Sensor arrangements for absolute positioning system for surgical instruments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9808244-B2
Application number	US-201313803210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument may include an absolute position sensor system. The absolute position sensor system includes a sensor element operatively coupled to a movable drive member of the surgical instrument. A position sensor is operably coupled to the sensor element and is configured to sense the absolute position of the sensor element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An absolute position sensor system for a surgical instrument, the absolute position sensor system comprising:
a sensor element operatively coupled to a movable drive member of the surgical instrument;
a position sensor operably coupled to the sensor element, the position sensor configured to sense the absolute position of the sensor element by generating a unique position signal for each position of the movable drive member; and
a gear assembly to couple the sensor element to the movable drive member, wherein the gear assembly is located between the sensor element and the movable drive member.

2. The absolute position sensor system of claim 1 , comprising a microcontroller operatively coupled to the position sensor, the microcontroller configured to receive a unique position signal from the position sensor, wherein the unique position signal represents an absolute position angle of the sensor element over one revolution of the sensor element.

3. The absolute position sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the movable drive member is a longitudinally-movable drive member.

4. The absolute position sensor system of claim 3 , wherein a full stroke of the movable drive member corresponds to less than a single rotation of the sensor element.

5. The absolute position sensor system of claim 3 , wherein a full stroke of the movable drive member corresponds to a single rotation of the sensor element.

6. The absolute position sensor system of claim 3 , wherein a partial stroke of the movable drive member corresponds to a single rotation of the sensor element.

7. The absolute position sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor element is a magnet and the position sensor is a magnetic position sensor comprising at least one magnetic sensor element disposed in proximity to the magnet.

8. The absolute position sensor system of claim 7 , wherein the magnetic sensor element comprises one or more Hall-effect elements.

9. An absolute position sensor system for a surgical instrument, the absolute position sensor system comprising:
a sensor element operatively coupled to a movable drive member of the surgical instrument;
a position sensor operably coupled to the sensor element, the position sensor configured to sense the absolute position of the sensor element by generating a unique position signal for each position of the movable drive member; and
a gear assembly to couple the sensor element to the movable drive member, wherein the gear assembly is located between the sensor element and the movable drive member.

10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an absolute position sensor system comprising:
a sensor element operatively coupled to a movable drive member of the surgical instrument,
a position sensor operably coupled to the sensor element, the position sensor configured to sense the absolute position of the sensor element by generating a unique position signal for each position of the movable drive member, and
a gear assembly to couple the sensor element to the movable drive member, wherein the gear assembly is located between the sensor element and the movable drive member; and

a motor operatively coupled to the movable drive member.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , comprising a microcontroller operatively coupled to the position sensor, the microcontroller configured to receive a unique position signal from the position sensor, wherein the unique position signal represents an absolute position angle of the sensor element over one revolution of the sensor element.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the movable drive member is a longitudinally-movable drive member.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein a full stroke of the movable drive member corresponds to a single rotation of the sensor element.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein a partial stroke of the movable drive member corresponds to a single rotation of the sensor element.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the sensor element is a magnet and the position sensor is a magnetic position sensor comprising at least one magnetic sensor element disposed in proximity to the magnet.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic sensor element is a Hall-effect element.

17. An absolute position sensor system for a surgical instrument, the absolute position sensor system comprising:
a sensor element operatively coupled to a movable drive member of the surgical instrument;
a gear assembly to couple the sensor element to the movable drive member, wherein the gear assembly is located between the sensor element and the movable drive member;
a holder to hold the sensor element, wherein the holder and the sensor element are rotationally coupled; and
a position sensor operably coupled to the sensor element, the position sensor configured to sense the absolute position of the sensor element by generating a unique position signal for each position of the movable drive member, wherein the position sensor is fixed relative to the rotation of the holder and the sensor element.

18. The absolute position sensor system of claim 17 , comprising a microcontroller operatively coupled to the position sensor, the microcontroller configured to receive a unique position signal from the position sensor, wherein the unique position signal represents an absolute position angle of the sensor element over one revolution of the sensor element.

19. The absolute position sensor system of claim 17 , wherein the gear assembly comprises a gear reduction ratio such that a full stroke of the movable drive member corresponds to a single revolution of the sensor element.

20. The absolute position sensor system of claim 17 , comprising at least one switch coupled to the movable drive member, wherein a full stroke of the movable drive member corresponds to more than one revolution of the sensor element and an output signal of the switch.

21. An absolute position sensor system for a surgical instrument, the absolute position sensor system comprising:
a sensor element operatively coupled to a movable drive member of the surgical instrument; and
a position sensor operably coupled to the sensor element, the position sensor configured to sense the absolute position of the sensor element; and
a gear assembly to couple the sensor element to the movable drive member, wherein the gear assembly is located between the sensor element and the movable drive member.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Leimbach Richard L
• Overmyer Mark D
• Swensgard Brett E
• Adams Shane R

Classifications

• A61B2017/00398

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

• A61B2017/2927

  the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft · CPC title

• A61B17/0686

  having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling · CPC title

• A61B2017/2925

  Pistol grips · CPC title

• A61B2017/00389

  Button or wheel for performing multiple functions, e.g. rotation of shaft and end effector · CPC title