EP0679367A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Identification device for surgical instrument
Assignee: Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
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Filing: 1995-04-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A device is provided for identifying certain characteristics of an end piece or end effector of a surgical instrument. A preferred embodiment provides a surgical stapling instrument having an electrical circuit contained on the stapling cartridge which is capable of indicating cartridge type and/or status (i.e., with or without staples) when a voltage or current is applied to the circuit. Other identification means are provided including an optical identification means.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony A. Boiarski
- 👤 Mark T. Byrne
- 👤 Warren P. Williamson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/072; A61B17/07207; A61B90/00; A61B90/90; A61B90/98; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B2017/0003; A61B2017/00115; A61B2017/0046; A61B2017/00477; A61B2017/00482; A61B2017/07214; A61B2017/07285; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0807; A61B2090/0811; A61M; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/60; A61M2205/6018; A61M2205/6063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
21 words
A surgical instrument having an end piece comprising an electrical or optical means for determining at least one end piece characteristic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the end piece is removably coupled to the distal end of a handle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said end piece comprises an end effector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The instrument of claim 3, wherein said end effector comprises; a removable cartridge for containing surgical fastening means; and driving means for firing said surgical fastening means, wherein said determining means is arranged to determine cartridge firing status, cartridge type or whether or not surgical fastening means are present.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The instrument of claim 4, wherein said surgical fastening means are staples.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The instrument of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said driving means comprises first and second jaw members for engaging and fastening tissue and wherein said first jaw member comprises a cartridge channel for removably receiving said cartridge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument of claim 6 wherein said determining means is contained in said first jaw member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The instrument of any one of claims 4 to 7, further comprising lockout means for preventing instrument firing when an inappropriate cartridge condition is indicated by said determining means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The instrument of any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein said driving means is assisted by an electromechanical control means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The instrument of claims 8 and 9, wherein said lockout means is controlled by internal logic of said control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The instrument of any one of claims 4 to 10, further comprising indication means for indicating to a user an inappropriate cartridge condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The instrument of any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein aid cartridge is capable of firing surgical fastening means more than once.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said determining means is electrical.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The instrument of claim 13, wherein said electrical determining means is a mechanically activated fuse.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The instrument of claim 14, further comprising a cutting means for severing tissue, wherein said mechanically activated fuse is a ribbon which is cut by said cutting means when said end piece is activated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument of claim 13, wherein said electrical determining means is an electrically activated fuse, which preferably has a predetermine impedance indicating a corresponding instrument characteristic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument of claim 16, wherein said impedance element is a fuse having a predetermined resistance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The instrument of claim 13 wherein said electrical determining means comprises an impedance element, such as a resistor, capacitor or inductor, having a predetermined electrical impedance which preferably corresponds to an instrument characteristic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The instrument of claim 18, further comprising a fuse, in a series or in parallel, with said impedance element, said fuse being capable of being blown by a current applied to said fuse when said end piece is activated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The instrument of claim 13, wherein the determining means comprises a magnetic element and a magnetic sensor arranged to sense said magnetic element on instrument activation and to provide a corresponding signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The instrument of claim 20 wherein said corresponding signal indicates to a control unit that instrument activation has occurred and the control unit counts the number of activations which have occurred.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The instrument of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said determining means is optical, and preferably comprises an optical means which provides a light signal convertible to an electrical signal indicative of instrument activation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
The instrument of claims 2 and 22, wherein said optical means includes: a light source associated with said handle; a light guide associated with said end piece, said light guide having at least one property corresponding to at least one characteristic of said end piece; and a sensor associated with said handle for sensing light output from said light guide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The instrument of claim 23 wherein said light guide is constructed to have a predetermined specific light attenuation; and wherein said at least one property includes said specific attenuation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The instrument of claim 23 wherein said light guide is constructed to have a preselected index of refraction; and wherein said at least one said property includes said preselected index of refraction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
122 words
The surgical instrument of claims 2 and 22 wherein said optical means includes: a light source associated with said handle; a light input surface associated with said end piece; a set of light outputs associated with said end piece; a light guide capable transmitting light from said input surface to said set of outputs; and a set of light sensors associated with said handle for sensing light transmitted through said set of outputs; wherein said set of light outputs is arranged to provide a pattern of light output corresponding to a code indicating at least one end piece characteristic, said output pattern capable of being sensed by said set of light sensors and interpreted by a control unit associated with said instrument.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The instrument of claims 2 and 22 wherein said optical means includes an optical path and an optical path interruption means for physically interrupting transmission of light through said optical path to indicate an instrument state.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
The instrument of claim 27 wherein said instrument includes a movable part; and wherein said interruption means includes a mechanically movable flag having a first position and second position, said flag being capable of being triggered by said movable part of said instrument to move said flag from said first position to said second position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The surgical instrument of claim 27 wherein said optical path interruption means includes a dynamic code for providing real time instrument operation characteristics.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
50 words
The surgical instrument of claim 22 wherein said optical means includes a light transmission means, a light reflectance means and a light sensing means, wherein said light reflectance means is capable of reflecting light emitted from said light transmission means to said light sensing means to indicate an instrument characteristic.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cartridge for supplying surgical fastening means to a surgical instrument, comprising an electrical means for determining cartridge firing status, cartridge type or whether or not surgical fastening means are present.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cartridge of claim 31, wherein said electrical determining means is as defined in any one of claims 14 to 21.
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