Abstract:
An electrosurgical system is provided having a handpiece adapted to receive a plurality of different end effectors such that, when a particular end effector is attached to the handpiece, the end effector is recognized by either or both the handpiece and a separate electrosurgical generator so that the operational parameters for the particular end effector attached to the handpiece are selected.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates, in general, to electrosurgical systems and devices and, more particularly, to bipolar electrosurgical systems with interchangeable tools. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to surgical instruments and systems, with some embodiments relating to different electrosurgical devices such as clamps, articulated clamps, and tissue ablating clamps. Surgery generally refers to the diagnosis or treatment of injury, deformity, or disease. In a variety of surgical procedures, it is desired to ablate tissue or cause lesions in tissue. Some examples of such procedures include, without limitation, electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins to treat atrial fibrillation, ablation of uterine tissue associated with endometriosis, ablation of esophageal tissue associated with Barrett&#39;s esophagus, ablation of cancerous liver tissue, and the like. The foregoing examples are merely illustrative and not exhaustive. 
         [0003]    Depending on the surgeon&#39;s needs, different electrosurgical devices can be plugged into and used with the same electrosurgical generator to form an electrosurgical system with different energy applying capabilities. While a variety of techniques and devices have been used to ablate or cause lesions in tissue, no one has previously made or used an electrosurgical system and electrosurgical instruments in accordance with the present invention. Other aspects of the present teaching relate to non-energy based surgical instruments and are not limited to tissue ablation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    While the specification concludes with claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is believed the present invention will be better understood from the following description of certain examples taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify the same elements and in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a universal handpiece according to the present invention with a separate shaft assembly. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary side view of the handpiece of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the handpiece taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the handpiece taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0009]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are cross-sectional views taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2  with the shaft retention lock in its shaft engaging and shaft releasing positions, respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The following description of certain examples of the invention should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. Other examples, features, aspects, embodiments, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, which is by way of illustration, one of the best modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different and obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
         [0011]    In a variety of surgical procedures, it is desirable to ablate tissue or cause lesions in tissue. Tissue ablation can be effected through a variety of different mechanisms known to those skilled in the art, such as mono-polar radiofrequency (“RF”) energy, bi-polar RF energy, cryogenic techniques, and the like. In clamping arrangements, tissue ablation can be effected through a single jaw of a clamp or through both jaws of a clamp. Tissue ablation will typically be performed once the target tissue is clamped between the closed jaws. One with ordinary skill in the art will recognize that one or more of the foregoing tissue ablation techniques may be employed with the various clamp configurations described below. One with ordinary skill in the art will also recognize advantages of the surgical clamps without tissue ablation functionality. Accordingly, the foregoing examples may or may not include ablation functionality. Examples of tissue ablating clamps are found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/254,075, filed Oct. 19, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0012]    As shown in  FIG. 1  electrosurgical instruments have an electrosurgical generator  902  to power the electrosurgical instrument. Electrosurgical generator  902  has a connection port  902   a  into which a variety of electrosurgical devices or tools (such as clamps described above) can be operably attached and detached. Electrosurgical generator  902  may support ablation, impedance sensing, provide preprogrammed cauterization algorithms to adjust energy settings, or any one of a number of other feature, and can accommodate a wide range of electrosurgical instruments. These electrosurgical instruments may include but are not limited to LED&#39;s, sensors, thermocouples, dissectors, energy delivery devices, fasteners, cutters, clamps, actuators and the like, and each combination can have different power needs or require different energy delivery algorithms. Electrosurgical generator  902  is flexible enough to support this wide variety of electrosurgical needs, but different generator settings may be required when shifting from one electrosurgical device to another. A switch or foot pedal  903  having connector  903 a can be provided to actuate an electrosurgical tool. 
