Surgical instruments and switch assemblies thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016118201-A1
Application number	US-201514808314-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 24, 2015
Priority date	Oct 22, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A switch assembly includes a switch housing, a first switch subassembly, and a second switch subassembly. The first switch subassembly includes a shaft and a toggle button. The shaft is disposed within the switch housing and has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The shaft is pivotable relative to the switch housing about at least one pivot axis to actuate at least one function of a surgical instrument. The proximal end portion of the shaft includes a magnet. The toggle button is non-rotatably connected to the distal end portion of the shaft. The second switch subassembly includes a safety bar and a post. The safety bar is axially movable within the switch housing. The post extends through the safety bar such that movement of the safety bar along a longitudinal axis thereof moves the post between a firing position and a non-firing position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A switch assembly for actuating functions of a hand-held surgical instrument, comprising:
a switch housing defining a channel therethrough, the switch housing defining a longitudinal axis; a first switch subassembly including:
a shaft disposed within the channel of the switch housing and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the shaft being pivotable relative to the switch housing about at least one pivot axis to actuate at least one function of a surgical instrument, the proximal end portion of the shaft including a magnet; and
a toggle button non-rotatably connected to the distal end portion of the shaft; and
a second switch subassembly including:
a safety bar extending through the switch housing, transverse to the longitudinal axis, and being axially movable therein, the safety bar having a first end and a second end and defining a longitudinal axis therebetween; and
a post extending through the safety bar, transversely thereto, such that movement of the safety bar along the longitudinal axis thereof moves the post between a firing position and a non-firing position.

2 . The switch assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft of the first switch subassembly is pivotable relative to the switch housing about another pivot axis to actuate another function of a surgical instrument.

3 . The switch assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first switch subassembly further includes:
an outer member disposed within the channel of the switch housing, the outer member being prevented from moving distally relative to the switch housing; and an inner member non-rotatably disposed within the outer member, the shaft of the first switch subassembly extending through the outer and inner members, the outer and inner members defining a cavity therein having a substantially spherical configuration, wherein the proximal end portion of the shaft has a spherical portion disposed in the spherical cavity.

4 . The switch assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the first switch subassembly further includes:
a first keyed member rotatably connected to the spherical portion of the shaft; and a second keyed member rotatably connected to the spherical portion of the shaft such that the keyed members resist rotation of the shaft about a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft.

5 . The switch assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the first switch subassembly further includes:
a pivoting member having a cone-shaped proximal end in abutment with a concave face of the outer member; and a biasing member disposed between the cone-shaped proximal end of the pivoting member and the toggle button to center the toggle button within the channel.

6 . The switch assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the post of the second switch subassembly includes a magnet configured to communicate with a hall effect sensor of a surgical instrument.

7 . The switch assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a third switch subassembly including an annular switch rotatably disposed within the switch housing to actuate at least one function of a surgical instrument.

8 . A handle assembly of a hand-held surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle housing; a plurality of motors disposed within the handle housing; a plurality of hall effect sensors disposed within the handle housing and in communication with the plurality of motors to actuate at least one of the plurality of motors; and a switch assembly supported on the handle housing and including:
a switch housing defining a channel therethrough, the switch housing defining a longitudinal axis;
a first switch subassembly including:
a shaft disposed within the channel of the switch housing and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion including a magnet disposed adjacent a first hall effect sensor of the plurality of hall effect sensors, the shaft being pivotable relative to the switch housing about at least one pivot axis to signal the first hall effect sensor; and
a toggle button non-rotatably connected to the distal end portion of the shaft; and

a second switch subassembly including:
a safety bar extending through the switch housing, transverse to the longitudinal axis, and being axially movable therein, the safety bar having a first end and a second end and defining a longitudinal axis therebetween; and
a post extending through the safety bar, transversely thereto, the post having a proximal end including a magnet in communication with a second hall effect sensor of the plurality of hall effect sensors such that movement of the safety bar along the longitudinal axis thereof moves the post between a firing position, in which a first motor of the plurality of motors is actuatable by the first switch subassembly, and a non-firing position, in which the first motor of the plurality of motors is prevented from actuation by the first switch subassembly.

9 . The handle assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the shaft of the first switch subassembly is pivotable relative to the switch housing about another pivot axis to signal another hall effect sensor of the plurality of hall effect sensors to actuate another function of a surgical instrument.

10 . The handle assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the first switch subassembly of the switch assembly further includes:
an outer member disposed within the channel of the switch housing, the outer member being prevented from moving distally relative to the switch housing; and an inner member non-rotatably disposed within the outer member, the shaft of the first switch subassembly extending through the outer and inner members, the outer and inner members defining a cavity therein having a substantially spherical configuration, wherein the proximal end portion of the shaft has a spherical portion disposed in the spherical cavity.

11 . The handle assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the first switch subassembly of the switch assembly further includes:
a first keyed member rotatably connected to the spherical portion of the shaft; and a second keyed member rotatably connected to the spherical portion of the shaft such that the keyed members resist rotation of the shaft about a longitudinal axis defined by the shaft.

12 . The handle assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the first switch subassembly of the switch assembly further includes:
a pivoting member having a cone-shaped proximal end in abutment with a concave face of the outer member; and a biasing member disposed between the cone-shaped proximal end of the pivoting member and the toggle button to center the toggle button within the channel.

13 . The handle assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the switch assembly further includes a third switch subassembly including an annular switch rotatably disposed within the switch housing, the annular switch having a magnet in communication with a third hall effect sensor of the plurality of hall effect sensors to actuate a second motor of the plurality of motors.

14 . The handle assembly according to claim 10 , further comprising a printed circuit board disposed within the handle housing and having the plurality of hall effect sensors arranged therealong.

15 . The handle assembly according to claim 14 , further comprising a battery coupled to the printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the plurality of motors.

16 . The handle assembly according to claim 14 , further comprising a battery removably received within the handle housing and electrically coupled to the pl

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Nicholas David
• Pribanic Russell

Classifications

• A61B2017/00734

  battery operated · CPC title

• A61B2017/0046

  with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable · CPC title

• A61B17/07207 Primary

  the staples being applied sequentially · CPC title

• H01H2300/014

  Application surgical instrument · CPC title

• A61B17/072 Primary

  for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously · CPC title