IP Library Patent Application 16220301
Patent Application
App. No. 16/220,301

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ACOUSTIC-BASED MOTOR CONTROL

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 None
App. No.
16/220,301
Abstract

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a drive system and a control circuit. The drive system includes an electric motor. The control circuit includes an acoustic sensor, and is configured to utilize a parameter of the drive system measured by the acoustic sensor to control a speed of the electric motor.

Claims (46)

1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:

a drive system comprising an electric motor; and

a control circuit comprising an acoustic sensor, wherein the control circuit is configured to utilize a parameter of the drive system measured by the acoustic sensor to control a speed of the electric motor.

2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the drive system further comprises a gear box and a drive train.

3 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit further comprises at least one of the following:

a fast Fourier transform circuit; and

a fast Fourier transform algorithm executable by a processor of the control circuit.

4 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine a degradation of the drive system.

5 . The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to adjust a motor control algorithm in response to the determined degradation of the drive system.

6 . The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the motor control algorithm, when executed by the surgical instrument, is configured to adjust at least one of the following:

the speed of the electric motor;

a motor speed command signal provided by a motor controller of the surgical instrument;

a voltage applied to the electric motor;

a pulse width modulation duty cycle; and

a current limit of a motor controller of the surgical instrument.

7 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to provide an indication of an impending failure of the surgical instrument.

8 . A surgical instrument, comprising:

a drive system comprising an electric motor; and

a control circuit comprising an acoustic sensor, wherein the control circuit is configured to utilize a parameter of the drive system measured by the acoustic sensor to control a torque applied by the electric motor.

9 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the drive system further comprises a gear box and a drive train.

10 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a fast Fourier transform circuit.

11 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine a degradation of the drive system.

12 . The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to adjust a motor control algorithm in response to the determined degradation of the drive system.

13 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the motor control algorithm, when executed by the surgical instrument, is configured to adjust at least one of the following:

the speed of the electric motor;

a motor speed command signal provided by a motor controller of the surgical instrument;

a voltage applied to the electric motor;

a pulse width modulation duty cycle; and

a current limit of a motor controller of the surgical instrument.

14 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to provide an indication of an impending failure of the surgical instrument.

15 . A surgical system, comprising:

a surgical instrument, comprising:

a drive system comprising an electric motor; and

a control circuit, comprising a sensing device, wherein the control circuit is configured to utilize a parameter of the drive system sensed by the sensing device to control a speed of the electric motor; and

a surgical hub system in communication with the surgical instrument, wherein the surgical hub system is configured to supply a second parameter to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is further configured to utilize the second parameter to modify an operation of the surgical instrument.

16 . The surgical system of claim 15 , wherein the sensing device comprises at least one of the following:

an acoustic sensor;

a vibration sensor; and

an accelerometer.

17 . The surgical system of claim 15 , wherein the control circuit further comprises a fast Fourier transform circuit.

18 . The surgical system of claim 15 , wherein the second parameter comprises the presence of a previous stapling line in the tissue of the patient.

19 . The surgical system of claim 15 , wherein the second parameter comprises the presence of a gastric band in the tissue of the patient.

20 . The surgical system of claim 15 , wherein the second parameter comprises the presence of scarred tissue from a previous surgical procedure.

21 . The surgical system of claim 15 , wherein the surgical hub system is further configured to predict a failure of the surgical instrument.

22 . The surgical system of claim 15 , wherein the surgical hub system is further configured to provide a notification of a predicted failure of the surgical instrument.

23 . The surgical system of claim 15 , wherein the surgical hub system is further configured to communicate a predicted failure of the surgical instrument to the surgical instrument.

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 Jan 28, 2019
From: SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV; YATES, DAVID C.; BAKOS, GREGORY J.; HARRIS, JASON L.
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 048152/0700 →