US-12616546-B2 - Surgical device with three position safety trigger assembly

Abstract

A powered surgical device ( 10 ) includes a safety trigger assembly ( 62 ) that is movable from a safe position to an intermediate position, and subsequently to a fire-ready position. The safety trigger assembly ( 62 ) prevents firing of the surgical device ( 10 ) unless the safety trigger assembly ( 62 ) is in the fire-ready position and includes at least one safety button ( 120, 134 ) that extends through an outer housing ( 18 ) of the surgical device ( 10 ) and is accessible to a clinician to move the safety trigger assembly ( 62 ) to the fire-ready position. The surgical device ( 10 ) includes the outer housing ( 18 ) that shields the at least one safety button ( 120, 134 ) when the safety trigger assembly ( 62 ) is in the safe position to prevent inadvertent movement of the safety trigger assembly ( 62 ) from the safe position to the fire-ready position.

Inventors

• Xiao Zhou

Assignees

• COVIDIEN LP

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20220210

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A powered handle assembly for a surgical device comprising: an outer housing defining a cavity; an actuation button supported on the outer housing; a rack supported within the outer housing, the rack having teeth and movable from a rack retracted position, to a rack clamp position, and subsequently to a rack advanced position; a motor/gear assembly associated with the rack, the motor/gear assembly operable to move the rack from the rack retracted position, to the rack clamp position, and subsequently to the rack advanced position; a first safety switch supported on an inner housing, the first safety switch movable between a first state and a second state, wherein in the second state, the actuation button is operable to supply power to the motor/gear assembly and in the first state, power is disrupted to the motor/gear assembly; a bias arm supported adjacent the first safety switch, the bias arm including a cam member and an abutment member, the bias arm movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the abutment member is engaged with the first safety switch to position the first safety switch in the second state, and in the second position, the first safety switch is positioned in the first state, wherein the rack is configured to engage the bias arm as the rack moves from the rack retracted position to the rack clamp position to move the bias arm from the first position to the second position; and a safety trigger assembly including at least one safety button that extends through a slot in the outer housing, the safety trigger assembly movable from a safe position, through an intermediate position, to a fire-ready position to position the first safety switch in the second state.
2. 2 . The powered handle assembly of claim 1 , further including a first biasing member positioned to urge the bias arm towards the second position.
3. 3 . The powered handle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the rack is configured to engage the safety trigger assembly as the rack moves from the rack retracted position to the rack clamped position to move the safety trigger assembly from the safe position to the intermediate position.
4. 4 . The powered handle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the outer housing includes a safety button shield positioned adjacent one end of the slot, the safety button shield extending partially about the at least one safety button when the safety trigger assembly is in the safe position to limit access to the at least one safety button.
5. 5 . The powered handle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the rack defines a cam surface, and the safety trigger assembly includes a cam member that moves along the cam surface of the rack as the rack moves from the rack retracted position to the rack clamp position to move the safety trigger assembly from the safe position to the intermediate position.
6. 6 . The powered handle assembly of claim 1 , further including a biasing member positioned to urge the safety trigger assembly towards the safe position.
7. 7 . The powered handle assembly of claim 6 , further including a latch positioned to engage the safety trigger assembly to retain the safety trigger assembly in the fire-ready position.
8. 8 . The powered handle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the safety trigger assembly includes a retainer member configured to engage the latch when the safety trigger assembly is in the fire-ready position to retain the safety trigger assembly in the fire-ready position.
9. 9 . The powered handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first safety switch is a micro-switch.
10. 10 . A powered handle assembly for a surgical device comprising: an outer housing defining a cavity; an actuation button supported on the outer housing; a rack supported within the outer housing, the rack having teeth and movable from a rack retracted position, to a rack clamp position, and subsequently to a rack advanced position; a motor/gear assembly associated with the rack, the motor/gear assembly operable to move the rack from the rack retracted position, through the rack clamp position, and subsequently to the rack advanced position; at least one safety switch supported on an inner housing, the at least one safety switch movable between first and second states; a bias arm supported adjacent to the at least one safety switch and including a cam member and an abutment member, the bias arm movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the abutment member is engaged with the at least one safety switch to position the at least one safety switch in the second state and in the second position, the at least one safety switch is positioned in the first state, wherein the rack is configured to engage the bias arm as the rack moves from the rack retracted position to the rack clamp position to move the bias arm from the first position to the second position; and a safety trigger assembly including at least one safety button that extends through a slot in the outer housing, the safety trigger assembly positioned to engage the at least one safety switch and movable from a safe position, through an intermediate position, to a fire-ready position to position the at least one safety switch in the second state, wherein the bias arm is positioned to engage the safety trigger assembly as the bias arm moves from the first position to the second position to move the safety trigger assembly from the safe position to the intermediate position.
