IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,973,518
Granted Patent B2
US 10,973,518 · App. 15/973,773 · Granted Apr 13, 2021

End-stop detection

Inventor: Anthony Calderoni (Bristol, CT)
Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
A61B17/07207A61B17/068A61B90/03A61B2017/00017A61B2017/0046A61B2017/00132A61B2017/00314A61B2017/00327A61B2017/00402A61B2017/00407A61B2017/00477A61B2017/00685A61B2017/00734A61B2017/07221A61B2017/07257A61B2017/07271A61B2017/2903A61B2090/034A61B2090/0811
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,973,518
App. No.
15/973,773
Granted
Apr 13, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for operating an electromechanical surgical system. The electromechanical surgical system includes a hand-held surgical instrument including an instrument housing defining a connecting portion for selectively connecting with a shaft assembly. The system also includes an end effector configured to perform at least one function. The shaft assembly is arranged for selectively interconnecting the end effector and the hand-held surgical instrument. The shaft assembly includes a drive member, a flag member configured to translate axially along the drive member, and a sensor disposed about the drive member. The sensor provides a signal indicating that the end effector has reached an end stop when the flag member contacts that sensor.

Claims (30)

1. An end stop detection method for a powered surgical instrument having a hand-held surgical instrument, an end effector and a shaft assembly configured to selectively interconnect the hand-held surgical instrument and the end effector, the shaft assembly including a drive member, a flag member, and a sensor, the method comprising:

controlling a motor within the hand-held surgical instrument to cause the drive member within the shaft assembly to rotate in a first direction thereby causing the flag member within the shaft assembly to translate axially along the drive member toward the sensor within the shaft assembly;

determining when the flag member contacts the sensor; and

stopping the motor when the flag member contacts the sensor to stop an actuation of the end effector.

2. The end stop detection method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the end effector after stopping the motor.

3. The end stop detection method of claim 2 , further comprising determining when a new end effector is needed based on a user input or a predetermined surgical plan.

4. The end stop detection method of claim 3 , further comprising:

identifying a type of end effector to be attached to the shaft assembly as the new end effector; and

controlling the motor within the hand-held surgical instrument to cause the drive member to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction thereby causing the flag member to translate axially along the drive member away from the sensor,

wherein the drive member is rotated for a predetermined amount of time based on the type of end effector to be attached to the shaft assembly.

5. The end stop detection method of claim 3 , further comprising attaching the new end effector to the shaft assembly.

6. An end stop detection method for a powered surgical instrument, the method comprising:

connecting a shaft assembly including a drive member, a flag member, and a sensor to a handheld surgical instrument including a motor such that the motor is operably coupled to the drive member, wherein the shaft assembly is configured to selectively interconnect the handheld surgical instrument and an end effector;

actuating the motor to drive rotation of the drive member, within the shaft assembly, in a first direction, thereby translating the flag member, within the shaft assembly, axially along the drive member;

determining when the flag member contacts the sensor within the shaft assembly; and

stopping the motor when the flag member contacts the sensor to stop an actuation of the end effector.

7. The end stop detection method of claim 6 , further comprising connecting an end effector to the shaft assembly prior to actuating the motor.

8. The end stop detection method of claim 7 , further comprising removing the end effector after stopping the motor.

9. The end stop detection method of claim 8 , further comprising:

identifying a type of a new end effector to be attached to the shaft assembly; and

actuating the motor to drive rotation of the drive member to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction, thereby translating the flag member axially along the drive member away from the sensor,

wherein the drive member is rotated a predetermined amount based on the identified type of the new end effector.

10. The end stop detection method according to claim 9 , wherein the predetermined amount is a predetermined amount of time.

11. The end stop detection method of claim 9 , further comprising attaching the new end effector to the shaft assembly.

12. The end stop detection method of claim 6 , further comprising:

identifying a type of an end effector to be attached to the shaft assembly; and

actuating the motor to drive rotation of the drive member to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction, thereby translating the flag member axially along the drive member away from the sensor,

wherein the drive member is rotated a predetermined amount based on the identified type of the end effector.

13. The end stop detection method according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined amount is a predetermined amount of time.

14. The end stop detection method of claim 12 , further comprising attaching the end effector to the shaft assembly.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2018
From: CALDERONI, ANTHONY
To: COVIDIEN LP
Reel/Frame 045741/0833 →
Continuity (3)
Division 14523300 · Oct 24, 2014
Provisional Application 61940004 · Feb 14, 2014
Related Publication 20180256165A1 · Sep 13, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,740,783