IP Library Granted Patent US 10,398,517
Granted Patent B2
US 10,398,517 · App. 15/238,001 · Granted Sep 3, 2019

Surgical tool positioning based on sensed parameters

Inventors: Chad E. Eckert (Milford, OH); Jason L. Harris (Lebanon, OH); Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH)
Assignee: Ethicon LLC
A61B34/30A61B18/082A61B18/085A61B2017/00084A61B2018/00791A61B2090/0427B25J9/1676G05B2219/40415
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,398,517
App. No.
15/238,001
Granted
Sep 3, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods are provided in which movement of a tool is controlled based on sensed parameters. In one embodiment, an electromechanical tool is provided having an instrument shaft and an end effector formed thereon. The electromechanical tool is configured to be mounted on an electromechanical arm, and the electromechanical tool is configured to move with or relative to the electromechanical arm and perform surgical functions. A controller is operatively coupled to the electromechanical arm and the electromechanical tool and is configured to retard advancement of the electromechanical tool toward a tissue surface based on a sensed amount of displacement of a tissue surface, a strain on the tissue of the patient, the temperature of the electromechanical tool, or the like.

Claims (22)

1. A surgical system, comprising:

an electromechanical arm configured for movement in multiple axes;

an electromechanical tool having an instrument shaft and an end effector formed thereon, the electromechanical tool being configured to be mounted on the electromechanical arm, and the electromechanical tool being configured to move with or relative to the electromechanical arm and apply energy to tissue engaged by the end effector; and

a controller operatively coupled to the electromechanical arm and the electromechanical tool, the controller configured to retard advancement of the electromechanical tool toward a tissue surface based on a sensed temperature of the end effector, wherein the controller is configured to retard advancement of the electromechanical tool when the end effector is within a predetermined threshold distance from a tissue surface, and wherein the predetermined threshold distance varies based on the temperature of the end effector.

2. The surgical system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense the temperature of the end effector.

3. The surgical system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises an IR sensor.

4. The surgical system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises a thermocouple disposed on the end effector.

5. The surgical system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense a position of the end effector relative to a tissue surface.

6. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to retard advancement of the electromechanical tool when the temperature is within a predetermined threshold temperature.

7. The surgical system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense a distance of the end effector from a tissue surface.

8. A method of operating a surgical system, comprising:

applying energy to a tissue using an end effector formed on an instrument shaft of an electromechanical tool, the electromechanical tool being mounted on an electromechanical arm;

receiving, during an application of the energy to the tissue, a sensed temperature of the end effector; and

reducing, based on the sensed temperature, a velocity of the electromechanical tool toward a tissue surface when the electromechanical tool is within a predetermined threshold distance from a tissue surface, and wherein the predetermined threshold distance varies based on the sensed temperature of the end effector.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sensed temperature comprises one of a sensed temperature of the end effector and a sensed temperature of the tissue surface.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the velocity is reduced to a first threshold velocity when the temperature is within a first predetermined temperature range.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the velocity is reduced to a second threshold velocity when the temperature is within a second predetermined temperature range.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first threshold velocity is adjusted by a first amount in response to determining that the electromechanical tool is a first threshold distance from the tissue surface.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first threshold velocity is adjusted by a second amount in response to determining that the electromechanical tool is a second threshold distance from the tissue surface.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the velocity is reduced based on a sensed position of the end effector relative to the tissue surface.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the temperature is sensed by a sensor on the end effector.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the temperature is sensed by a sensor on a camera.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2021
From: ETHICON LLC
To: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 056983/0569 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 14, 2017
From: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 045604/0713 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2016
From: ECKERT, CHAD E.; HARRIS, JASON L.; SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV
To: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
Reel/Frame 040153/0571 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180049792A1 · Feb 22, 2018
Cited By (34)
US 12,193,636 US 12,193,766 US 12,207,817 US 12,226,151 US 12,226,166 US 12,232,729 US 12,239,320 US 12,239,404 US 12,251,182 US 12,256,995 US 12,295,674 US 12,303,159 US 12,310,586 US 12,318,152 US 12,329,467 US 12,358,136 US 12,376,855 US 12,383,115 US 12,396,631 US 12,396,806 US 12,433,508 US 12,458,351 US 12,500,948 US 12,514,584 US 12,521,191 US 12,549,622 US 12,558,149 US 12,574,434 US 12,575,855 US 12,582,457 US 12,648,789 US 12,653,628 US 12,672,922 US 12,708,427