         [0013]    Alternately, instead of a number of electrosurgical devices, a universal handpiece or universal handle  910  can be provided that can accommodate a plurality of interchangeable shaft assemblies  970 . The interchangeable shaft assemblies  970 , in combination with universal handle  910 , can be assembled, disassembled and reassembled into a variety of electrosurgical devices including the clamps described above. Additionally, the universal handle  910  may include an operator actuatable trigger or plunger  914  to actuate mechanical elements of a shaft assembly  910 . The combination of universal handle  910  and shaft assemblies  970  could contain electronic elements that provide the electrosurgical generator  902  with information as to which tool or shaft assembly  970  is attached. With this information, generator  902  could perform any one of a number of functions that can include, but is not restricted to, activating sensors, actuating LED&#39;s and adjusting power algorithms and voltages automatically without surgeon intervention. A number of interchangeable shaft assemblies such as shaft assembly  970  may be provided for the universal handle  910 . Each of the shaft assemblies  970  can have a unique distal end effector  975  that performs a set of functions. By way of example, but not inclusive, a left clamp assembly, a dissector shaft, a right clamp assembly or a shaft assembly (none of which are shown) could be attached to universal handle  910 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that a number of alternate interchangeable shaft assemblies  970  with different end effectors  975  could be constructed. Additionally, one with ordinary skill in the art will also recognize advantages of the shaft assemblies without tissue ablation functionality that can be used with an electrosurgical system. Accordingly, the foregoing examples may or may not include ablation functionality 
       Endoscopic Universal Handle 
       [0014]    In  FIG. 1 , an interchangeable shaft assembly  970  is shown positioned for insertion into a shaft socket  920  at a distal end of universal handle  910 . Shaft socket  920  may include a plurality of internal electrical pins  921 , a shaft retention lock  922 , a drive member  923 , and an alignment key  924 . Placement of interchangeable shaft assembly  970  into shaft socket  920  aligns shaft  970  with key  924  by means of slot  976 , engages internal electrical pins  921  with shaft  970 , detachably secures shaft  970  to handle  910  with shaft retention lock  922 , and rigidly connects or engages drive member  923  with shaft  970  for actuation of an end effector  975 . 
         [0015]    Universal handle  910  has grips  911 ,  912 ,  913  and a plunger  914 . A plunger  914  is operably connected to internal drive member  923  such that activation or depression of plunger  914  may actuate end effectors  975  in a number of interchangeable shaft assemblies  970 . That is, longitudinal motion and forces applied to plunger  914  can be transmitted to internal drive member  923  and then to shaft actuation mechanisms such as end effector  975  in universal shaft  910 . Any one of a number of linear motion drive mechanisms, return springs, and end effector force limiting mechanisms as are known in the art can be used in any combination in universal handle  910 . A lock  915  holds depressed plunger  914  at different actuation positions when plunger  914  moves distally to actuate end effectors  975 . Depressing lock  915  releases a depressed and locked plunger  914  to return drive member  923  proximally and sequentially to at least one intermediate position and then to un-actuated position of  FIGS. 1-2 . In addition to foot pedal  903 , a generator activation switch  916  may be provided on universal handle  910  adjacent to the grips  911 ,  912 ,  913  to energize electrosurgical generator  902 . A cover  917  can enclose internal handle mechanical elements. Wires  926  can extend from handle  910  and can be terminated with a power connector  927  and an activation connector  928 . 
         [0016]      FIGS. 3-4  show a cross sectional view of the universal handle  910  and an interchangeable shaft assembly  970  having end effector  975 . Shaft assembly  970  is a non-limiting example, meant to merely illustrate the engagements, interconnections, and operations of universal handle  910  with an example shaft assembly  970  and an example end effector  975 . A circuit board  930  is located in a bottom portion of cover  917  below actuation mechanism  925  and an insulator  931  is provided between actuation mechanism  925  and circuit board  930  to prevent shorting. A connector having a plurality of electrical pins  921  extending distally therefrom electrically connects the circuit board  930  with shaft assembly  970 . Pins  921  can extend through an opening in shaft retention lock  922 . A central opening is located within connector pins  921 , and allows longitudinal passage of internal drive member  923  of actuation mechanism  925  therethrough. Shaft retention lock  922  is normally biased by spring  933  to the lock position shown. 
       Shaft Assembly 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the shaft assembly  970  shows a clamp-type end effector including a longitudinally moveable proximal jaw  985  and an articulating distal jaw  976 . A longitudinally moveable actuator shaft or drive member  977  extends proximally from proximal jaw  985  in a shaft  980 . A female connector  978  is located at a proximal end of shaft  980  and contains a plurality of female sockets  979  to engage with pins  921  of handpiece  910 . An opening extends through female connector  978  and has a proximal end of the actuator shaft  977  longitudinally movable therein. Slot  976  extends longitudinally in connector  978  and shaft  980  to receive alignment key  924  of handle  910  therein, and allow passage of an unlocking blade  922   b  of shaft retention lock  922  therethrough. Electrical elements such as but not limited to an EEPROM or shaft electronics  981  and an electrode wire  982  are shown electrically connected to female connector  978 . 
