Patent Publication Number: US-11642111-B2

Title: Electromechanical surgical apparatus including wire routing clock spring

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/810,479, filed Nov. 13, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/535,379, filed Nov. 7, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,814,450, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/648,682, filed Oct. 10, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,906,001. The disclosure of each of the above-identified applications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to surgical apparatus, devices and/or systems for performing endoscopic surgical procedures and methods of use thereof. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to electromechanical, hand-held surgical apparatus, devices and/or systems configured for use with removable disposable loading units and/or single use loading units for clamping, cutting and/or stapling tissue. 
     2. Background of Related Art 
     A number of surgical device manufacturers have developed product lines with proprietary drive systems for operating and/or manipulating electromechanical surgical devices. In many instances the electromechanical surgical devices include a reusable handle assembly, and a plurality of disposable or single use end effectors, commonly called single use loading units (SULU). An end effector is selectively connected to the handle assembly prior to use and then disconnected from the handle assembly following use in order to be disposed of or in some instances sterilized for re-use. 
     In some instances, end effectors having different operational properties and parameters may be attached to the same reusable handle assembly to facilitate use of the reusable handle assembly in a large variety of surgical procedures. It is important, however, to match the output properties of the drive system of the reusable handle assembly to the operational properties and parameters of the currently attached end effector. Thus, there is a need for an identification system that identifies the end effector to the reusable handle assembly without impeding the operational properties and parameters of the end effector. 
     SUMMARY 
     Further details and aspects of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the appended Figures. 
     An electromechanical surgical system is disclosed including a hand-held surgical instrument, an end effector configured to perform at least one function, and a shaft assembly arranged for selectively interconnecting the end effector and the surgical instrument. The shaft assembly includes a linkage having a proximal housing and a distal housing at least partially received within the proximal housing. The distal housing is rotatable relative to the proximal housing and configured to selectively interconnect the end effector to the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly further includes a wire extending through the linkage. The wire includes a central portion disposed within an annular groove defined between the proximal and distal housings. The central portion of the wire is annularly wound within the annular groove to define a coil. The coil is configured to at least one of radially expand and contract upon rotation of the distal housing relative to the proximal housing. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the proximal housing includes an outer housing and an inner housing and the inner housing is configured for reception within the outer housing. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, each of the inner and outer housings includes an opening extending therethrough for the reception of a proximal portion of the wire. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the openings of the inner and outer housings are substantially aligned. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the inner housing includes an annular lip and an outer wall and the annular groove extends between the annular lip and the outer wall. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the inner and outer housings define at least one chamber therebetween for the reception of at least one gear therein. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the distal housing includes an opening extending therethrough for the reception of a distal portion of the wire. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the central portion of the coil is configured to radially expand when the distal housing is rotated relative to the proximal housing in a first direction and to radially contract when the distal housing is rotated relative to the proximal housing in a second direction. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the wire is disposed in electrical communication with the surgical instrument and the end effector and is configured to communicate information between the surgical instrument and the end effector. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the central portion of the coil of the wire is annularly wound within the annular groove in a single plane. 
     A surgical system is disclosed including a hand-held surgical instrument, an end effector configured to perform at least one function, and a shaft assembly arranged for selectively interconnecting the end effector and the surgical instrument. The shaft assembly includes a linkage defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal housing and a distal housing at least partially received within the proximal housing. The distal housing is rotatable relative to the proximal housing and configured to selectively interconnect the end effector to the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly further includes a wire extending through the linkage. The wire includes a proximal portion extending through the proximal housing, a central portion disposed within an annular groove defined between the proximal and distal housings, and a distal portion extending through the distal housing. The central portion of the wire is annularly wound within the annular groove to define a coil. The coil is configured to radially at least one of expand and contract upon rotation of the distal housing relative to the proximal housing. The proximal and distal portions of the wire are substantially longitudinally fixed relative to the proximal and distal housings. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the distal housing is rotatable relative to the proximal housing in a first direction between a first configuration and at least a second configuration, and rotatable relative to the proximal housing in a second direction between the first configuration and at least a third configuration. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the distal housing is rotatable relative to the proximal housing between about 0° and at least about 180° from the first configuration in the first direction to achieve the second configuration and between about 0° and at least about 180° from the first configuration in the second direction to achieve the third configuration. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the end effector is rotatably fixed to the distal housing and rotatable relative to the shaft assembly between about 0° and at least about 180° in either direction upon rotation of the distal housing relative to the proximal housing. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the coil of the wire is configured to radially expand when the distal housing is rotated in the first direction relative to the proximal housing and radially contract when the distal housing is rotated in the second direction relative to the proximal housing. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the proximal portion of the wire is disposed in electrical communication with the surgical instrument and the distal portion of the wire is disposed in electrical communication with the end effector. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the wire is configured to communicate information between the end effector and the surgical instrument. 
