Power adapter for a surgical instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016249909-A1
Application number	US-201514633548-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 27, 2015
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A surgical instrument system is disclosed which comprises a handle and a battery positioned in the handle. The system can further include a power adapter which can be exchanged for the battery and can supply power from an alternate power source. In other instances, the system can include a power adapter which is engageable with the battery to supply power from an alternate power source. The power adapter can be placed in series with the battery. Alternatively, the engagement of the power adapter with the handle can electrically decouple the battery from the handle. Also disclosed herein is a supplemental battery which can be attached to the handle to provide additional power to the handle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A surgical instrument system, comprising:
a handle, comprising:
a battery cavity; and
a direct current electrical motor;
a battery removably positionable in said battery cavity, wherein said battery is configured to supply direct current electrical power to said direct current electrical motor; and a power adapter, comprising:
a plug removably positionable in said battery cavity in lieu of said battery;
a cord extending from said plug, wherein said cord is configured to transmit power to said plug from a power source; and an alternating current to direct current power converter configured to convert alternating current electrical power supplied from the power source to direct current electrical power.

2 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said alternating current to direct current power converter is positioned in said plug.

3 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said battery comprises a battery housing, wherein said plug comprises a plug housing, and wherein said battery housing is analogous to said plug housing.

4 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said handle comprises a set of handle electrical contacts in said battery cavity, wherein said battery comprises a set of battery electrical contacts configured to engage said handle electrical contacts when said battery is positioned in said battery cavity, and wherein said plug comprises a set of plug electrical contacts configured to engage said handle electrical contacts when said plug is positioned in said battery cavity.

5 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said handle comprises a first set of handle electrical contacts and a second set of handle electrical contacts in said battery cavity, wherein said battery comprises a set of battery electrical contacts configured to engage said first set of handle electrical contacts when said battery is positioned in said battery cavity, and wherein said plug comprises a set of plug electrical contacts configured to engage said second set of handle electrical contacts when said plug is positioned in said battery cavity.

6 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , wherein said alternating current to direct current power converter is positioned in said handle and is in electrical communication with said second set of handle electrical contacts.

7 . The surgical instrument system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of shaft assemblies, wherein each said shaft assembly is selectively engageable with said handle.

8 . The surgical instrument system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of said shaft assemblies comprises a stapling cartridge.

9 . A surgical instrument system, comprising:
a handle, comprising:
a battery cavity; and
a direct current electrical motor;
a power adapter, comprising:
a battery positioned in said battery cavity, wherein said battery comprises at least one battery cell;
an electrical connector; and
a cord engageable with said electrical connector, wherein said cord is configured to transmit power from a power source; and
an alternating current to direct current power converter configured to convert alternating current electrical power supplied from the power source to direct current electrical power and supply direct current electrical power to said direct current electrical motor.

10 . The surgical instrument system of claim 9 , further comprising a battery circuit, wherein said at least one battery cell, said alternating current to direct current power converter, and said electrical connector are arranged in series in said battery circuit such that said at least one battery cell and the power source can supply power to said direct current electric motor when said cord is engaged with said electrical connector.

11 . The surgical instrument system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first battery circuit segment, wherein said first battery circuit segment includes said at least one battery cell; a second battery circuit segment, wherein said second battery circuit segment includes said alternating current to direct current power converter; and a switch positioned in said battery, wherein said switch is switchable between:
a first switch state in which said at least one battery cell can supply electrical power to said direct current electrical motor and the power supply cannot supply electrical power to said direct current electrical motor; and
a second switch state in which said at least one battery cell cannot supply electrical power to said direct current electrical motor and the power supply can supply electrical power to said direct current electrical motor.

12 . The surgical instrument system of claim 11 , wherein said switch is biased into said first switch state.

13 . The surgical instrument system of claim 11 , wherein the insertion of said cord into said battery electrical connector switches said switch from said first switch state into said second switch state.

14 . The surgical instrument system of claim 13 , further comprising a biasing member configured to return said switch into said first switch state.

15 . The surgical instrument system of claim 13 , wherein said switch is incapable of being returned to said first switch state after being placed in said second switch state.

16 . The surgical instrument system of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of shaft assemblies, wherein each said shaft assembly is selectively engageable with said handle.

17 . The surgical instrument system of claim 16 , wherein at least one of said shaft assemblies comprises a stapling cartridge.

18 . A surgical instrument system, comprising:
a handle, comprising:
a handle housing;
a handle battery cell positioned in said handle housing;
a handle electrical circuit, wherein said handle battery cell is configured to supply power to said handle electrical circuit; and
a handle electrical connector in communication with said handle electrical circuit; and
a supplemental battery selectively engageable with said handle, wherein said supplemental battery comprises:
a battery housing engageable with said handle housing;
a battery electrical circuit;
a supplemental battery cell positioned in said battery housing, wherein said supplemental battery cell is configured to supply power to said battery electrical circuit; and
a battery electrical connector in communication with said battery electrical circuit, wherein said battery electrical connector is engageable with said handle electrical connector when said supplemental battery is engaged with said handle to place said battery electrical circuit in communication with said handle electrical circuit.

19 . The surgical instrument system of claim 18 , wherein said handle housing comprises a gripping portion, and wherein said battery housing comprises a receptacle configured to receive said gripping portion.

20 . The surgical instrument system of claim 18 , wherein said handle further comprises a connector cover movable between a first position in which the connector cover inhibits accidental contact with the said handle electrical connector and a second position in which the connector cover permits the battery electrical connector to engage said handle electrical connector.

21 . The surgical instrument system of claim 20 , wherein said battery housing is configured to move said connector cover between said first position and said second position when said supplemental batt

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc

Inventors

• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Morgan Jerome R
• Harris Jason L
• Beckman Andrew T
• Baxter Iii Chester O

Classifications

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/485

  with provisions for charging different types of batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/84

  Control of state of health [SOH] · CPC title

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title