Powered surgical stapling device
A medical instrument having a tool assembly attachable to a distal end of the medical instrument is disclosed. The tool assembly includes a pair of opposing tissue engaging surfaces for clamping tissue therebetween. The medical instrument also includes a housing having a fixed handle and a movable handle mounted to the housing and selectively movable relative to the fixed handle from a first position in spaced relation relative to the fixed handle to a second position closer to the fixed handle to actuate the clamping of tissue. The instrument further includes a selectively activatable drive assembly including a power source and a motor which is operatively coupled to the movable handle, wherein upon actuation the motor actuates the pair of opposing tissue engaging surfaces. The drive assembly also includes a controller configured to variably control the rate at which the motor actuates the pair of opposing tissue engaging surfaces in response to the force exerted on the movable handle.
1. A medical instrument, comprising:
a housing defining a longitudinal axis; and
a drive assembly incorporated within the housing, the drive assembly including at least a motor and a controller;
wherein the motor is configured to be actuated by the controller at a variably controlled rate in response to longitudinal motion applied to a firing shaft operatively coupled to the motor.
2. The medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to variably control a voltage supplied to the motor in response to the longitudinal motion applied to the firing shaft.
3. The medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the firing shaft extends at least partially through an elongated member connected to the housing, the firing shaft configured to actuate an end effector disposed at a distal end of the elongated member.
4. The medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the firing shaft is operatively coupled to the motor via a coupling member, the coupling member including a ratchet track having one or more teeth interfacing with a pawl.
5. The medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly further includes a power source operatively connected to the motor.
6. The medical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the drive assembly further includes a variable resistor coupled to the motor and the power source, the variable resistor controlling a rate at which the firing shaft is longitudinally displaced.
7. The medical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the drive assembly further includes a switch assembly coupled to the motor and the power source.
8. The medical instrument according to claim 7 , wherein the switch assembly includes a pressure sensor and a switch handle.
9. The medical instrument according to claim 8 , wherein the pressure sensor is a piezoelectric sensor configured to sense pressure applied by the switch handle.
10. The medical instrument according to claim 9 , wherein the pressure sensor records pressure applied on the switch handle as sensor signals, the sensor signals being representative of a clamping force.
11. A medical instrument, comprising:
a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a fixed handle and a movable handle;
a drive assembly incorporated within the housing, the drive assembly including at least a motor and a controller; and
a sensor configured to transmit signals to the controller, the signals being representative of a force applied to the movable handle;
wherein the motor is configured to be actuated by the controller at a variably controlled rate in response to longitudinal motion applied to a firing shaft operatively coupled to the motor.
12. The medical instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to variably control a voltage supplied to the motor in response to the longitudinal motion applied to the firing shaft.
13. The medical instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the firing shaft extends at least partially through an elongated member connected to the housing, the firing shaft configured to actuate an end effector disposed at a distal end of the elongated member.
14. The medical instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the firing shaft is operatively coupled to the motor via a coupling member, the coupling member including a ratchet track having one or more teeth interfacing with a pawl.
15. The medical instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the drive assembly further includes a power source operatively connected to the motor.
16. The medical instrument according to claim 15 , wherein the drive assembly further includes a variable resistor coupled to the motor and the power source, the variable resistor controlling a rate at which the firing shaft is longitudinally displaced.
17. The medical instrument according to claim 15 , wherein the drive assembly further includes a switch assembly coupled to the motor and the power source.
18. The medical instrument according to claim 17 , wherein the switch assembly includes the sensor and a switch handle, the sensor being a pressure sensor.
19. The medical instrument according to claim 18 , wherein the pressure sensor is a piezoelectric sensor configured to sense pressure applied by the switch handle.