     A wire routing assembly for use with a surgical system is disclosed including a linkage assembly for operatively interconnecting an end effector to a surgical instrument. The linkage assembly includes a proximal housing and a distal housing at least partially received within the proximal housing and rotatable relative to the proximal housing. The wire routing assembly further includes a wire extending through the linkage assembly and having a central portion disposed within an annular groove defined between the proximal and distal housings. The central portion of the wire is annularly wound within the annular groove to define a coil, the coil being configured to radially expand and contract upon rotation of the distal housing relative to the proximal housing. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the coil of the wire is configured to radially expand when the distal housing is rotated relative to the proximal housing in a first direction and to radially contract when the distal housing is rotated relative to the proximal housing in a second direction. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the coil of the wire is annularly wound within the annular groove in a single plane. 
     In an aspect of the present disclosure, the wire is disposed in electrical communication with the surgical instrument and the end effector. The wire is configured to communicate information between the surgical instrument and the end effector. 
     It is contemplated that any of the above disclosed aspects may be combined without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an electromechanical surgical system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the area of detail of  FIG.  1   , illustrating a shaft assembly and an end effector of the surgical system of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a distal perspective view of the area of detail of  FIG.  2   , illustrating a linkage of the shaft assembly of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a proximal perspective view of the area of detail of  FIG.  2   , illustrating a linkage of the shaft assembly of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4 A  is a perspective view of the end effector and the linkage assembly of the electromechanical surgical system of  FIG.  1   , illustrating the end effector detached form the distal housing assembly; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the linkage of  FIGS.  3  and  4   , illustrating a distal housing detached from a proximal housing of the linkage; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view, with parts separated, of the proximal housing of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view, with parts separated, of the distal housing of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a side, perspective, cross-sectional view of the linkage of  FIGS.  3  and  4   , as taken along section line  8 - 8  of  FIG.  4   ; 
         FIGS.  9 - 11    are cross-sectional views taken along section line  9 - 9  of  FIG.  4   , illustrating the distal housing and the proximal housing in various rotational configurations; and 
         FIG.  12    is a schematic diagram of the electrical connection between an end effector and a surgical instrument of the electromechanical surgical system of  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the presently disclosed electromechanical surgical system, apparatus and/or device are described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. As used herein the term “distal” refers to that portion of the electromechanical surgical system, apparatus and/or device, or component thereof, that are farther from the user, while the term “proximal” refers to that portion of the electromechanical surgical system, apparatus and/or device, or component thereof, that are closer to the user. 
     Referring initially to  FIG.  1   , an electromechanical, hand-held, powered surgical system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown and generally designated  10 . Electromechanical surgical system  10  includes a surgical apparatus or device in the form of an electromechanical, hand-held, powered surgical instrument  100  that is configured for selective attachment thereto of a plurality of different end effectors  400 , via a shaft assembly  200 . The end effector  400  and the shaft assembly  200  are each configured for actuation and manipulation by the electromechanical, hand-held, powered surgical instrument  100 . In particular, surgical instrument  100  is configured for selective connection with shaft assembly  200 , and, in turn, shaft assembly  200  is configured for selective connection with any one of a plurality of different end effectors  400 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , surgical instrument  100  includes an instrument housing  102  having a lower housing portion  104 , an intermediate housing portion  106  extending from and/or supported on lower housing portion  104 , and an upper housing portion  108  extending from and/or supported on intermediate housing portion  106 . 
