Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments and, more particularly, to surgical instruments configured for use with interchangeable hand grips. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Surgical instruments, e.g., electrosurgical forceps (closed type), are well known in the medical arts and typically include a housing, a handle assembly, a shaft and an end effector assembly attached to a distal end of the shaft. In certain instances, the handle assembly may include one or more fixedly attached hand grips that provide a gripping surface for an operator, e.g., a clinician, such that the operator may securely and comfortably grasp the surgical instrument. To this end, the handle assembly including the hand grips are appropriately sized, shaped and equipped to improve the operator&#39;s hold on the surgical instrument. 
     In certain instances, the surgical instrument may include one or more functional features, e.g., a rotating assembly, which may be configured to facilitate operation thereof. The one or more features are, typically, actuatable from the handle and/or hand grip assemblies. For example, to facilitate operation of a rotating assembly that may be used to rotate a shaft of the surgical instrument, the rotating assembly is positioned on a housing of the surgical instrument and within a “finger&#39;s reach” of the handle and/or hand grip assemblies. 
     To accommodate various hand sizes, in addition to left or right hand use, manufactures typically produce the same surgical instrument with multiple molded or overmolded handle and/or hand grip assemblies. As can be appreciated, this may not be cost effective. Moreover, repositioning of the one or more functional features on the surgical instrument may be required to accommodate the multiple configurations of handle and/or hand grip assemblies. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough, and supports an end effector having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly that includes a movable handle and a fixed handle. The fixed handle is adapted to couple to one or more selectively removable grips and the movable handle is configured to impart movement of one or more movable jaw members operably associated with the end effector. 
     The present disclosure also provides an electrosurgical system for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator that includes a control system. An electrosurgical instrument is adapted to couple to the electrosurgical generator and includes a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough, and supports an end effector having opposing jaw members at a distal end thereof. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly that includes a movable handle and a fixed handle. The fixed handle is adapted to couple to one or more selectively removable grips and the movable handle is configured to impart movement of one or more movable jaw members operably associated with the end effector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with references to the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side, perspective view of a surgical instrument that includes a handle assembly including a selectively removable hand grip according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged, rear perspective view of a housing associated with the surgical instrument depicted in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is an internal, side view of the housing showing the inner-working components associated therewith. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative embodiment of a surgical instrument  10 , e.g., a forceps  10 , that includes one or more selectively removable grips  52  is shown. Forceps  10  is adapted to operatively and selectively couple to an electrosurgical generator  200  for performing an electrosurgical procedure. For purposes herein, an electrosurgical procedure may include sealing, cutting, cauterizing coagulating, desiccating, and fulgurating tissue all of which may employ RF energy. Generator  200  may be configured for monopolar and/or bipolar modes of operation. Generator  200  includes (or is in operative communication with) a system  300  that may include one or more processors in operative communication with one or more control modules that are executable on the processor. The control module (not explicitly shown) may be configured to instruct one or more modules to transmit electrosurgical energy, which may be in the form of a wave or signal/pulse, via one or more cables (e.g., a cable  310 ) to one or both seal plates  118 ,  128  associated with the forceps  10 . 
     Briefly, forceps  10  is shown configured for use with various electrosurgical procedures and generally includes a housing  20 , an electrosurgical cable  310  that connects the forceps  10  to the generator  200 , a rotating assembly  80 , a trigger assembly  70 , and handle assembly  30  in operative communication with a drive assembly  130  ( FIG. 3 ) for imparting movement of one or both of a pair of jaw members  110 ,  120  of an end effector assembly  100  operably associated with the forceps  10 . 
     Forceps  10  includes a shaft  12  that has a distal end  16  configured to mechanically engage the end effector assembly  100  and a proximal end  14  that mechanically engages the housing  20 . In the drawings and in the descriptions that follow, the term “proximal,” as is traditional, will refer to the end of the forceps  10  that is closer to the user, while the term “distal” will refer to the end that is farther from the user. 
