Powered surgical instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9814452-B2
Application number	US-201414230560-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2014
Priority date	Apr 13, 2007
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion, and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing;
an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis;
a drive gear disposed at least partially within the housing, the drive gear rotatable about a drive gear axis extending therethrough;
a drive motor configured to rotate the drive gear;
a shift motor configured to move the drive motor along the drive gear axis; and
a shift sensor arranged to determine the longitudinal position of the drive motor.

2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a screen for displaying information concerning the status of the surgical instrument.

3. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a shift screw, the shift motor being configured to drive the shift screw.

4. The surgical instrument according to claim 3 , further comprising a screw housing, the shift screw being in engagement with the screw housing for moving the screw housing longitudinally.

5. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein information from the shift sensor is communicated to a screen associated with the instrument.

6. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the shift sensor communicates with at least one switch to start or stop the shift motor.

7. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a position lock for engaging the drive motor in one of a plurality of longitudinally-spaced positions.

8. The surgical instrument according to claim 7 , wherein the shift sensor interacts with the position lock to determine a status of the shift motor.

9. The surgical instrument according to claim 7 , further comprising a drive motor casing at least partially surrounding the drive motor, the drive motor casing including at least three slots therein, wherein each slot is matable with the position lock to maintain the drive gear in a desired longitudinal position.

10. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the drive gear axis and the longitudinal axis are coaxial.

11. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the drive gear axis and the longitudinal axis are parallel.

12. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the drive motor includes a drive motor shaft extending distally therefrom, the drive motor shaft being mechanically engaged with the drive gear.

13. The surgical instrument according to claim 12 , wherein the drive motor shaft includes a longitudinally flat portion which is configured to allow rotational float between the drive motor shaft and the drive gear.

14. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the drive gear is selectively movable along the drive gear axis between a proximal-most position and a distal-most position, and wherein the drive motor is disposed proximally of the proximal-most position of the drive gear.

15. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the shift motor is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the drive gear and is configured to move the drive gear along the drive gear axis.

16. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein rotation of the drive gear corresponding to a first longitudinal position of the drive motor effects a first function of the surgical instrument, and wherein rotation of the drive gear corresponding to a second longitudinal position of the drive motor effects a second function of the surgical instrument.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Zemlok Michael A
• Racenet David
• Ross Adam

Classifications

• A61B17/068 Primary

  Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00734

  battery operated · CPC title

• A61B17/00234 Primary

  for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00398

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

• A61B2017/2905

  flexible · CPC title