Surgical instrument including inductively coupled accessory

A surgical instrument system includes a surgical instrument, a power supply, and an accessory. The surgical instrument has a first induction device positioned therein. The accessory is selectively operably couplable to the surgical instrument. The accessory includes a second induction device that is inductively coupled with the first induction device when the accessory is operably coupled to the surgical instrument such that the power supply provides power to the accessory.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical field

This application relates to surgical instruments and more particularly, to energy sources for use with surgical instrument accessories.

2. Background of Related Art

A typical surgery employs a plurality of different surgical instruments and accessory devices for use with the various surgical instruments. When attaching accessory devices, e.g., illumination devices or cameras, there is often a need to satisfy the energy needs of the accessory device. While self contained energy sources like batteries are often utilized, they take up valuable space in the accessory device and often have limited energy storage capacity. As such, removal or repositioning of the accessory may be necessary to change a battery or other energy storage device, which, if required during surgery or other medical procedure, can inhibit efficiency.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a surgical instrument system including a surgical instrument, a power supply, and an accessory. The surgical instrument has a first induction device positioned therein. The power supply is electrically coupled to the surgical instrument. The accessory is selectively operably couplable to the surgical instrument such that the power supply provides power to the accessory.

The first induction device and the second induction device may be positioned adjacent one another. In some embodiments, the first induction device and the second induction device are concentrically aligned.

The first induction device can include a first electrical conduit that is electrically coupled to a second power supply and the second induction device can include a second electrical conduit that is inductively coupled to the first electrical conduit of the first induction device. One or both of the first electrical conduit and second electrical conduit can include one or more wires that are at least partially wound a predetermined number of windings about the respective first and second induction devices. The one or more wires can produce a voltage output when the second power supply is electrically coupled to the first induction device, wherein the amount of voltage output increases as the number of windings of the one or more wires increases.

In one embodiment, one or both of the first and second induction devices includes a spool about which at least a portion of the one or more wires are wound. In another embodiment, one or both of the first and second induction devices include a pole member about which at least a portion of the one or more wires are wound.

In some embodiments, an instrument power supply is electrically coupled to the first induction device.

One or more of the power supplies may be positioned within the surgical instrument. One or both of the power supplies may produce alternating current and/or direct current. One or both of the power supplies may include one or more batteries.

The second induction device is inductively coupled with the first induction device when the accessory is operably coupled to the surgical instrument such that only the instrument power supply provides power to the accessory. The accessory in some embodiments includes a housing that defines a channel therethrough and the surgical instrument includes a shaft, the channel configured to accommodate at least a portion of the shaft. The accessory may include a powering device that includes one or more of a camera, a sensor, and an illumination device. The powering device can be inductively powered by the accessory power supply when the accessory is operably coupled to the surgical instrument. The accessory may include a converter (e.g., rectifier) that converts the alternating current into direct current.

The accessory power supply can be internal or external of the instrument.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the presently disclosed surgical instrument system are described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate similar or identical elements in each of the several views. However, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. In the drawings and the description that follows, the term “proximal” refers to the end of the surgical instrument system that is closer to the user, whereas the term “distal” refers to the end of the surgical instrument system that is further from the user.

Referring now to the drawings,FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate one embodiment of a surgical instrument system10. The surgical instrument system10includes a surgical instrument100, an accessory200selectively operably couplable to the surgical instrument100, a first power supply300a, and a second power supply300b. The first and second power supplies300a,300bmay be any suitable power source including one or more electrical generators and/or one or more batteries. In addition, one or both of the first and second power supplies300a,300bmay be positioned internally or externally of the surgical instrument100. The first power supply300ais electrically coupled to the surgical instrument100to provide power only to the surgical instrument100without providing power to the accessory200. The second power supply300bis electrically coupled to a first induction device150that is positioned within the surgical instrument100so that when the accessory200is operably coupled to the surgical instrument100, the second power supply300bonly powers the accessory200via inductive coupling without providing power to the other components of the surgical instrument100. However, in some embodiments, either the first or second power supply300a,300bmay provide power to both the surgical instrument100and the accessory200. As such, only one of the first and second power supplies300a,300bmay be electrically coupled with the surgical instrument100and the accessory200in certain embodiments.

