SURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT WITH GUARD

A surgical instrument includes a housing and a motor. An elongated member extends from the housing. An end effector is at a distal end of the elongated member. The end effector includes a jaw member including a guard. The guard has a number of serrations extending from a proximal end of the jaw member to a distal end of the jaw member. The guard defines corresponding pockets between the serrations. The guard is coupled to the motor to induce reciprocation of the guard relative to the blade upon activation of the motor. A blade is recessed within the guard to expose a cutting edge of the blade between the pockets. The pockets engage tissue. A treatment tip is at a distal end of the guard. The treatment tip connects to an energy source. The treatment tip treats tissue upon activation of the treatment tip.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to surgical apparatuses for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as endoscopic and/or laparoscopic procedures, or open procedures, and more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a surgical cutting instrument having a guard.

Discussion of Related Art

Minimally invasive surgery, such as endoscopic surgery, reduces the invasiveness of surgical procedures. Endoscopic surgery involves surgery through body walls, for example, viewing and/or operating on the ovaries, uterus, gall bladder, bowels, kidneys, appendix, etc. There are many common endoscopic surgical procedures, including arthroscopy, laparoscopy, gastroentroscopy and laryngobronchoscopy, just to name a few. In these procedures, trocars are utilized for creating incisions through which the endoscopic surgery is performed. Trocar tubes or cannula devices are extended into and left in place in the abdominal wall to provide access for endoscopic surgical tools. A camera or endoscope is inserted through a trocar tube to permit the visual inspection and magnification of the body cavity. The surgeon can then perform diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures at the surgical site with the aid of specialized instrumentation, such as forceps, graspers, cutters, applicators, and the like, which are designed to fit through additional cannulas.

Minimally-invasive or open surgical procedures may each be used for partial or total retrieval of a tissue specimen from an internal body cavity, or for careful dissection of a particular tissue or area without dissecting adjacent organs or vessels. For example, dense tissue adhesions may be removed through sharp dissection techniques including a scalpel, scissors or other surgical cutting devices. Preferential dissection of “tissue strings” associated with dense tissue adhesions may be performed by selectively cutting particular tissue regions.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical instrument includes a housing and a motor within the housing. An elongated member extends from a distal end of the housing. An end effector is at a distal end of the elongated member. The end effector includes a jaw member including a guard. The guard has a number of serrations extending from a proximal end of the jaw member to a distal end of the jaw member. The guard defines corresponding pockets between the serrations. The guard is coupled to the motor to induce reciprocation of the guard relative to the blade upon activation of the motor. A blade is recessed within the guard to expose a cutting edge of the blade between the pockets. The pockets engage tissue. A treatment tip is at a distal end of the guard. The treatment tip connects to an energy source. The treatment tip treats tissue upon activation of the treatment tip.

In some aspects, the treatment tip may be electrically conductive, resistive or ultrasonic.

In some aspects, the serrations of the guard include a geometry configured to direct tissue into the corresponding pockets when the guard is moved across tissue to induce cutting by the blade.

In some aspects, the geometry of each serration includes angled surfaces to direct tissue into the corresponding pockets when the guard is moved across tissue to induce cutting by the blade. The angled surfaces may include proximal-facing surfaces or distal-facing surfaces.

In some aspects, the cutting edge is sharpened to induce mechanical cutting.

In some aspects, the cutting edge is substantially dull to limit mechanical cutting and induce electrical cutting.

In some aspects, the blade is adapted to connect to a first energy source or a second energy source to induce cutting. The blade may cut tissue via electrical cutting, ultrasonic cutting, microwave cutting, optical cutting, or resistive cutting.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the jaw member includes the guard including the serrations extending from the proximal end of the jaw member to the distal end of the jaw member. The guard defines a corresponding plurality of pockets between the serrations. The blade is positioned within the guard. The blade is coupled to the motor to induce reciprocation of the blade relative to the guard upon activation of the motor. The blade is recessed within the guard to expose the cutting edge of the blade between the pockets. The pockets are arranged to engage tissue

In some aspects, the serrations of the guard include a geometry to direct tissue into the corresponding pockets when the blade is moved across tissue to induce cutting by the blade. For example, the geometry of each serration includes angled surfaces to direct tissue into the corresponding pockets when the blade is moved across tissue to induce cutting by the blade. The angled surfaces may include distal-facing surfaces or proximal facing surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “distal” refers to the portion that is being described which is further from a user, while the term “proximal” refers to the portion that is being described which is closer to a user. Further, to the extent consistent, any of the aspects and features detailed herein may be used in conjunction with any or all of the other aspects and features detailed herein.

As used herein, the terms parallel and perpendicular are understood to include relative configurations that are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular up to about + or −10 degrees from true parallel and true perpendicular.

“About” or “approximately” or “substantially” as used herein may be inclusive of the stated value and means within an acceptable range of variation for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, considering the measurement in question and the error associated with measurement of the particular quantity (e.g., the limitations of the measurement system). For example, “about” may mean within one or more standard variations, or within ±30%, 20%, 10%, 5% of the stated value.

