Surgical instrument soft stop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016270780-A1
Application number	US-201615074296-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 18, 2016
Priority date	Mar 1, 2013
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a drive member movable by a drive motor between a home position and an end of stroke. A mechanical stop is disposed at or near the end of stroke and is structured to increase resistance to movement of the drive member from a first position to a second position. A control system detects a current spike associated with the increased resistance and interrupts power to the drive motor.

First claim

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing; an elongate shaft assembly extending distally from the housing; an articulation joint extending distally from the elongate shaft assembly, wherein the articulation joint comprises:
a proximal joint portion coupled to the elongate shaft assembly; and
a distal joint portion movably coupled to the proximal joint portion;
an end effector, comprising:
an anvil; and
a staple cartridge, wherein at least one of the anvil and the staple cartridge is movable relative to the other one of the anvil and the staple cartridge to capture tissue therebetween;
a first interface extending distally from the distal joint portion, wherein the first interface is distal to the articulation joint; and a second interface extending proximally from the end effector, wherein the second interface is configured to releasably couple the end effector to the first interface.

19 . The surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein the elongate shaft assembly comprises an articulation drive member, and wherein the distal joint portion is configured to interface with the articulation drive member to receive articulation motions therefrom.

20 . The surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein the distal joint portion is configured to pivot relative to the proximal joint portion upon application of rotary articulation motions to the articulation drive member of the elongate shaft assembly.

21 . The surgical instrument of claim 20 , wherein the articulation joint further comprises an articulation drive link operably coupled to the distal joint portion, the articulation drive link interfacing with the articulation drive member and being constrained to move axially relative to the articulation joint in response to the application of the rotary articulation motions to the articulation drive member.

22 . The surgical instrument of claim 21 , wherein the articulation drive link threadably engages the articulation drive member.

23 . The surgical instrument of claim 20 , wherein the housing comprises a motor configured to generate the rotary articulation motions.

24 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing; an elongate shaft assembly extending distally from the housing; an articulation joint extending distally from the elongate shaft assembly, wherein the articulation joint comprises:
a proximal joint portion coupled to the elongate shaft assembly; and
a distal joint portion movably coupled to the proximal joint portion;
a end effector, comprising:
an anvil; and
a staple cartridge, wherein at least one of the anvil and the staple cartridge is movable relative to the other one of the anvil and the staple cartridge to capture tissue therebetween;
a coupler assembly, comprising:
a first coupler extending distally from the distal joint portion; and
a second coupler extending proximally from the end effector, wherein the first coupler is connectable to the second coupler to releasably attach the end effector to the surgical instrument, and wherein the coupler assembly is positioned between the end effector and the articulation joint when the end effector is attached to the surgical instrument.

25 . The surgical instrument of claim 24 , wherein the elongate shaft assembly comprises an articulation drive member, and wherein the distal joint portion is configured to interface with the articulation drive member to receive articulation motions therefrom.

26 . The surgical instrument of claim 25 , wherein the distal joint portion is configured to pivot relative to the proximal joint portion upon application of rotary articulation motions to the articulation drive member of the elongate shaft assembly.

27 . The surgical instrument of claim 26 , wherein the articulation joint further comprises an articulation drive link operably coupled to the distal joint portion, the articulation drive link interfacing with the articulation drive member and being constrained to move axially relative to the articulation joint in response to the application of the rotary articulation motions to the articulation drive member.

28 . The surgical instrument of claim 27 , wherein the articulation drive link threadably engages the articulation drive member.

29 . The surgical instrument of claim 26 , wherein the housing comprises a motor configured to generate the rotary articulation motions.

30 . A surgical tool adapted for connection to a replaceable end effector including an anvil and a staple cartridge, the surgical tool comprising:
a housing; an elongate shaft assembly extending distally from the housing; an articulation joint extending distally from the elongate shaft assembly, wherein the articulation joint comprises:
a proximal joint portion coupled to the elongate shaft assembly; and
a distal joint portion movably coupled to the proximal joint portion;
an interface extending distally from the distal joint portion, wherein the interface is distal to the articulation joint, and wherein the interface is adapted for releasable attachment to the replaceable end effector.

31 . The surgical instrument of claim 30 , wherein the elongate shaft assembly comprises an articulation drive member, and wherein the distal joint portion is configured to interface with the articulation drive member to receive articulation motions therefrom.

32 . The surgical instrument of claim 31 , wherein the distal joint portion is configured to pivot relative to the proximal joint portion upon application of rotary articulation motions to the articulation drive member of the elongate shaft assembly.

33 . The surgical instrument of claim 32 , wherein the articulation joint further comprises an articulation drive link operably coupled to the distal joint portion, the articulation drive link interfacing with the articulation drive member and being constrained to move axially relative to the articulation joint in response to the application of the rotary articulation motions to the articulation drive member.

34 . The surgical instrument of claim 33 , wherein the articulation drive link threadably engages the articulation drive member.

35 . The surgical instrument of claim 32 , wherein the housing comprises a motor configured to generate the rotary articulation motions.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc

Inventors

• Hall Steven G
• Baber Daniel L
• Leimbach Richard L

Classifications

• A61B2017/00084

  Temperature · CPC title

• A61B18/14

  Probes or electrodes therefor · CPC title

• A61B2017/320069

  for ablating tissue · CPC title

• A61B90/90

  Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags · CPC title

• A61B2090/065

  for measuring contact or contact pressure · CPC title