In the alternate embodiment ofFIG. 1A, the instrument itself is not powered and therefore a power supply for the instrument is not provided. In all other respects, instrument10′ is identical to instrument10ofFIG. 1and the parts are labeled with “prime” designations. Consequently, the description of the components ofFIG. 1is applicable toFIG. 1Aexcept for the absence of power supply300a.

The surgical instrument100(and100′) includes a housing110, an elongated shaft120, a tool assembly130, one or more electrical conduits140, and a first induction device150(FIG. 2). The shaft120extends from the distal end of the housing110. The tool assembly130is operably coupled to the distal end of the shaft120. The tool assembly130may be remotely operable for the handle assembly via a drive assembly180that is operably coupled to one or more handles112of the housing110. The drive assembly180may be positioned within one or both of the housing110and the shaft120. In this respect, the tool assembly130may be operable remotely from the handle assembly via the drive assembly180to engage tissue upon the actuation of the one or more handles112of the housing110.

One or more electrical conduits140(e.g., one or more wires or cables) are positioned within one or more of the housing110, the shaft120, and the tool assembly130. As best illustrated inFIG. 2, the distal end of the one or more electrical conduits140may be electrically coupled to the tool assembly130while the proximal end of the one or more electrical conduits140may be electrically coupled to the first power supply300a. As shown inFIG. 2, the one or more electrical conduits140may extend through the shaft120and housing110. In this manner, the one or more electrical conduits140may provide power, e.g., electricity in the form of alternating current, direct current, an AC signal superimposed on a DC signal (which enables powering both the instrument and accessory utilizing only two wires) and/or pulsating DC current, as well as other waveforms such as saw tooth, to each of the components of the surgical instrument100without providing power to the first induction device150. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1Awhere the tool assembly is not powered, electrical conduits140need not be provided.

As best shown inFIG. 2, the first induction device150, which can be utilized in the same way with instruments100or100′ but for brevity is described only with use with instrument100ofFIG. 1, is shown positioned within the shaft120but may also be positioned within the housing110and/or the tool assembly130. When the first induction device150is positioned within the housing110or the tool assembly130, the accessory200can also be positioned adjacent the housing110, the tool assembly130, and/or the shaft110. The first induction device150includes one or more electrical conduits152(e.g., one or more wires or cables such as copper wire or any other suitable material capable of transmitting electric current). At least a portion of length of the electrical conduits152of the first induction device150may extend proximally through the shaft120and the housing110and electrically couple with the second power supply300b. In addition, the first induction device150includes a spool154about which the one or more electrical conduits152are at least partially wound a predetermined number of windings. When the first induction device150is in electrical communication with the second power supply300b, the one or more electrical conduits152become electrically charged (e.g., via alternating and/or direct current and/or an AC signal superimposed on a DC signal) so that an electric field (not shown) is formed around the first induction device150. In this manner, the one or more electrical conduits152produce a voltage output that corresponds to the number of windings about the spool154when the second power supply300bis electrically coupled to the first induction device150. In particular, the amount of voltage output changes as the ratio between the number of turns of each winding of the one or more electrical conduits152changes. As best illustrated inFIG. 2, one or more converters160that convert alternating current into direct current and/or direct current into alternating current may be operably coupled to the first induction device150.

The accessory200, which is mountable to instrument100or100′, includes a housing202, one or more powered devices204(e.g., including cameras, sensors, illumination devices, or any other suitable powered devices that could assist the clinician in performing a medical/surgical procedure) and a second induction device210. The one or more powered devices204and the second induction device210are coupled to the housing202. The second induction device210is configured and dimensioned to inductively couple with the first induction device150when the accessory200is operably coupled to the surgical instrument100such that the electric field formed around the first induction device150solely powers the accessory200. In particular, the second induction device210includes one or more electrical conduits212(e.g., one or more wires or cables such as copper wire or any other suitable material capable of transmitting electric current). A first portion212aof the length of the one or more electrical conduits212is wound about a spool214positioned within the housing202. The spool214defines a passage214atherethrough. A second portion212bof the length of the one or more electrical conduits212is coupled to the one or more powered devices204. In this respect, the electric field formed around the first induction device150generates electric current in the one or more electrical conduits212of the second induction device210which powers the powered devices204. The housing202may define an opening or channel220therethrough that may accommodate at least a portion of the shaft120so that the accessory200may be operably coupled to the surgical instrument100. As shown inFIG. 2, one or more converters260that convert alternating current into direct current (e.g. rectifiers) and/or direct current into alternating current (e.g. inverters) may be operably coupled to the second induction device210.

