IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,261,471
Granted Patent B2
US 12,261,471 · App. 18/503,623 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Technologies for detection of drive train failures in a surgical instrument

Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH); Mark D. Overmyer (Cincinnati, OH); David C. Yates (Morrow, OH); Jason L. Harris (Lebanon, OH)
Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
H02J7/007A61B17/068A61B17/07207H02J7/0029H02J7/0063A61B2017/00017A61B2017/0003A61B2017/00075A61B2017/00119A61B2017/00154A61B2017/003A61B2017/00398A61B2017/0046A61B2017/00473A61B2017/00477A61B2017/00734A61B2017/00876A61B2017/07257A61B2017/07271A61B2017/07278A61B2017/07285A61B2017/2927A61B2017/2931A61B2017/2943A61B2090/034A61B2090/0808A61B2090/0809A61B2090/0814A61B90/98H02J7/00714H02J7/007182H02J7/007194
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,261,471
App. No.
18/503,623
Filed
Nov 7, 2023
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3731
USPC
227/175.2
Abstract

A surgical instrument is configured to compensate for battery pack and drivetrain failures. One method includes generating a firing sequence, determining whether a subset of rechargeable battery cells is damaged during the firing sequence, and stepping-up an output voltage of the battery pack to complete the firing sequence in response to a determination that a subset of the rechargeable battery cells is damaged. Another method includes generating a mechanical output to motivate a drivetrain to transmit a motion to a jaw assembly of the surgical instrument, activating a safe mode in response to an acute failure of the drivetrain, and activating a bailout mode in response to a catastrophic failure of the drivetrain. Another method includes driving a drivetrain, sensing and recording vibration information from the drivetrain, generating an output signal based on the vibration information, and determining a status of the surgical instrument based on the output signal.

Claims (13)

1. A method for detecting drive train failures in a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

generating, by an electric motor, a mechanical output to motivate a drivetrain to transmit a motion to a jaw assembly of the surgical instrument;

activating, by a control circuit, a safe mode in response to an acute failure of the drivetrain; and

activating, by the control circuit, a bailout mode in response to a catastrophic failure of the drivetrain.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modulating, by the control circuit, the mechanical output of the electric motor in response to the acute failure.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein modulating the mechanical output of the electric motor comprises slowing the mechanical output.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, employing, by the control circuit, a feedback element to provide bailout instructions in response to the catastrophic failure.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein employing the feedback element comprises employing, by the control circuit, a feedback element to provide bailout instructions via a wired communication link in response to the catastrophic failure.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating, by a power source, a motor input voltage.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising modulating, by the control circuit, the motor input voltage in response to the acute failure.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein modulating the motor input voltage comprises delivering the motor input voltage in pulses.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein modulating the motor input voltage comprises reducing the motor input voltage.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disabling, by the control circuit, the electric motor in response to the catastrophic failure.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2024
From: SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV; OVERMYER, MARK D.; YATES, DAVID C.; HARRIS, JASON L.
To: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
Reel/Frame 068224/0842 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 8, 2024
From: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 068224/0925 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2024
From: ETHICON LLC
To: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 068515/0362 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17708064 · Mar 30, 2022
Continuation 16432319 · Jun 5, 2019
Continuation 15131963 · Apr 18, 2016
Related Publication 20240072560A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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