Cilag International Gmbh

Ethicon, Gmbh

Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Hasbro, Inc.

Sentrilock, LLC

Randolph C Stewart

Gregory A Trees

Chad Paul Boudreaux

Barry C Worrell

Geoffrey S Strobl

Foster B Stulen

Jonathan T Batross

Jason R Lesko

James M Wilson

Kristen L D'Uva

Ellen M Renner

Daniel G Meiser

Gregory W Johnson

Bret William Smith

David Keith Norvell

Scott R Fisher

Patrick J Minnelli

Thomas Bates Jackson

Michael J Andreyko

Shawn C Snyder

Robert L Brown

Nicholas G Molitor

Kris Eren Kallenberger

William L Noack

Alex W Kiturkes

Kristen T Shoger

William A Crawford

Megan A O'Connor

William Douglas Shaw, Jr

Ellen M Nienhaus

William D Shaw, Jr

Wai T Chan

William George Noack

An apparatus including a body, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, and an end effector configured to grasp and transmit RF energy to the tissue. The end effector includes a first jaw having a first tissue grasping feature and a second jaw. The second jaw is pivotably coupled to the first jaw between an open position, a partially closed position, and a closed position. The second jaw includes a proximal taper having a proximal electrode surface, a distal taper including a distal electrode surface, and a juncture between the proximal and distal electrode surface. The juncture is spaced further from the first tissue grasping feature compared to the proximal and distal end while the second jaw is in the partially closed position. The proximal and distal electrode surface deform to define a gap with the first tissue grasping feature while in the closed position.

Jaw for surgical instrument end effector

Devices and methods for articulating a distal end of a surgical device are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the device includes an articulation joint that includes both an inner guide and an outer sleeve. The inner guide includes one channel extending therethrough that receives both a cutting mechanism and a closure band. Further, an outer surface of the inner guide, in conjunction with the outer sleeve, can define two additional channels that each receive an articulation band for articulating an end effector coupled to the articulation joint. The outer surface of the inner guide can include a plurality of ribs that also help define the two additional channels. Further, the outer sleeve can include a plurality of slots formed in it to improve flexibility and stability. Additional configurations of articulation joints, and configurations of components of a surgical device, are also provided, as are methods for using the same.

Articulation joint having an inner guide

Methods of manufacturing a medical device are provided, which include injection molding a substantially cylindrical monolithic outer shell having an inner lumen and a plurality of ribs spaced longitudinally and extending partially circumferentially around the substantially cylindrical monolithic outer shell with elongate slots separating each rib. At least one flexible divider can be injection molded and advanced into the inner lumen to separate the inner lumen into first and second elongate channels and can be freely slidable relative to the substantially cylindrical monolithic outer shell. Proximal and distal ends of the substantially cylindrical monolithic outer shell can be respectively mated to a distal end of the elongate shaft and a proximal end of an end effector. First and second articulation bands can be advanced through the elongate shaft and channels and mated to opposed sides of the end effector.

Flexible neck for surgical instruments

Bipolar electrosurgical jaws

A surgical end effector is provided having upper and lower jaws pivotally coupled to one another by at least one connecting member that is configured to allow a gap between the jaws to be set at a desired height. In one embodiment, the connecting member can be pivotably coupled to the upper jaw and fixed within a slot in the lower jaw. The connecting member can be fixed within the slot in one of multiple positions so as to position first and second tissue contacting surfaces of the upper and lower jaws at a predetermined distance from one another when the first and second jaws are in the closed position. The connecting member can include a pin formed thereon that extends into a bore formed in the upper jaw. Alternatively, the upper jaw can include a pin formed thereon that extends into a bore formed in the connecting member.

Surgical jaw coupling methods and devices

A robotic surgical system comprising a surgical instrument comprising an end effector comprising (i) a blade, (ii) a first jaw member including a first electrode, and (iii) a second jaw member including a second electrode. The robotic surgical system may also comprise a motor and a control circuit configured to: (i) produce control signals comprising a first control signal and a second control signal, (ii) deliver an electrosurgical energy signal to the first electrode and the second electrode via the first control signal, (iii) deliver a drive signal to the motor via the second control signal (iv) receive at least one feedback signal, (v) determine a rate of change based on a first feedback signal of the at least one feedback signal, and (vi) maintain the rate of change at a predetermined rate or within a predetermined range.