     For a more detailed description of the forceps  10  including rotating assembly  80 , trigger assembly  70 , end effector  100  including jaw members  110  and  120  (and operative components associated therewith), and electrosurgical cable  310  (including line-feed configurations and/or connections), reference is made to commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,749 to Dycus et al., filed on Sep. 29, 2004. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , handle assembly  30  includes a fixed handle  50  and a movable handle  40 . Movable handle  40  is movable relative to fixed handle  50  and is ultimately connected to the drive assembly  130  (as best seen in  FIG. 3 ), which together mechanically cooperate to impart movement of one or both of the jaw members  110  and  120  to move from an open position, wherein the jaw members  110  and  120  are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another, to a clamping or closed position, wherein the jaw members  110  and  120  cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Fixed handle  50  is integrally associated with housing  20 . Fixed handle  50  is designed with a common internal frame assembly  51  ( FIG. 3 ) that may include one or more subsystems and/or mechanisms, e.g., gear system, pulley system, linkage system, ratchet mechanism, actuators, relays, solenoids, etc., that are configured to mechanically and/or electrically communicate with one or more functional features associated with one or more selectively removable operator hand grips  52  (grip  52 ), described in greater detail below. Frame  51  is configured to accommodate variously-sized, shaped configurations of grip  52 , i.e., multi-grip components. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame  51  of the fixed handle  50  is configured smaller than an intended size of grip  52 . 
     Grip  52  may be made (or overmolded) from any suitable material including but not limited to plastic, metal, metal alloy, rubber, polymer, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, grip  52  is made from a substantially rigid plastic. Grip  52  includes a grip housing  53  having one or more grip sidewalls or faces, e.g., a finger face  52   a , as best seen in  FIG. 1 ; palm face  52   b  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ); thumb face  52   c  ( FIG. 2 ); and a backstrap  52   d  ( FIG. 2 ). For illustrative purposes, grip  52  is shown including a grip housing having finger face  52   a , palm face  52   b , thumb face  52   c  and backstrap  52   d . Grip  52  and/or grip housing  53  may include one or more bores or cavities  60  that are configured to accommodate and/or support one or more functional and/or ergonomic features, e.g., actuators, computer readable medium, weighted loads etc., associated therewith. For purposes herein, and unless otherwise specified, operative components associated with the grip  52  are assumed to be disposed in or secured to the one or more cavities  60 . Grip  52  may include one or more ergonomically user-friendly features. For example, in certain instances, it may prove useful for one or more of the grip faces, e.g., palm face  52   b , of the grip  52  to include a textured or ribbed surface to facilitate gripping thereof. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , grip  52  operably couples to fixed handle  50  and/or the internal frame  51  via one or more suitable coupling methods, e.g., press fit, friction fit, snap-fit, an intent-detent configuration, light-weight or low tack adhesive, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, grip housing  53  including grip faces  52   a - 52   d  operably couples to the fixed handle  50  via a snap-fit configuration (illustrated as “SF”). The snap-fit configuration facilitates changing the grip  52 , as needed by an end operator of the forceps  10 , with little or no effort. Grip  52  may include any suitable shape, size, profile, material, or other physical property so as to create an extension of the frame  51  of the fixed handle  50 . Grip  52  may be configured for dedicated right hand, dedicated left hand, or universal (i.e., both right and left hand) use for ergonomic comfort. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , grip  52  is configured to communicate with generator  200  and/or system  300  via one or more suitable data transfer interfaces, e.g., via a USB connection, for data logging or downloading. In this instance, for example, a USB port  54  may be operably disposed on the grip housing  53  for coupling to a corresponding USB port (not shown) operably disposed on the generator  200  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ). One or more suitable USB cables may be utilized to couple the USB port  54  to the USB port on the generator  200 . 