         [0018]      FIGS. 3-6  show the attachment of an illustrative interchangeable shaft assembly  970  to the universal handpiece  910 .  FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of a portion of the proximal end of handle  910  and interchangeable shaft assembly  970 . Shaft  970  is rotated into alignment with alignment key  924  (allowing key  924  to slide in slot  976 ) and is shown partially inserted into shaft socket  920 . Pins  921  of handle  910  are aligned with female sockets  979  of handle  910  to ensure proper connection. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are section views of handle  910  and show an end view of interchangeable shaft assembly  910  viewed through opening  922   a  of shaft release button  922 . Female connector  978  is fixedly mounted in shaft  983 , has a plurality of female sockets  979  for reception of pins  921  from handpiece  910 , and has lower opening  978 a for passage of drive member  923  therein. Key slot  983  is engaged with key  924  of the handle  910  to align or orient shaft assembly  970  to universal handpiece  910 , and is passing blade  922   b  of shaft retention lock  922  therein. Spring  933  is biasing shaft retention lock  922  upwardly. 
         [0020]    To complete installation of shaft assembly  970  into handpiece  910 , shaft retention lock  922  must be depressed to bias drive blade  922   b  downwardly into alignment with actuator channel  977  of and interchangeable shaft assembly  970  and to move lock blades  922   c  of shaft retention lock  922  downwardly to allow passage of shaft assembly  910  through opening  922   a.  Shaft assembly  910  is shown fully inserted into shaft socket  920  which engages male pins  921  in handle  910  to shaft female sockets  979  of shaft assembly  970 , and fully engages generator  902  to shaft assembly  970  through universal handle  910 . Release of shaft retention lock  922  results in spring  933  biasing shaft retention lock  922  upwardly, engaging lock blades  922  with shaft retention slots  984  and securing shaft  970  to handle  910 . Release of shaft retention lock  922  also releases drive member  923  by moving unlocking blade  922   b  upwardly enabling drive member spring  923   a  to bias tab  923   b  into locked engagement with slot  977   a  of actuator  977 . When tab  923   b  is locked into slot  977   a,  proximal and distal movement of plunger  914  moves actuator channel  977  of shaft assembly  970  in a like manner to actuate and de-actuate end effector  975 . Thus, universal handle  910  can be removeably engaged with any one of a number of shaft assemblies  970 . If desired, electronics can be deleted from a shaft assembly  970  and universal handpiece  910  can operate a completely mechanical shaft assembly  970  with plunger  914 . 
         [0021]    The universal handle  910  preferably includes a circuit board  930  that can provide a thermocouple pass through, an EEPROM pass through, a LED pass through, a shaft indicator pass through, or any one of a number of other pass throughs for shaft electronics. Additionally, electrode switching circuits can be on the circuit board  930 , as well as a mount for the activation switch. In addition, a shaft retention lock out can be included to lock out engagement of generator  902  unless a shaft assembly  970  is fully inserted and locked to handle  910 . If desired, a generator activation switch  916  can be added to actuate generator  902  from handpiece  910 , and, if desired, may not actuate until shaft retention lock out  990  is actuated by an inserted shaft assembly  970 . A shaft retention lock out can be included to lock out generator  903  until shaft retention lock  922  is fully locked. Shaft connector  932  can be mounted to the circuit board  930  if desired or connected with cabling or flex circuitry. Actuation connector  928  and RF power connector  927  can also be attached to the circuit board  930  in universal handle  910 . A battery and switch can be added to handpiece  910 . The switch  993  locks out the battery to conserve power and can be engaged by removal of a battery lock tab or manual actuation of switch  993 . 
         [0022]    By way of example, a circuit board for a left clamp assembly or right clamp assembly may be provided for attachment to universal handle  910 . Clamp shaft assemblies can be electrically identical but differ mechanically. Two pairs of opposed electrodes may be provided with connections to a connector. A thermocouple may also be provided and extends to the connector. Shaft electronics such as an EEPROM can contain information about the shaft assembly that enables generator  903  to recognize the shaft assembly and end effector and set generator operating parameters to match. A shaft present loop can also be provided to indicate to the universal handpiece  910  and generator  903  that an interchangeable shaft assembly is operably connected to handpiece  910 . 
         [0023]    Having shown and described various embodiments of the present invention, further adaptations of the methods and systems described herein may be accomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Several of such potential modifications have been mentioned, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the examples, embodiments, geometries, materials, dimensions, ratios, steps, and the like discussed above are illustrative and are not required. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be considered in terms of the following claims and is understood not to be limited to the details of structure and operation shown and described in the specification and drawings. 
         [0024]    While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.