Surgical stapler with reversible motor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016374666-A1
Application number	US-201514751231-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2015
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for resetting an apparatus configured for stapling tissue includes providing the apparatus with a cam member of the apparatus in a fired position. The method further includes changing the polarity of a motor of the apparatus and activating the motor such that the cam member rotates in a second direction from the fired position back to a home position. The apparatus further includes a stapling head assembly and a shaft assembly coupled to the stapling head assembly. The apparatus further includes a body coupled to the shaft assembly. The body comprises a motor and a cam member that is configured to rotate in response to activation of the motor. Rotation of the cam member in a first direction from the home position to the fired position results in actuation of the stapling head assembly.

First claim

I/We claim:

1 . A method for resetting an apparatus configured for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a stapling head assembly, wherein the stapling head assembly comprises:
(i) an annularly arranged array of staples, and
(ii) a knife with an annular cutting edge that is configured to cut tissue;
(b) a shaft assembly coupled to the stapling head assembly; and (c) a body coupled to the shaft assembly, wherein the body comprises:
(i) a motor, and
(ii) a cam member configured to rotate in response to activation of the motor, wherein the cam member is rotatable in a first direction from a home position to a fired position to actuate the stapling head assembly to thereby drive the staples and the knife through tissue;
wherein the method comprises: (a) providing an apparatus including the cam member in the fired position; (b) changing the polarity of the motor; and (c) activating the motor such that the cam member rotates in a second direction from the fired position to the home position.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cam member rotates less than 360 degrees when rotating between the home position and fired position, and between the fired position and the home position.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a switch in communication with the motor, wherein changing the polarity of the motor comprises actuating the switch.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a trigger, wherein the motor is configured to activate in response to actuation of the trigger, wherein the method further comprises actuating the trigger.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the apparatus comprises a locking mechanism configured to prevent actuation of the trigger, wherein the method further comprises unlocking the locking mechanism.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , further comprising locking the locking mechanism after the cam member returns to the home position from the fired position.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising cleaning the instrument.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , further comprising sterilizing the instrument.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising reloading the stapling head assembly with staples.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising packaging the instrument in a container.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a battery pack, wherein the method further comprises removing the battery pack.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly further comprises a pistol grip, wherein the motor is positioned in the pistol grip.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cam member comprises an eccentric cam.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising using the reset instrument in a surgical procedure.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein using the reset instrument in a surgical procedure further comprises using the reset instrument in an anastomosis procedure.

16 . A method for resetting an apparatus configured for stapling tissue, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a stapling head assembly, wherein the stapling head assembly comprises:
(i) an annularly arranged array of staples, and
(ii) a knife with an annular cutting edge that is configured to cut tissue;
(b) a shaft assembly coupled to the stapling head assembly; and (c) a body coupled to the shaft assembly, wherein the body comprises:
(i) a motor,
(ii) a cam member configured to rotate in response to activation of the motor, wherein the cam member is rotatable in a first direction from a home position to a fired position to actuate the stapling head assembly to thereby drive the staples and the knife through tissue, and
(iii) a casing, wherein the cam member is positioned within the casing;
wherein the method comprises: (a) providing an apparatus including the cam member in the fired position; (b) removing at least a portion of the casing; and (c) rotating the cam member in a second direction from the fired position to the home position.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising replacing the casing.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a cam follower operably coupled to the cam member and the stapling head assembly, wherein the method further comprises displacing the cam follower from the cam member prior to rotating the cam member from the fired position to the home position.

19 . A surgical instrument for stapling tissue, the instrument comprising:
(a) a stapling head assembly, wherein the stapling head assembly comprises:
(i) an annularly arranged array of staples, and
(ii) a knife with an annular cuffing edge that is configured to cut tissue;
(b) a shaft assembly coupled to the stapling head assembly; and (c) a body coupled to the shaft assembly, wherein the body comprises:
(i) a motor,
(ii) a cam member configured to rotate in response to activation of the motor, wherein the cam member is rotatable in a first direction from a home position to a fired position to actuate the stapling head assembly to thereby drive the staples and the knife through tissue,
(iii) a switch configured to change the polarity of the motor upon the switch being actuated, and
(iv) a trigger, wherein the motor is configured to activate in response to actuation of the trigger.

20 . The surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein the body further comprises a casing, wherein the motor, the cam member, and the switch are contained within the casing.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc

Inventors

• Dinardo Brian F
• Clingaman Rodney V
• Scheib Charles J
• Shelton Iv Frederick E

Classifications

• A61B17/1155 Primary

  Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples · CPC title

• A61B2017/00398

  using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids · CPC title

• A61B2017/00734

  battery operated · CPC title

• A61B2017/2913

  cams or guiding means · CPC title

• A61B2090/0811

  for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument · CPC title