flexible circuit board.

17. The surgical device according to claim 14 , wherein the adapter assembly further includes an actuation assembly including a trocar member and wherein the sensor body includes a lumen defined therethrough and the actuation assembly is movable through the lumen.

18. The surgical device according to claim 14 , wherein the sensor body further includes a slot defined therein, the slot being connected to the pocket.

19. The surgical device according to claim 18 , wherein the load sensing assembly further includes a header coupled to the sensor body thereby forming a hermetic seal therebetween, the header having a contact coupled to the load sensor circuit and the signal processing circuit.

20. The surgical device according to claim 19 , wherein the adapter assembly further includes:
an electrically conductive lead coupled to the contact; and
an electrical connector disposed at the proximal end portion and coupled to the electrically conductive lead.

21. The surgical device according to claim 20 , wherein the handle assembly includes an electrical receptacle configured to couple to the electrical connector and the controller is coupled to the electrical receptacle.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Sgroi Jr Anthony
• Valentine Jr David
• Cabrera Ramiro
• Collins Ethan
• Firth Scott
• Eisinger Joseph
• Hryb Iv John J
• Mozdzierz Patrick

Classifications

• A61B17/1155 Primary

  Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples · CPC title

• H05K1/0277

  Bendability or stretchability details (H05K1/038, H05K3/4691 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/1427

  Housings · CPC title

• A61B2017/00022

  Sensing or detecting at the treatment site · CPC title

• A61B2017/00486

  Adaptors for coupling parts with incompatible geometries · CPC title