IP Library Granted Patent US 10,729,432
Granted Patent B2
US 10,729,432 · App. 16/146,885 · Granted Aug 4, 2020

Methods for operating a powered surgical instrument

Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH); David C. Yates (West Chester, OH); Jason L. Harris (Lebanon, OH); Jerome R. Morgan (Cincinnati, OH)
Assignee: Ethicon LLC
A61B17/068A61B17/072A61B17/07207A61B17/295A61B18/1445A61B90/98A61B2017/00017A61B2017/0019A61B2017/00022A61B2017/00026A61B2017/0046A61B2017/00119A61B2017/00367A61B2017/00398A61B2017/00411A61B2017/00734A61B2017/07257A61B2017/07271A61B2017/07278A61B2017/07285A61B2017/2927A61B2018/00607A61B2018/1455A61B2090/034A61B2090/065A61B2090/066A61B2090/0803A61B2090/0807A61B2090/0808A61B2090/0814A61B2090/0818A61B2560/0475
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,729,432
App. No.
16/146,885
Granted
Aug 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of operating a surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes an electronic system comprising an electric motor coupled to the end effector; a motor controller coupled to the motor; a parameter threshold detection module configured to monitor multiple parameter thresholds; a sensing module configured to sense tissue compression; a processor coupled to the parameter threshold detection module and the motor controller; and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to monitor multiple levels of action thresholds and monitor speed of the motor and increment a drive unit of the motor, sense tissue compression, and provide rate and control feedback to the user of the surgical instrument.

Claims (10)

1. A method of operating a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising an electric motor operably coupled to an end effector of the surgical instrument, a motor controller coupled to the electric motor, a sensing module, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to execute the method, the method comprising:

detecting tissue compression of a tissue grasped by the end effector by the sensing module;

comparing the detected tissue compression to a predetermined tissue compression threshold;

causing the motor controller to pause motion generated by the electric motor when the detected tissue compression reaches the predetermined tissue compression threshold; and

causing the motor controller to automatically resume the motion generated by the electric motor.

2. A method of operating a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising an electric motor operably coupled to an end effector of the surgical instrument, a motor controller coupled to the electric motor, a sensing module, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to execute the method, the method comprising:

detecting tissue compression of a tissue grasped by the end effector by the sensing module;

comparing the detected tissue compression to a predetermined tissue compression threshold;

causing a motion generated by the electric motor and transmitted to the end effector during a tissue treatment cycle to be paused based on the predetermined tissue compression threshold; and

causing the paused motion to be automatically restarted to complete the tissue treatment cycle.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2021
From: ETHICON LLC
To: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 056601/0339 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2019
From: SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV; YATES, DAVID C.; HARRIS, JASON L.; MORGAN, JEROME R.
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 049802/0245 →
Cited By (41)
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