11. 11 . The powered handle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the outer housing includes a safety button shield positioned adjacent one end of the slot, the safety button shield extending partially about the at least one safety button when the safety trigger assembly is in the safe position to limit access to the at least one safety button.
12. 12 . The powered handle assembly of claim 10 , further including a first biasing member positioned to urge the safety trigger assembly towards the safe position.
13. 13 . The powered handle assembly of claim 12 , further including a second biasing member positioned to urge the bias arm towards the second position.
14. 14 . The powered handle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one safety switch includes a first safety switch and a second safety switch, and the abutment member of the bias arm is engaged with the first safety switch.
15. 15 . The powered handle assembly of claim 14 , wherein the safety trigger assembly is positioned to engage the second safety switch.
16. 16 . The powered handle assembly of claim 15 , further including a latch positioned to engage the safety trigger assembly to retain the safety trigger assembly in the fire-ready position.
17. 17 . The powered handle assembly of claim 16 , wherein the safety trigger assembly includes a retainer member configured to engage the latch when the safety trigger assembly is in the fire-ready position to retain the safety trigger assembly in the fire-ready position.
18. 18 . The powered handle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the at least one safety switch is a micro-switch.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a National Stage Application of PCT/CN2022/075827 filed 10 Feb. 2022, which application is incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to the above disclosed application. FIELD This disclosure is directed to powered surgical devices and, more particularly, to powered surgical stapling devices. BACKGROUND Various types of surgical devices used to endoscopically treat tissue are known in the art, and are commonly used, for example, for closure of tissue or organs in transection, resection, and anastomoses procedures, for occlusion of organs in thoracic and abdominal procedures, and for electrosurgically fusing or sealing tissue. One example of such a surgical device is a surgical stapling device. Typically, surgical stapling devices include a tool assembly having an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a flexible drive beam and a clamp member that is supported on a distal end of the drive beam. The drive assembly is movable to advance the clamp member through the tool assembly to move the tool assembly from an open position to a clamped position, and to advance an actuation sled and knife through the cartridge assembly to eject staples from the cartridge assembly and to cut tissue clamped between the anvil and cartridge assemblies. Surgical stapling devices can be manually actuated devices or powered stapling devices. Powered stapling devices include one or more actuation buttons to activate a motor to initially advance the drive assembly and move the tool assembly from the open position to a clamped position, and subsequently advance the actuation sled and knife through the tool assembly to fire the stapling device, i.e., eject staples from the cartridge assembly and cut tissue clamped between the cartridge and anvil assemblies. Such devices include a first switch mechanism to stop the motor when the tool assembly is in the clamped position, and a second switch mechanism that must be actuated to enable activation of the motor to facilitate firing of the stapling device. The need for two separate switch mechanisms increases the cost of the stapling device. In addition, accidental actuation of the second switch mechanism may compromise the safety of the surgical stapling device. A continuing need exists in the art for a powered stapling device that includes a safety switch mechanism that needs only a single micro-switch, and/or a safety switch mechanism that is less prone to accidental actuation. SUMMARY A surgical device includes a safety trigger assembly that is movable from a safe position to an intermediate position, and subsequently to a fire-ready position. The safety trigger assembly prevents firing of the surgical device unless the safety trigger assembly is in the fire-ready position and includes at least one safety button that extends through an outer housing of the surgical device and is accessible to a clinician to move the safety trigger assembly to the fire-ready position. The surgical device includes an outer housing that shields the at least one safety button when the safety trigger assembly is in the safe position to prevent inadvertent movement of the safety trigger assembly from the safe position to the fire-ready position. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a powered handle assembly for a surgical device that includes an outer housing, an actuation button, a rack, a motor/gear assembly, a first safety switch, a bias arm, and a safety trigger assembly. The outer housing defines a cavity and supports the actuation button. The rack includes teeth and is supported within the outer housing to move from a rack retracted position, to a rack clamp position, and subsequently to a rack advanced position. The motor/gear assembly is associated with the rack and is operable to move the rack from the rack retracted position, to the rack clamp position, and subsequently to the rack advanced position. The first safety switch is supported on the inner housing and is movable between a first state and a second state. In the second state, the actuation button is operable to supply power to the motor/gear assembly and in the first state, power is disrupted to the motor/gear assembly. The bias arm is supported adjacent the first safety switch and includes a cam member and an abutment member. The bias arm is movable between a first position in which the abutment member is engaged with the first safety switch to position the first safety switch in the second state, and a second position in which the safety switch is positioned in the first state. The safety trigger assembly includes at least one safety button that extends through a slot in the outer housing, and is movable from a safe position, through an intermediate position, to a fire-ready position to position the safety switch in the second state. In aspects of the disclosure, the rack is con