Descriptions of technical features or aspects of an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure should typically be considered as available and applicable to other similar features or aspects in another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Accordingly, technical features described herein according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be applicable to other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and thus duplicative descriptions may be omitted herein.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully below (e.g., with reference to the accompanying drawings). Like reference numerals may refer to like elements throughout the specification and drawings. The surgical cutting instrument described herein may be particularly useful in minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as endoscopic and/or laparoscopic procedures, or open procedures.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, a surgical instrument10includes a housing110and a motor150within the housing110. An elongated member130extends from a distal end114of the housing110. An end effector (e.g., end effector220or320illustrated inFIG. 2 or 3, respectively) is disposed at a distal end118of the elongated member130. In some embodiments, the elongated member130may include a portion132extending at least partially through the housing110to connect with motor150. Thus, an actuating motion of the motor150may be translated through the housing110and into a guard202or a blade205disposed within the end effector (e.g., end effector220or320illustrated inFIG. 2 or 3, respectively) to create a reciprocating motion in the guard202or the blade205, as described in more detail below. The phrases “surgical instrument” and “surgical cutting instrument” may be used interchangeably herein.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the end effector220includes a jaw member201including a guard202. The guard202includes a series of serrations203extending from a proximal end212of the jaw member201to a distal end214of the jaw member201. The guard202defines corresponding pockets204between adjoining serrations203. The guard202is coupled to the motor150to induce reciprocation of the guard202relative to the blade205upon activation of the motor150. The blade205is recessed within the guard202to expose a cutting edge206of the blade205within each pocket204. The serrations203are configured to engage tissue and direct the tissue into the corresponding pockets204and into contact with the blade205to facilitate cutting of the tissue. A treatment tip207extends distally from a distal end214of the guard202. The treatment tip207may be connected to an energy source (e.g., energy source400) or may be coupled to an internal energy source (e.g., battery). The treatment tip207is configured to treat tissue (e.g., by coagulation, ultrasonic, resistive heating, etc.) upon activation thereof. The treatment tip207may be, for example, an electrically conductive, resistive or ultrasonic tip.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, the blade205may be coupled to the motor150to induce reciprocation of the blade205relative to the guard202upon activation of the motor150. The serrations203of the guard202include a geometry to direct tissue into the corresponding pockets204and across the blade205induce cutting by the blade205. Alternatively, tissue may be directed into the corresponding pockets204when the guard202is moved relative to the blade205to induce cutting.

In embodiments, the geometry of each serration203includes angled surfaces208configured to direct tissue into the corresponding pockets204. The angled surfaces208may increase pressure between the cutting edge206of the blade205and tissue being cut by pinching the tissue between the angled surfaces208and the cutting edge206. The angled surfaces208in end effector220are distal-facing surfaces. Thus, the end effector220may be particularly useful for cutting tissue by advancing the surgical cutting instrument10along a distal direction as tissue is directed into the cutting edge206of the blade205by the distal-facing surfaces of the guard202.

An end effector320is described below with reference toFIGS. 1 and 3. The end effector320is substantially the same as the end effector220unless otherwise indicated (e.g., end effector320includes proximal-facing angled surfaces308). Thus technical features described with respect to end effector220are similarly available to end effector320wherever technically feasible.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, the end effector320includes a jaw member301including a guard302. The guard302includes a series of serrations303extending from a proximal end312of the jaw member301to a distal end314of the jaw member301. The guard302defines corresponding pockets304between adjoining serrations303.

The guard302is coupled to the motor150to induce reciprocation of the guard302relative to the blade305upon activation of the motor150. The blade305is recessed within the guard302to expose a cutting edge306of the blade305within each pocket304. The serrations303engage tissue and direct the tissue into the pockets304to contact the blade305to facilitate cutting of the tissue. A treatment tip307extends from a distal end314of the guard302. The treatment tip307may be connected to an energy source (e.g., energy source400) or may be coupled to an internal energy source (e.g., battery). The treatment tip307is configured to treat tissue (e.g., by coagulation, ultrasonic, resistive heating, etc.) upon activation thereof.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, the blade305may be coupled to the motor150to induce reciprocation of the blade305relative to the guard302upon activation of the motor150. The serrations303of the guard302include a geometry to direct tissue into the corresponding pockets304and across the blade305to induce cutting by the blade305. Alternatively, tissue may be directed into the corresponding pockets304when the guard302is moved relative to the blade305to induce cutting.

