End stop detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9974541-B2
Application number	US-201414523300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2014
Priority date	Feb 14, 2014
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for operating an electromechanical surgical system. The electromechanical surgical system includes a hand-held surgical instrument including an instrument housing defining a connecting portion for selectively connecting with a shaft assembly. The system also includes an end effector configured to perform at least one function. The shaft assembly is arranged for selectively interconnecting the end effector and the hand-held surgical instrument. The shaft assembly includes a drive member, a flag member configured to translate axially along the drive member, and a sensor disposed about the drive member. The sensor provides a signal indicating that the end effector has reached an end stop when the flag member contacts that sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electromechanical surgical system, comprising:
a hand-held surgical instrument including an instrument housing including a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the distal end portion defining a connecting portion;
an end effector configured to perform at least one function; and
a shaft assembly supported on the connecting portion at the distal end portion of the instrument housing and arranged for selectively interconnecting the end effector and the instrument housing, the shaft assembly including:
a channel extending longitudinally through the shaft assembly;
a drive member rotatably supported within the channel;
a flag member disposed about the drive member and configured to translate axially along the drive member; and
a sensor disposed about the drive member,

wherein the sensor provides a signal indicating that the end effector has reached an end stop when the flag member contacts the sensor.

2. The electromechanical surgical system according to claim 1 , wherein the flag member includes a post.

3. The electromechanical surgical system according to claim 2 , wherein the channel of the shaft assembly is configured to receive the post of the flag member, the channel configured to prevent rotational movement of the flag member.

4. The electromechanical surgical system according to claim 1 , wherein the channel of the shaft assembly is configured to receive the sensor, the channel configured to prevent axial movement of the sensor.

5. The electromechanical surgical system according to claim 1 , further comprising a controller, wherein the sensor provides the signal to the controller indicating that the end stop of the end effector has been reached.

6. The electromechanical surgical system according to claim 5 , further comprising a motor, wherein the controller stops the motor when the controller receives the signal from the sensor.

7. The electromechanical surgical system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a highly poled piezo crystal.

8. The electromechanical surgical system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a stack of highly poled piezo crystals.

Assignees

• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Calderoni Anthony

Classifications

• A61B2017/00402

  Piezo electric actuators · CPC title

• A61B2017/00407

  Ratchet means · CPC title

• A61B2017/07221

  curved · CPC title

• A61B2017/00734

  battery operated · CPC title

• A61B2017/07271

  characterised by its cartridge · CPC title