     The USB port  54  communicates with one or more modules  56 , e.g., a data chip  56  (or other suitable computer readable or storable medium) operably disposed on or associated with the grip  52  ( FIG. 1 ). For illustrative purposes, the grip  52  is shown with one data chip  56  disposed thereon. Information stored on the data chip  56  may include, but is not limited to, specific user settings, data logging of attached surgical instruments, security codes that allow only certain functions or surgical procedures to be performed using a specific grip  52  or limiting usage of a certain grip  52  by count, etc. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , grip  52  may include one or more electrical and/or mechanical interfaces that are configured to interact with one or more corresponding electrical and/or mechanical interfaces associated with the forceps  10 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, an actuator  58  includes a plurality of actuators  58   a - 58   c  that is in electromechanical communication with one or more functional components of the forceps  10 . More particularly, actuator  58   a  may be in operative communication with the end effector  100  for locking one or both of the jaw members  110  and  120  in one of the open and closed positions. Actuator  58   b  may be in operative communication with the rotating assembly  80  for imparting (or in some instances preventing) rotational movement thereof. Actuator  58   c  may be in operative communication with the trigger assembly  70  and may function as a “lock-out” feature, e.g., as a safety switch, that prevents inadvertent actuation thereof. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, grip  52  includes a plurality of dedicated functionality actuators  62  that are configured to control operation of one or more functional components that may be associated with the forceps  10 . For example, in the instance where the forceps  10  includes a lighting feature, the grip  52  includes a corresponding actuator “L.” In the instance where the forceps includes an evacuation and/or suction feature, the grip includes a corresponding actuator “E.” In the instance where the forceps includes a vision and/or camera feature, the grip includes a corresponding actuator “C/V.” As can be appreciated, the foregoing functional features are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. 
     Grip housing  53  is configured to receive and or support one or more weighted components or loads. More particularly, one or more of the cavities  60  are operably disposed on the grip housing  53  and are configured to receive and support one or more selectively removable weighted components (not explicitly shown). The weighted components may be secured to the cavity  60  as needed to improve operator comfort. 
     In use, the frame  51  of the fixed handle  50  is, initially, without the grip  52  ( FIG. 2 ). Based on an operator&#39;s preference, e.g., right or left handed use, an operator attaches the appropriate grip  52  to the frame  51  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ). In certain instances, the operator may secure one or more weighted components to the cavity  60  to balance the forceps  10 ; this is intended to provide additional comfort for the operator. Prior to the surgical procedure, the operator connects the grip  52 , via the USB cable, to the generator  200  to communicate therewith for downloading and/or data logging of the specific information contained on the data chip  56  of the grip  52 , e.g., surgical procedure to be performed. System  300  of the generator  200  reads relevant information from the data chip  54  and subsequently programs the generator  200  as required. In certain instances, prior to carrying out the surgical procedure, the operator may disconnect the USB cable from the port  54 . Thereafter, the operator utilizes the forceps  10  for the specific surgical procedure. Subsequently, the operator may reestablish communication between the grips  52  and generator  200  for downloading and/or data logging of the specific information contained on the data chip  56  of the grip  52 , e.g., usage count of the grips  52  and/or forceps  10 , time of use of the forceps  10 , etc. 
     From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications can also be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the same. For example, in embodiments, grip  52  may include robotic or automation attachment features for non-human operation of the forceps  10 . 
     In some embodiments, grip  52  may be configured for custom fits for particular surgeons based on molds, hand sizing, etc. Grip  52  may be custom fit to include specific locations of actuators or actuation elements, e.g., triggers, intensity dials, toggles, etc. 
     In some embodiments, grip  52  (or operative component(s) associated therewith, e.g., data chip  56 ) may be configured to store information relevant to a particular surgeon. In this instance, the generator  200  may be configured read the data from the grip  52 , i.e., recognize surgeon, and set preferred or particular settings for that surgeon. In certain instances, the generator  200  may recommend specific settings based on a particular surgeon. The generator  200  may be configured to actively acknowledge surgeon. In this instance, the generator  200  may prompt a surgeon to enter a password. Generator  200  and/or grip  52  may be configured to store surgeon information for manufacturer, e.g., usages, preferred settings, surgical techniques, e.g., activation, rotation, gripping techniques, and sequencing. 
     In some embodiments, grip  52  may be configured to automatically deactivate activation switches, which may be operably associated with the forceps  10 , after an initial use thereof. 
     In some embodiments, grip  52  may include pressure sensors  63  that relay usage information back to generator  200  for future manufacture use and research and development. 
     While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.

Technology Category: 1