The geometry of each serration303may be configured to include angled surfaces308to direct tissue into the corresponding pockets304. The angled surfaces308may increase pressure between the cutting edge306of the blade305and tissue being cut by pinching the tissue between the angled surfaces308and the cutting edge306. The angled surfaces308of end effector320are proximal-facing surfaces. Thus, the end effector320may be particularly useful for cutting tissue by advancing the surgical cutting instrument10along a proximal direction as tissue is directed into the cutting edge306of the blade305by the proximal-facing surfaces of the guard302.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, in some embodiments, the treatment tip (e.g., tip207or307) is electrically connected to a switch50operably disposed on the housing110. The switch50is activatable to supply electrosurgical energy to the treatment tip207,307using an energy algorithm. The energy algorithm includes a cutting algorithm, a coagulating algorithm and/or a blending algorithm. Thus, the treatment tip207,307may be used to “spot treat” a desired area without the need to employ another instrument.

The cutting edge (e.g., cutting edge206or306) may be sharpened to facilitate mechanical cutting. The cutting edge (e.g., cutting edge206or306) may be substantially dull to limit mechanical cutting and induce electrical cutting. In this instance, the blade205,305would be coupled to an electrosurgical energy source. The blade (e.g., blade205or305) may be configured to cut tissue via electrical cutting, ultrasonic cutting, microwave cutting, optical cutting, or resistive cutting.

The blade (e.g., blade205or305) may be adapted to connect to a first energy source400(e.g., a generator) or a second energy source500(e.g., a generator) to selectively induce cutting. The first energy source400may be the same energy source as the energy source connected with the treatment tip (e.g., tip207or307). The second energy source500may be a separate energy source from the first energy source400. The second energy source500may supply energy to the blade, while the first energy source400supplies energy to the treatment tip207,307. A single energy source (e.g., energy source400or500) may selectively apply energy to the blade (e.g., blade205or305) and/or the treatment tip207or307. Independent switches operably disposed on the housing110may independently control a supply of energy to the blade205,305or the treatment tip207,307, respectively.

Referring particularly toFIGS. 1 and 2, the distal-facing surface208of guard202may be particularly useful for cutting tissue by advancing the surgical cutting instrument10in a distal direction. By advancing the surgical cutting instrument10in a distal direction, tissue is forced into the pockets204along the distal-facing angled surfaces208and into contact with the cutting edge206of blade205. This may occur while the blade205and/or the guard202move in a longitudinal reciprocating fashion relative to the end effector220(see, e.g., the bidirectional arrows illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3).

Increased pressure between cutting tissue and the cutting edge206is generated at a point along the cutting edge206in substantially immediate proximity to a lower end of the distal-facing angled surfaces208(e.g., at a point where the angled surfaces208cross the cutting edge206). As a result thereof, tissue may be cut along a desired plane without the blade205contacting adjacent organs or vessels. For example, “strings” or particular regions of tissue adhesions may be precisely cut by use of a particular pocket204of end effector220directing tissue into precise contact with the cutting edge206of blade205.

Referring particularly toFIGS. 1 and 3, end effector320may be employed in substantially the same fashion as end effector220, except that end effector320is particularly useful for cutting tissue in a proximal direction.

The various embodiments disclosed herein may also be configured to work with robotic surgical systems and what is commonly referred to as “Telesurgery.” Such systems employ various robotic elements to assist the surgeon and allow remote operation (or partial remote operation) of surgical instrumentation. Various robotic arms, gears, cams, pulleys, electric and mechanical motors, etc. may be employed for this purpose and may be designed with a robotic surgical system to assist the surgeon during the course of an operation or treatment. Such robotic systems may include remotely steerable systems, automatically flexible surgical systems, remotely flexible surgical systems, remotely articulating surgical systems, wireless surgical systems, modular or selectively configurable remotely operated surgical systems, etc.

The robotic surgical systems may be employed with one or more consoles that are next to the operating theater or located in a remote location. In this instance, one team of surgeons or nurses may prep the patient for surgery and configure the robotic surgical system with one or more of the instruments disclosed herein while another surgeon (or group of surgeons) remotely controls the instruments via the robotic surgical system. As can be appreciated, a highly skilled surgeon may perform multiple operations in multiple locations without leaving his/her remote console which can be both economically advantageous and a benefit to the patient or a series of patients.

The robotic arms of the surgical system are typically coupled to a pair of master handles by a controller. The handles can be moved by the surgeon to produce a corresponding movement of the working ends of any type of surgical instrument (e.g., end effectors, graspers, knifes, scissors, etc.) which may complement the use of one or more of the embodiments described herein. The movement of the master handles may be scaled so that the working ends have a corresponding movement that is different, smaller or larger, than the movement performed by the operating hands of the surgeon. The scale factor or gearing ratio may be adjustable so that the operator can control the resolution of the working ends of the surgical instrument(s).

The master handles may include various sensors to provide feedback to the surgeon relating to various tissue parameters or conditions, e.g., tissue resistance due to manipulation, cutting or otherwise treating, pressure by the instrument onto the tissue, tissue temperature, tissue impedance, etc. As can be appreciated, such sensors provide the surgeon with enhanced tactile feedback simulating actual operating conditions. The master handles may also include a variety of different actuators for delicate tissue manipulation or treatment further enhancing the surgeon's ability to mimic actual operating conditions.