     The shaft assembly  200  includes an elongate portion  202  configured for selective connection to upper housing portion  108  of instrument housing  102 , a flexible portion  204  extending from the elongate portion  202 , and a linkage  500  extending from the flexible portion  204  and configured to selectively connect the shaft assembly  200  to a plurality of different end effectors  400 . 
     Reference may be made to International Application No. PCT/US2008/077249, filed Sep. 22, 2008 (Inter. Pub. No. WO 2009/039506) and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/622,827, filed on Nov. 20, 2009 (Now, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011-0121049), the entire content of each of which being hereby incorporated herein by reference, for a detailed description of the construction and operation of exemplary electromechanical, hand-held, powered surgical instrument  100 . 
     Reference may also be made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/661,461, filed Jun. 19, 2012, entitled “APPARATUS FOR ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURES,” now U.S. Pat. No. 9,364,220; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/673,792, filed Jul. 20, 2012, entitled “APPARATUS FOR ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURES,” now U.S. Pat. No. 9,402,604, the entire contents of each of which being incorporated herein by reference, for a detailed description of the construction and operation of an exemplary shaft assembly  200  and end effector  400  for use with the electromechanical, hand-held, powered surgical instrument  100 . 
     End effector  400  can be a variety of surgical end effectors, such as, for example, a linear surgical stapling end effector, as shown in  FIG.  1   . Such linear surgical stapling end effector includes a staple cartridge, anvil member, and drive member for driving staples out of the staple cartridge and against the anvil member. Such an instrument is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/280,859 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,657,177), Ser. No. 13/280,880 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,016,539), and Ser. No. 13/280,898 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,899,462), the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. For example, the drive member can be threadedly engaged with a threaded screw, the threaded screw being driven by one or more gears of the linkage  500 , rotation being transmitted therethrough from the shaft assembly  200 . Rotation of such threaded screw can be made to move the drive member longitudinally through the staple cartridge to fire the staples. Other types of end effectors are contemplated including, but not limited to, electrosurgical end effectors that apply electrical energy to tissue and/or ultrasonic end effectors that apply ultrasonic energy to tissue. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  3 - 8   , linkage  500  includes a proximal housing assembly  502  and a distal housing assembly  504 . Proximal housing assembly  502  includes an outer housing  506  and an inner housing  508 . Outer housing  506  is configured to receive inner housing  508  such that inner shelves or ledges  510  ( FIG.  6   ) of outer housing  506  are received within recesses  512  ( FIG.  6   ) of inner housing  508 . In this manner inner housing  508  is rotatably fixed relative to outer housing  506 . Outer housing  506  and inner housing  508  together define first, second and third recesses or chambers  514   a - 514   c  ( FIG.  8   ) for the reception of drive gears  516   a - 516   c  therein. For example, first chamber  514   a  receives a first gear  516   a  therein, second chamber  514   b  receives a second gear  516   b  therein, and third chamber  514   c  receives a third gear  516   c  therein. Each of gears  516   a - 516   c  is operatively associated with surgical instrument  100  and configured for actuation and manipulation by surgical instrument  100 . 
     As seen in  FIG.  6   , outer housing  506  includes a first opening  518  extending therethrough and inner housing  508  includes a second opening  520  extending therethrough. First and second openings  518  and  520  are substantially aligned when inner housing  510  is received within outer housing  508  and are configured for the reception of a wire  600  therethrough. 
     With continued reference to  FIG.  6   , inner housing  508  includes a central recess  522  located on a distal side thereof configured for reception of a fourth gear  516   d  therein. Central recess  522  includes a radial opening  524  configured to allow for engagement between gear  516   d  and gear  516   c . Inner housing  508  also includes an annular lip  526  disposed about central recess  522  and defines an annular groove  528  between annular lip  526  and an outer wall  530  of inner housing  508  for the receipt of wire  600  therein and therearound. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  5 ,  7  and  8   , distal housing assembly  504  includes a flanged portion  532  at a distal end and a recessed portion  534  extending proximally from the flanged portion  532 . Recessed portion  534  is configured for rotatable reception in inner housing  508  such that a proximal end  536  of recessed portion  534  abuts or is adjacent annular lip  526 . Recessed portion  534  includes a central cut-out or recess  538  configured to receive a portion of gear  516   d  therein and a slot  540  extending through central cut-out  538  and configured to receive a shaft  542  of gear  516   a  therein. Distal housing assembly  504  includes a gear  516   e  disposed in a radial channel  544  extending through recessed portion  534  and configured for engagement with a distal portion of gear  516   d . When recessed portion  534  of distal housing assembly  504  is inserted into inner housing  508 , annular groove  528  defines a cavity between distal housing assembly  504  and inner housing  508  for the reception of wire  600  therein and therearound. Distal housing assembly  504  also includes a third opening  546  extending therethrough for the reception of wire  600 . 
