US 10,709,469 B2Granted

Modular battery powered handheld surgical instrument with energy conservation techniques

AssigneeEthicon, Inc.

InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, David C. Yates, Kevin L. Houser

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method of conserving energy in a surgical instrument that includes a segmented circuit having a plurality of independently operated circuit segments, a voltage control circuit, an energy source, a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to control a state of a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments. The state can be an energized state or a deenergized state. The method includes transmitting an energizing signal from the processor to a voltage control circuit, receiving the energizing signal by the voltage control circuit to apply a voltage to a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments, applying the voltage to the circuit segment by the voltage control circuit to cause the circuit segment to transition from the deenergized state to the energized state in accordance with an energization sequence that is different from a deenergization sequence.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of conserving energy in a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising a segmented circuit comprising a plurality of independently operated circuit segments, a voltage control circuit, an energy source, a memory device, and a processor coupled to the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to control a state of a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments, wherein the state can be an energized state or a deenergized state, the method comprising:

transmitting an energizing signal from the processor to the voltage control circuit;
receiving the energizing signal by the voltage control circuit to cause the voltage control circuit to apply a voltage to a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments;
applying the voltage to the circuit segment by the voltage control circuit to cause the circuit segment to transition from the deenergized state to the energized state in accordance with an energization sequence that is different from a deenergization sequence;
and
deenergizing, by the voltage control circuit, the circuit segment from the energized state to the deenergized state in accordance with the deenergization sequence;
wherein the deenergization sequence comprises:
transmitting a deenergizing signal from the processor to the voltage control circuit;
receiving the deenergizing signal by the voltage control circuit to cause the voltage control circuit to remove the voltage from the circuit segment;
and
removing the voltage applied to the circuit segment, by the voltage control circuit, to cause the circuit segment to transition from the energized state to the deenergized state in accordance with the deenergization sequence that is different from the energization sequence.

7 more elements

A surgical instrument comprising:

a segmented circuit comprising a plurality of independently operated circuit segments, wherein a state of a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments can be an energized state or a deenergized state;
a memory device;
a processor coupled to the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to:
transmit an energizing signal;
and
transmit a deenergizing signal;
a voltage control circuit, wherein the voltage control circuit is configured to:
receive the energizing signal to be transmitted by the processor, the energizing signal to cause the voltage control circuit to apply a voltage to a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments, the voltage to be applied to cause the circuit segment to transition from the deenergized state to the energized state in accordance with an energization sequence that is different from a deenergization sequence;
and
receive the deenergizing signal, the deenergizing signal to cause the voltage control circuit to remove the voltage from the circuit segment, the voltage to be removed to cause the circuit segment to transition from the energized state to the deenergized state in accordance with the deenergization sequence that is different from the energization sequence;
and
an energy source to power the surgical instrument.

9 more elements

A surgical instrument comprising:

a segmented circuit comprising a plurality of independently operated circuit segments, wherein a state of a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments can be an energized state or a deenergized state;
a memory device;
a wake up circuit to determine an energization sequence based on an output of an accelerometer, wherein the energization sequence is different from a deenergization sequence;
a processor coupled to the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to:
transmit an energizing signal in accordance with the energization sequence;
and
transmit a deenergizing signal in accordance with the deenergizing sequence;
a voltage control circuit, wherein the voltage control circuit is configured to:
receive the energizing signal to be transmitted by the processor, the energizing signal to cause the voltage control circuit to apply a voltage to a circuit segment of the plurality of circuit segments, the voltage to be applied to cause the circuit segment to transition from the deenergized state to the energized state in accordance with the energization sequence;
and
receive the deenergizing signal, the deenergizing signal to cause the voltage control circuit to remove the voltage from the circuit segment, the voltage to be removed to cause the circuit segment to transition from the energized state to the deenergized state in accordance with the deenergization sequence that is different from the energization sequence;
and
an energy source to power the surgical instrument.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/382,283Filed 16 Dec 2016 · us provisional application
Priority: 15 Jan 2016
Published: US 2017/0202596 A120 Jul 2017
Granted: 14 Jul 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification60 codes

A61B 17/320092
Using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic: with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
A61B 17/320068
Surgical cutting instruments: using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
A61B 18/1206
By passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current: generators therefor
A61B 18/1445
Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps: at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod