# US 11,992,214 B2 · Control systems for surgical instruments > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,214 B2 - Document ID: US11992214B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/550,310 - Filed: 2021-12-14 - Published: 2022-06-09 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: Cilag GmbH International - Applicants: Cilag GmbH International - Inventors: Richard L. Leimbach; Mark D. Overmyer; Shane R. Adams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992214B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - G16H 20/40: relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture - G16H 40/63: for local operation - A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments} - A61B 2017/00119: {alarm; indicating an abnormal situation} - A61B 2017/00367: {Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable} - A61B 2017/00716: {simulating physical properties} - A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated} - A61B 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft} - A61B 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension} - A61B 2090/0808: {for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus} - A61B 2090/0811: {for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract Surgical instruments and control systems therefor are disclosed. A surgical instrument can comprise: a power circuit comprising a power source and a switch, a microcontroller coupled to the power circuit, a handle comprising an attachment portion, and a control circuit in signal communication with the microcontroller. The attachment portion can comprise a first electrical contact in signal communication with the microcontroller. The control circuit can comprise a sensor configured to detect an attachment state of the attachment portion. The control circuit can communicate the detected attachment state to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller can ignore signals from the first electrical contact when the control circuit communicates a detached state. The attachment portion can comprise a second electrical contact coupled to a second power circuit, and the second power circuit can decouple the second electrical contact and the second power source when the sensor detects the detached state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument, comprising: (a) a power circuit, comprising: (i) a power source; and (ii) a switch; (b) a microcontroller coupled to said power circuit; (c) a handle comprising: (i) a handle attachment portion, wherein said handle attachment portion comprises an electrical contact in signal communication with said microcontroller, (ii) a motor, and (iii) an indictor; and (d) a control circuit in signal communication with said microcontroller, said motor, and said indicator, wherein said control circuit comprises a shaft attachment sensor configured to detect an attachment state of said handle attachment portion, and wherein said control circuit is configured to communicate the detected attachment state to said microcontroller; wherein said microcontroller is configured to ignore signals from said electrical contact when said control circuit communicates a detached attachment state to said microcontroller; and (e) a shaft assembly configured to selectively attach to said handle attachment portion, said shaft assembly comprising: (i) a proximal shaft frame extending along a longitudinal axis, (ii) an end effector comprising a pair of jaws, wherein said pair of jaws are configured to actuate between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and (iii) an articulation section configured to deflect said end effector relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein said motor is configured to drive deflection of said articulation section in response to an instruction received by said control circuit, wherein said control circuit, when said jaws are in said closed configuration, is configured to activate said indicator prior to sending said instruction to said motor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said shaft attachment sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical instrument of claim 2, further comprising a shaft, wherein said shaft comprises: a shaft attachment portion releasably attached to said handle attachment portion; and a magnetic element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said control circuit further comprises a sensor power source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a second power circuit, comprising: a second power source; and a transistor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a second power circuit, comprising: a second power source; and a transistor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein said second power circuit couples said second electrical contact to said second power source when said control circuit communicates an attached attachment state to said microcontroller, and wherein said second power circuit decouples said second electrical contact from said second power source when said control circuit communicates the detached attachment state to said microcontroller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said handle attachment portion further comprises a plurality of additional electrical contacts in signal communication with said microcontroller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller is configured to ignore signals from said electrical contact when said control circuit communicates a partially attached attachment state to said microcontroller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said articulation section is configured to deflect said end effector between an articulation home state position and a deflection position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said instruction is configured to instruct said motor to drive the articulation section toward the articulation home state position. ### Claim 12 A surgical instrument, comprising: (a) a first power circuit comprising a first power source and a first switch; (b) a second power circuit comprising a second power source and a second switch; (c) a microcontroller coupled to said first power circuit; (d) a handle comprising a handle attachment portion, wherein said handle attachment portion comprises: (i) a first electrical contact in signal communication with said microcontroller; and (ii) a second electrical contact coupled to said second power circuit; (e) a control circuit in signal communication with said microcontroller, wherein said control circuit comprises a shaft attachment sensor configured to detect an attachment state of said handle attachment portion; wherein said second power circuit decouples said second electrical contact and said second power source when said shaft attachment sensor detects a detached attachment state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said shaft attachment sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical instrument of claim 13, further comprising a shaft, wherein said shaft comprises: a shaft attachment portion releasably attached to said handle attachment portion; and a magnetic element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said handle attachment portion further comprises a third electrical contact coupled to a ground. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said handle attachment portion comprises a plurality of additional electrical contacts in signal communication with said microcontroller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein said microcontroller is configured to ignore signals from said first electrical contact when said shaft attachment sensor detects the detached attachment state. ### Claim 18 A surgical instrument, comprising: (a) a handle comprising a handle attachment portion and a motor; (b) a control circuit in communication with the motor; and (c) a shaft configured to selectively couple with the handle, the shaft comprising: (i) an elongated body, (ii) an end effector comprising a pair of jaws configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position, and (iii) an articulation section interposed between the end effector and the elongated body, the articulation section configured to deflect the end effector relative to the elongated body, wherein the control circuit is configured to instruct the motor to drive the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector, wherein the control circuit is configured to generate an indicator signal prior to the motor driving the articulation section to deflect the end effector while the jaws are in the closed position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the articulation section is configured to deflect the end effector between a home position and a deflected position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein the indicator signal generated by the control circuit is indicative of the motor attempting to drive the articulation section to deflect the end effector toward the home position.