     Thus, the gears are provided to drive various functions of the end effector  400 . The gears  516   a  through  516   e  form two inputs: one that drives the threaded screw, and one that drives rotation of the end effector with respect to the shaft assembly  200 . Gear  516   c  is a firing gear that drives idler gear  516   d , which drives an output gear  516   e . Gear  516   e  is attached to a hexagonal drive that attaches to the threaded screw. There is also a rotation drive gear  516   a  that is keyed to part of the linkage housing  532  so that when gear  516   b  is driven, it rotates housing  504 . Other gearing arrangements are contemplated. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  4 A , distal housing assembly  504  includes a pair of openings  548  configured to receive a pair of tabs  402  of end effector  400  when end effector  400  is attached thereto. Tabs  402  and openings  548  inhibit rotation of end effector  400  relative to distal housing assembly  504  such that end effector  400  and distal housing assembly  504  are configured to rotate together relative to proximal housing assembly  502  and shaft assembly  200 . 
     End effector  400  may also include a plug interface  404  configured to electrically engage wire  600  ( FIG.  4   ) when end effector  400  is attached to distal housing assembly  504  and electrically communicate end effector  400  with wire  600  and surgical instrument  100 . Distal housing assembly  504  may also include a plug interface  552  for electrical engagement with plug interface  404  of end effector  400  where wire  600  ( FIG.  4   ) is electrically connected to plug interface  552  instead of plug interface  404 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  6 ,  8  and  12   , wire  600  includes a proximal portion  602 , a central portion  604  and a distal portion  606 . Central portion  604  of wire  600  is disposed within annular groove  528  between inner housing  508  and distal housing assembly  504  and is annularly wound about annular lip  526  in the fashion of a clock spring or coil. For example, central portion  604  of wire  600  may be wound radially within annular groove  528  in a single plane such that each successive winding of wire  600  is disposed radially adjacent to an immediately prior winding. Proximal portion  602  of wire  600  extends from central portion  604  through the second opening  520  of inner housing  508  to electrically communicate with surgical instrument  100 . Distal portion  606  of wire  600  extends through the third opening  546  to electrically communicate with end effector  400 . In this manner, end effector  400  is in electrical communication with surgical instrument  100  via wire  600 . Proximal and distal portions  602 ,  606  of wire  600  may be substantially longitudinally fixed within the proximal and distal housings  502 ,  504 , respectively. 
     Wire  600  is configured to transmit information from the end effector  400  to the surgical instrument  100 . For example, wire  600  may be an electrical wire configured to transmit an identification signal from a memory chip  406  ( FIG.  12   ) of end effector  400  to surgical instrument  100 , e.g. an E-prom signal, to identify the type of end effector  400  to surgical instrument  100 . The output properties of the drive system of the surgical instrument  100  may then be matched to the operational properties and parameters of the particular identified end effector  400 . It is also contemplated that wire  600  may transmit a signal containing other kinds of information including, for example, information about the target tissue (e.g., tissue type, tissue vascularity, tissue temperature, etc.) sensed by sensors  408  ( FIG.  12   ) of the end effector  400 , a status of the operative state of the end effector  400 , or other similar operational information. For example, an E-prom signal may be transmitted along wire  600  to surgical instrument  100  when the end effector  400  has been at least partially fired, when the end effector  400  has been at least partially clamped to target tissue, or other similar operational parameters. 
     During use of surgical instrument  100  and end effector  400 , it may be desirable to rotate end effector  400  about a longitudinal axis thereof in either a clockwise or a counter clockwise direction. In view thereof, wire  600  is capable of communicating information between surgical instrument  100  and end effector  400  irrespective of the rotational orientation of end effector  400  relative to surgical instrument  100 . 
     Referring initially to  FIG.  9   , wire  600  is disposed in a first configuration prior to rotation of distal housing assembly  504  relative to proximal housing assembly  502  (i.e., rotation of end effector  400  relative to shaft assembly  200  and/or surgical instrument  100 ). Proximal portion  602  of wire  600  is disposed a first radial distance “D 1 ” from longitudinal axis A-A, and distal portion  606  of wire  600  is disposed a second radial distance “D 2 ” from longitudinal axis A-A and central portion  604  is coiled about annular groove  528  between the first and second radial distances “D 1 ” and “D 2 ”. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  10   , when end effector  400  is rotated relative to shaft assembly  200  and/or surgical instrument  100 , in a clockwise direction as depicted in  FIG.  10   , causing distal housing assembly  504  to be rotated in the direction “X”, third opening  546  of distal housing assembly  504  is rotated in the direction “X”. As third opening  546  rotates in the direction “X”, a side of third opening  546  engages distal portion  606  of wire  600  and also rotates distal portion  606  in the direction “X”. As distal portion  606  of wire  600  rotates in the direction “X”, central portion or coil  604  of wire  600  is radially contracted or constricted to a second configuration, similar to winding up a clock or coil spring. In other words, wire  600  has been wound up. 
     It is contemplated that distal housing assembly  504  may be rotated in the direction “X” between about a 0° rotation and at least about a 180° rotation relative to the first configuration. It is also contemplated that housing assembly  504  may be rotated in the direction “X” more than about a 180° rotation and, for example, may rotate through more than about one full 360° rotation relative to the first configuration. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  11   , when end effector  400  is rotated relative to shaft assembly  200  and/or surgical instrument  100 , in a counter-clockwise direction as depicted in  FIG.  11   , causing distal housing assembly  504  to be rotated in the direction “Y”, third opening  546  of distal housing assembly  504  is rotated in the direction “Y”. As third opening  546  rotates in the direction “Y”, a side of third opening  546  engages distal portion  606  of wire  600  and also rotates distal portion  606  in the direction “Y”. As distal portion  606  of wire  600  rotates in the direction “Y”, central portion or coil  604  of wire  600  is radially expanded, similar to un-winding a clock spring. In other words, wire  600  has been un-wound. 
     It is contemplated that distal housing assembly  504  may be rotated in the direction “Y” between about a 0° rotation and at least about a 180° rotation relative to the first configuration. It is also contemplated that housing assembly  504  may be rotated in the direction “Y” more than about a 180° rotation and, for example, may rotate through more than about one full 360° rotation relative to the first configuration. 
     In this manner, linkage  500  provides a wire routing that allows end effector  400  to be rotated about axis A-A without wire  600  becoming tangled or without wire  600  inhibiting the rotation. It is contemplated that central portion or coil  604  of wire  600  may alternatively radially expand when distal housing assembly is rotated in the direction “X” and radially contract when distal housing assembly is rotated in the direction “Y” (Opposite direction “X”). 
     It is contemplated that proximal portion  602  of wire  600  may have substantially the same radial distance from longitudinal axis A-A in each of the first, second and third configurations. Likewise, it is contemplated that distal portion  606  of wire  600  may have substantially the same radial distance from longitudinal axis A-A in each of the first, second and third configurations. 
     Alternatively, it is contemplated that the radial distance of proximal portion  602  from longitudinal axis A-A in the second configuration may be smaller than the radial distance of proximal portion  602  from longitudinal axis A-A in the first configuration, and that the radial distance of proximal portion  602  from longitudinal axis A-A in the third configuration may be larger than the radial distance of proximal portion  602  from longitudinal axis A-A in the first configuration. Likewise, it is contemplated that the radial distance of distal portion  606  from longitudinal axis A-A in the second configuration may be smaller than the radial distance of distal portion  606  from longitudinal axis A-A in the first configuration, and that the radial distance of distal portion  606  from longitudinal axis A-A in the third configuration may be larger than the radial distance of distal portion  606  from longitudinal axis A-A in the first configuration. 
     It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended thereto.