Device status feedback for bipolar tissue spacer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9757186-B2
Application number	US-201414255242-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2014
Priority date	Apr 17, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes an end effector and a feedback system. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other one of the first jaw and the second jaw to transition the end effector during a closure stroke between an open configuration, a first approximated configuration, and a second approximated configuration. The feedback system includes an indicator, the indicator transitionable between a first indicator position, a second indicator position, and a third indicator position, wherein the indicator is in the first indicator position when the end effect is in the open configuration, wherein the indicator is in the second indicator position when the end effector is in the first approximated configuration, and wherein the indicator is in the third indicator position when the end effector is in the second approximated configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a shaft;
an end effector extending distally from the shaft, the end effector comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other one of the first jaw and the second jaw to transition the end effector between an open configuration and an approximated configuration;
an electrode operable to seal tissue captured between the first jaw and the second jaw in the approximated configuration; and
a cutting member movable to cut the tissue captured between the first jaw and the second jaw in the approximated configuration;

a housing extending proximally from the shaft, the housing comprising:
a closure trigger actuatable in a closure stroke to transition the end effector from the open configuration to the approximated configuration, the closure trigger movable between an initial unactuated position and an actuated position during the closure stroke; and
a firing trigger actuatable in a firing stroke to advance the cutting member to cut the tissue captured between the first jaw and the second jaw in the approximated configuration; and

a feedback system comprising an indicator circuit, the indicator circuit comprising:
a first switch transitionable between a first switch inactive configuration and a first switch active configuration, the first switch associated with the closure trigger, wherein the actuation of the closure trigger from the initial unactuated position to the actuated position transitions the first switch from the first switch active configuration to the first switch inactive configuration;
a second switch transitionable between a second switch inactive configuration and a second switch active configuration, the second switch associated with the firing trigger, wherein actuation of the firing trigger transitions the second switch from the second switch inactive configuration to the second switch active configuration; and
an indicator activated when the first switch is in the first switch active configuration and when the second switch is in the second switch active configuration.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a locking member movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the locking member, in the locked position, is configured to resist advancement of the cutting member to cut the tissue captured between the first jaw and the second jaw in the approximated configuration.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the first switch is in the first switch active configuration when the locking member is in the locked position.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the first switch is in the first switch inactive configuration when the locking member is in the unlocked position.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the firing trigger is actuatable during the firing stroke to a first actuated position and to a second actuated position beyond the first actuated position.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the second switch is in the second switch active configuration when the firing trigger is in the first actuated position.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the cutting member comprises a cutting surface, and wherein the cutting surface is configured to contact the tissue when the firing trigger is in the second actuated position.

9. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector, the end effector transitionable between an open configuration, a first approximated configuration, and a second approximated configuration;
a closure drive assembly movable in a closure stroke to transition the end effector from the open configuration to the first approximated configuration and further to the second approximated configuration;
a cutting member;
a firing drive assembly;
a firing trigger operably coupled to the firing drive assembly, the firing trigger actuatable in a firing stroke between an initial unactuated position, a first actuated position, and a second actuated position, wherein the firing trigger is movable from the first actuated position to the second actuated position to motivate the firing drive assembly to advance the cutting member to engage tissue captured by the end effector in the second approximated configuration; and
a feedback system comprising an indicator circuit, the indicator circuit comprising:
a first switch transitionable between a first switch open position and a first switch closed position, wherein the first switch is in the first switch closed position when the end effector is in the first approximated configuration, and wherein the first switch is in the first switch open position when the end effector is in the second approximated configuration;
a second switch transitionable between a second switch open position and a second switch closed position, wherein the second switch is in the second switch open position when the firing trigger is in the initial unactuated position, and wherein the second switch is in the second switch closed position when the firing trigger is in the first actuated position; and
an indicator activated when the first switch is in the first switch closed position and when the second switch is in the second switch closed position.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , further comprising a locking member movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the locking member is in the locked position when the end effector is in the first approximated configuration.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the locking member is in the unlocked position when the end effector is in the second approximated configuration.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the locking member is configured to engage the firing drive assembly in the locked position.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13 , wherein the locking member is configured to release the firing drive assembly in the unlocked position.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the first switch is coupled to the locking member, wherein movement of the locking member from the locked position to the unlocked position transitions the first switch from the first switch closed position to the first switch open position.

16. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a shaft;
a handle extending proximally from the shaft, the handle comprising a closure trigger actuatable in a closure stroke between an initial unactuated position and a locked actuated position;
an end effector extending distally from the shaft, the end effector operably coupled to the closure trigger, wherein the end effector comprises:
a first jaw; and
a second jaw, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other one of the first jaw and the second jaw to transition the end effector during the closure stroke between an open configuration, a first approximated configuration, and a second approximated configuration; and

a feedback system including an indicator circuit, the indicator circuit comprising:
a first switch transitionable between a first open position, an intermediate closed position, and a second open position, wherein the first switch is in the first open position when the end effector is in the open configuration, wherein the first switch is in the intermediate closed position when the end effector is in the first approximated configuration, and wherein the first switch is in the second open position

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Boudreaux Chad P
• Monroe David A
• Ruiz Ortiz Rafael J
• Stulen Foster B
• Aldridge Jeffrey L
• Corbett Catherine A
• Mcfarland Terry A

Classifications

• A61B2018/0063

  Sealing · CPC title

• A61B2018/1455

  having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws · CPC title

• A61B2018/00607

  Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument · CPC title

• A61B2018/00958

  for switching between different working modes of the main function · CPC title

• A61B18/1445 Primary

  at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod · CPC title