As an alternative to opening220, the accessory can have a U or C-shape to clamp onto the shaft120(or120′) as the gap in the U or C would be pressed onto the shaft for frictional engagement so the induction devices are adjacent.

In some embodiments, the first induction device150and the second induction device210may be positioned adjacent and/or offset from one another. In some embodiments, the first induction device150and the second induction device210may be concentrically aligned.

Referring now toFIG. 3, another embodiment of a surgical instrument system is generally referred to as20. The surgical instrument system20is similar to surgical instrument system10and is described below to the extent necessary to describe the differences in the structure and operation thereof. The surgical instrument system20includes a surgical instrument400, an accessory500selectively operably couplable to the surgical instrument400, a first power supply300a, and a second power supply300c. The first power supply300ais electrically coupled to the surgical instrument400to provide power only to the surgical instrument400without providing power to the accessory500. The second power supply300cis electrically coupled to a first induction device250that is positioned within the surgical instrument400so that the second power supply300conly powers the accessory500via inductive coupling without providing power to the surgical instrument400. The second power supply300cis positioned internal of the instrument, e.g. in housing110. In alternate embodiments, either the first or second power supply300a,300cmay provide power to both the surgical instrument400and the accessory500. In this manner, only one of the first and second power supplies300a,300cmay be electrically coupled with the surgical instrument400and the accessory500. It is also contemplated that only power supply300c, positioned internal of the instrument, is provided for powering the accessory, and the tool assembly is manually actuated rather than powered.

The surgical instrument400includes a housing110, a shaft120, a tool assembly130, one or more electrical conduits140, and a first induction device250. The first induction device250is positioned within the shaft120but may be positioned within one or more of the housing110, the shaft120, and the tool assembly130. The first induction device250includes one or more electrical conduits252(e.g., one or more wires or cables such as copper wire or any other suitable material capable of transmitting electric current) that are at least partially wound about a pole member254of the first induction device250. At least a portion of length of the electrical conduits252of the first induction device250may extend proximally through the shaft120and electrically couple with the second power supply300c.

When the first induction device250is in electrical communication with the second power supply300c, the one or more electrical conduits252become electrically charged (via direct or alternating current) so that an electric field is formed around the first induction device250. As best illustrated inFIG. 3, one or more converters160that convert alternating current into direct current and/or direct current into alternating current may be operably coupled to the first induction device250.

The accessory500includes a housing502, one or more powered devices204(e.g., including cameras, sensors, illumination devices, or any other suitable powered devices that could assist the clinician in performing a medical/surgical procedure) and a second induction device510. The one or more powered devices204and the second induction device510are coupled to the housing502. The second induction device510is configured and dimensioned to inductively couple with the first induction device250when the accessory500is operably coupled to the surgical instrument400such that the electric field formed around the first induction device250solely powers the accessory500. In particular, the second induction device510includes one or more electrical conduits512(e.g., one or more wires or cables such as copper wire or any other suitable material capable of transmitting electric current). A portion of the length of the one or more electrical conduits512are wound about a pole member514positioned within the housing502. Another portion of the length of the one or more electrical conduits512is coupled to the one or more powered devices204. In this respect, the electric field (not shown) formed around the first induction device250generates electric current in the one or more electrical conduits512of the second induction device510which powers the powered devices204. As best illustrated inFIG. 3, one or more converters260that convert alternating current into direct current and/or direct current into alternating current may be operably coupled to the second induction device510. The housing502may define a channel520therethrough that may accommodate at least a portion of the shaft120so that the accessory500may be operably coupled to the surgical instrument400. Alternately, the housing502may have a U or C-shape to clamp onto the shaft120.