US 9,782,214 B2Granted

Surgical instrument with sensor and powered control

AssigneeEthicon, Inc.

InventorsKevin L. Houser, Foster B. Stulen, William D. Dannaher, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Geoffrey S. Strobl, Aaron C. Voegele, Timothy P. Lessek, Gavin M. Monson, Barry C. Worrell, Hitesh Jain

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Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a temperature sensor and a control unit that is operable to deactivate an end effector of the surgical instrument. In some versions the temperature sensor detects the temperature of a transducer, while in others the temperature sensor detects the temperature of the end effector. The surgical instrument may also include a trigger and a trigger position sensor. A force sensor or a position sensor may be included to determine the force and/or position of the transmission assembly. The end effector may also include a force sensor or a micro coil. A surgical instrument having a sensor may be included in a surgical system that includes a control unit and a remote controller. In some instances the remote controller may have one or more force-feedback components. In addition, a device interface and a surgeon interface may be included to remotely adjust the settings of the control unit.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a body portion comprising at least one indicator;
(b) a transmission portion extending distally from the body portion;
(c) an end effector coupled to a distal end of the transmission portion;
(d) a control unit, wherein the at least one indicator is electrically coupled to the control unit;
(e) a toggle switch communicatively coupled to the control unit;
and
(f) a plurality of sensors communicatively coupled to the control unit;
wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is operable to output a signal indicating a temperature to the control unit, wherein the temperature is associated with the surgical instrument, wherein the control unit is operable to selectively deactivate at least a portion of the end effector in response to the signal indicating the temperature from the at least one sensor,
wherein the control unit is operable to generate a control unit output signal to activate the at least one indicator in response to the signal indicating the temperature from the at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, wherein the at least one indicator is operable to indicate a range of values in response to the control unit output signal, wherein the toggle switch is operable to manipulate the control unit output signal to the at least one indicator.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/277,328Filed 20 Oct 2011 · continuation in part
Priority: 5 Nov 2010
Published: US 2012/0116379 A110 May 2012
Granted: 10 Oct 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification24 codes

A61B 18/1442
Probes or electrodes therefor: probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
A61B 34/76
Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery: manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback
A61B 34/30
Computer-aided surgery; Manipulators or robots specially adapted for use in surgery: surgical robots
A61B 34/74
Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery: manipulators with manual electric input means

Family

Application61/410,603Us provisional application · filed 5 Nov 2010
Application61/487,846Us provisional application · filed 19 May 2011
Application13/151,481Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Jun 2011
US 2012/0116391 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 May 2012
US 2012/0116379 A1Published application
US 9,161,803 B2Related patent
US 9,782,214 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.