Closed feedback control for electrosurgical device

Methods and devices for allowing articulation of an end effector on a surgical instrument are provided. In one embodiment, a surgical device can include a flexible neck portion having an end effector coupled to a distal end thereof. The flexible neck portion is configured to bend to as to allow the end effector to articulate. The flexible neck portion can include a monolithic flexible outer shell defining an inner lumen extending therethrough. At least one flexible divider can be disposed within the inner lumen such that it separates the outer shell into elongate pathways configured to receive articulation members extending through the shaft assembly and the flexible neck and coupled to the end effector to cause articulating movement thereof.

A surgical tool and control system therefor is provided. The surgical tool can include an instrument mount configured to engage with a robotic manipulator assembly, which can include a gear assembly configured to be actuated by the robotic manipulator assembly. The surgical tool can include an end effector coupled to the gear assembly, which is configured to be actuated by the gear assembly. The surgical tool can include a lockout configured to transition between a first state in which the lockout is physically engaged with the gear assembly to prevent a movement thereof and a second state in which the lockout is disengaged from the gear assembly. The surgical tool can include a control circuit configured to determine whether the end effector is in an energized state or a de-energized state and in the energized state, cause the lockout to transition between the first state and the second state.

Lockout mechanism for use with robotic electrosurgical device

Pair of bipolar electrosurgical jaws

A robotic surgical system including a control circuit configured to: (i) generate an energy control signal to deliver an electrosurgical energy signal to a first electrode and a second electrode, (ii) measure a current supplied and a voltage applied to the first and second electrodes, (iii) calculate impedance based on the measured current and voltage, (iv) compare the calculated impedance to a predetermined impedance level, (v) generate a subsequent energy control signal to deliver a subsequent electrosurgical energy signal to the first and second electrodes, when the calculated impedance is less than the predetermined impedance level, by adjusting at least one energy signal characteristic between the delivered electrosurgical energy signal and the subsequent electrosurgical energy signal based on the calculated impedance, and (vi) generate a drive control signal to activate a blade when the calculated impedance is greater than or equal to the predetermined impedance level.

An electrosurgical instrument includes an end effector having first and second jaws defining an electrically conductive gap setting member configured to maintain a gap between energy delivery surfaces of the first and second jaws. The first jaw comprises a first energy delivery surface, a first body, a first distal end, a first proximal end, and a first electrically conductive member protruding from the first body at the first distal end. The second jaw comprises a second energy delivery surface further comprising an aperture, a second body, a second distal end, a second proximal end, and a second electrically conductive member protruding from the second body at the second distal end. The second jaw further comprises an electrically insulative member extending through the aperture. At least one electrically conductive gap setting member is configured to maintain a gap between energy delivery surfaces of the first and second jaw.

Jaw structure with distal closure for electrosurgical instruments

A surgical tool including a lockout mechanism is provided. The surgical tool may include an instrument mounting portion including a shaft assembly coupled to and extending distally from the instrument mounting portion and an end effector including a reciprocatable element coupled to a distal end of the shaft assembly. The surgical tool may further include an energy source configured to deliver energy to the end effector and an actuation mechanism configured to actuate the end effector. The actuation mechanism may be configured to reciprocate the reciprocatable element of the end effector. The lockout mechanism may be operably interfaced with the actuation mechanism to control reciprocating movement of the reciprocatable element.

Various embodiments described herein are directed to surgical instruments with visual feedback. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument with visual feedback comprises an end effector. The end effector has a first jaw member and a second jaw member. At least one sensor is coupled to the end effector. The at least one sensor is configured convert at least one state of the end effector to a feedback signal. The feedback signal is corresponding to the at least one state of the end effector. The feedback signal may be transmitted to a display to render a visual representation of the at least one state of the end effector. The surgical instrument may further comprise an instrument mounting portion to mount to a robotic surgical system. The instrument mounting portion comprises an interface to mechanically and electrically interface to the surgical instrument.

Surgeon feedback sensing and display methods

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Randolph C Stewart