IP Library Granted Patent US 11,116,485
Granted Patent B2
US 11,116,485 · App. 15/908,058 · Granted Sep 14, 2021

Surgical instrument with modular power sources

Inventors: Charles J. Scheib (Loveland, OH); Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH)
Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
A61B17/00234A61B17/29A61B2017/0042A61B2017/0046A61B2017/00367A61B2017/00398A61B2017/00477A61B2017/00734A61B2017/2902A61B2017/2903A61B2017/2905A61B2017/2919A61B2017/2926A61B2017/2927A61B2017/2929A61B2017/2931A61B2090/0811
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 11,116,485
App. No.
15/908,058
Granted
Sep 14, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A surgical instrument system is disclosed comprising a handle and a shaft assembly attachable to the handle. The handle comprises a drive module and selectively attachable battery modules. The handle comprises a first port configured to attach a first battery module and a second port configured to attach a second battery module. The first battery module is also attachable to the second port. In various embodiments, the second battery module cannot be attached to the first port. The first and second battery modules are configured to deliver power to the electric motor at the same voltage. In various instances, the first and second battery modules are configured to deliver different currents to the electric motor.

Claims (80)

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing comprising a cylindrical portion;

an electric motor disposed within the housing, wherein the electric motor comprises a motor output that extends from a distal end of the housing;

a first battery port formed on a proximal end of the housing, wherein the first battery port is configured to have a battery coupled thereto that extends along a longitudinal axis of the motor;

a second battery port formed in a lateral side of the cylindrical portion, wherein the second battery port is configured to have a battery coupled thereto that extends along a second axis that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the motor; and

a first battery configured to be selectively coupled with the second battery port, wherein the first battery forms a pistol grip of the surgical instrument, wherein the first battery is configured to be decoupled from the second battery port to remove an entirety of the pistol grip of the surgical instrument.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first battery is also configured to be selectively coupled with the first battery port.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein decoupling the first battery from the second battery port is configured to enable attachment of a corresponding surgical instrument attachment to the housing which would otherwise be unable to be attached to the housing while the first battery is attached to the second battery port.

4. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an electric motor disposed within the housing, wherein the electric motor comprises a motor output that extends from a distal end of the housing;

a first battery port formed on a proximal end of the housing, wherein the first battery port is configured to have a battery coupled thereto that extends along a longitudinal axis of the motor;

a second battery port formed on a lateral side of the housing, wherein the second battery port is configured to have a battery coupled thereto that extends along a second axis that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the motor;

a first battery configured to be selectively coupled with the first battery port and the second battery port; and

a second battery configured to couple only with the second battery port.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the second battery port comprises at least one recess formed therein that is configured to receive a complementary lockout protrusion formed on the second battery.

6. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing comprising a cylindrical portion, wherein the cylindrical portion comprises a distal end and an outer surface;

an electric motor disposed within the housing; and

a motor output coupled to the electric motor, wherein the motor output protrudes from a distal end of the housing, wherein a plurality of ports are formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion, wherein each of the ports is configured to couple to a battery pack, and wherein the battery pack coupled to at least one of the ports forms a pistol grip of the surgical instrument, wherein an entirety of the pistol grip is selectively removable from the surgical instrument by removing the battery pack coupled to the at least one of the ports.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the distal end of the housing is configured to couple to a proximal end of an end effector assembly that comprises an end effector, a drive shaft, and an actuator portion, and wherein the electric motor is configured to power at least one of the end effector, the drive shaft, and the actuator portion.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the distal end of the housing comprises a locating feature configured to interface with a complementary locating feature of the end effector assembly to ensure a desired orientation between the housing and the end effector assembly.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the locating feature is at least one of a recess and a protrusion.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the end effector comprises first and second jaws configured to move relative to one another to grasp tissue therebetween.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the ports comprises a mechanical lockout to prevent coupling with a battery pack of a first size and permit coupling with a battery pack of a second size.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the battery pack of the first size is smaller than the battery pack of the second size.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the mechanical lockout comprises at least one of a protrusion and a recess formed on at least one of the battery pack and the at least one of the ports.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , further comprising an end effector assembly including a drive shaft, wherein the end effector assembly is coupled to the distal end of the housing such that the motor can rotate the drive shaft.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the end effector assembly further comprises an end effector and a proximal actuation portion.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of battery packs having different sizes.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the battery packs are disposable.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17 , wherein each of the battery packs is configured to begin internally draining power after coupling to one of the ports to ensure depletion of the battery within a predetermined time period.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein decoupling the battery pack from the at least one of the ports is configured to enable attachment of a corresponding surgical instrument attachment to the housing which would otherwise be unable to be attached to the housing while the battery pack is attached to the at least one of the ports.

20. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing comprising a distal end and an outer surface;

an electric motor disposed within the housing;

a motor output coupled to the electric motor, wherein the motor protrudes from a distal end of the housing, wherein a plurality of ports are formed on the outer surface of the housing, and wherein each of the ports is configured to couple to a battery pack; and

an end effector assembly including a drive shaft, wherein the end effector assembly is coupled to the distal end of the housing such that the motor can rotate the drive shaft,

wherein the end effector assembly further comprises an end effector and a proximal actuation portion, and

wherein the proximal actuation portion includes a trigger that interferes with coupling a battery pack with one of the plurality of ports formed on the outer surface of the housing.

21. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a drive module, comprising:

a housing;

an electric motor supported in the housing;

a first battery port defined in the housing; and

a second battery port defined in the housing;

a first battery module configured to be selectively coupled to the housing at the first battery port and the second battery port; and

a second battery module configured to be coupled to the second battery port, wherein the second battery module is incompatible with the first battery port and cannot be coupled to the first battery port.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 21 , wherein the first battery module comprises a first quantity of battery cells and the second battery module comprises a second quantity of battery cells, and wherein the first quantity is different than the second quantity.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 21 , further comprising an electric motor control circuit configured to control the electric motor, wherein the first battery module and the second battery module are configured to deliver power to the electric motor control circuit at the same voltage.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 21 , further comprising an electric motor control circuit configured to control the electric motor, wherein the first battery module is configured to deliver a first current to the electric motor control circuit and the second battery module is configured to deliver a second current to the electric motor control circuit, and wherein the first current and the second current are different.

25. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a drive module, comprising:

a housing comprising a cylindrical portion;

an electric motor supported in the housing;

a first battery port defined in a lateral side of the cylindrical portion; and

a second battery port defined in a proximal end of the cylindrical portion;

a first battery module configured to be coupled to the housing at the first battery port; and

a second battery module configured to be coupled to the housing at the second battery port, wherein the second battery module is configured to form a pistol grip of the surgical instrument, wherein the second battery module is configured to be decoupled from the housing to remove an entirety of the pistol grip from the surgical instrument.

26. The surgical instrument of claim 25 , wherein the first battery module comprises a first quantity of battery cells and the second battery module comprises a second quantity of battery cells, and wherein the first quantity is different than the second quantity.

27. The surgical instrument of claim 25 , further comprising an electric motor control circuit configured to control the electric motor, wherein the first battery module and the second battery module are configured to deliver power to the electric motor control circuit at the same voltage.

28. The surgical instrument of claim 25 , wherein decoupling the second battery module from the second battery port is configured to enable attachment of a corresponding surgical instrument attachment to the housing which would otherwise be unable to be attached to the housing while the second battery module is attached to the second battery port.

29. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a drive module, comprising:

a housing;

an electric motor supported in the housing;

a first battery port defined in the housing; and

a second battery port defined in the housing;

a first battery module configured to be coupled to the housing at the first battery port;

a second battery module configured to be coupled to the housing at the second battery port; and

an electric motor control circuit configured to control the electric motor, wherein the first battery module is configured to deliver a first current to the electric motor control circuit and the second battery module is configured to deliver a second current to the electric motor control circuit, and wherein the first current and the second current are different.

30. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a drive module, comprising:

a housing;

an electric motor supported in the housing;

a first battery port defined in the housing; and

a second battery port defined in the housing;

a first battery module configured to be coupled to the housing at the first battery port;

a second battery module configured to be coupled to the housing at the second battery port; and

an electric motor control circuit configured to control the electric motor, wherein the first battery module is configured to supply a first voltage to the electric motor control circuit and the second battery module is configured to supply a second voltage to the electric motor control circuit, and wherein the first voltage and the second voltage are different.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2021
From: ETHICON LLC
To: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 056983/0569 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2018
From: SCHEIB, CHARLES J.; SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 045554/0149 →
Continuity (7)
Provisional Application 62578793 · Oct 30, 2017
Provisional Application 62578804 · Oct 30, 2017
Provisional Application 62578817 · Oct 30, 2017
Provisional Application 62578835 · Oct 30, 2017
Provisional Application 62578844 · Oct 30, 2017
Provisional Application 62578855 · Oct 30, 2017
Related Publication 20190125324A1 · May 2, 2019
Cited By (92)
US 12,185,946 US 12,193,636 US 12,193,766 US 12,207,818 US 12,207,820 US 12,207,835 US 12,213,666 US 12,213,671 US 12,220,126 US 12,226,099 US 12,226,100 US 12,226,151 US 12,226,166 US 12,232,723 US 12,232,724 US 12,232,735 US 12,239,316 US 12,239,317 US 12,239,320 US 12,245,764 US 12,245,901 US 12,256,930 US 12,256,931 US 12,256,995 US 12,261,471 US 12,262,888 US 12,274,445 US 12,279,770 US 12,279,771 US 12,285,166 US 12,285,171 US 12,290,257 US 12,290,261 US 12,295,674 US 12,303,159 US 12,310,586 US 12,324,579 US 12,324,580 US 12,324,581 US 12,324,585 US 12,329,467 US 12,336,705 US 12,336,709 US 12,357,307 US 12,357,309 US 12,364,477 US 12,369,909 US 12,369,910 US 12,369,911 US 12,369,912 US 12,376,851 US 12,376,917 US 12,383,115 US 12,383,259 US 12,383,267 US 12,396,806 US 12,414,768 US 12,432,790 US 12,433,508 US 12,433,584 US 12,433,627 US 12,440,208 US 12,440,209 US 12,440,213 US 12,446,877 US 12,453,557 US 12,458,455 US 12,462,123 US 12,465,363 US 12,471,982 US 12,478,372 US 12,500,948 US 12,502,171 US 12,508,025 US 12,514,584 US 12,521,116 US 12,521,191 US 12,527,571 US 12,527,575 US 12,533,126 US 12,533,127 US 12,549,622 US 12,574,434 US 12,582,457 US 12,599,381 US 12,636,006 US 12,648,789 US 12,653,628 US 12,672,922 US 12,697,184 US 12,708,427 US 12,714,425