Surgical instrument with selectable integral or external power source

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, and an end effector. The shaft extends distally from the body. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an active feature configured to operate on tissue. The body includes a drive feature operable to drive the active feature of the end effector. The body is operable to selectively couple with a variety of power sources such that the drive feature may receive electrical power form a battery or from a corded power source, based on a user's preference. The body may include a handpiece that has a socket configured to receive a battery or cable adapter. The body may removably receive various kinds of shaft assemblies to provide various operating modalities. The shaft assemblies may include user interface features.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 (a) an end effector, wherein the end effector includes an active feature configured to operate on tissue, wherein the active feature comprises one of:
 (i) an ultrasonic blade, or 
 (ii) at least one electrode operable to apply RF energy to tissue; 
   (b) a shaft, wherein the shaft has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the end effector is disposed at the distal end of the shaft; and   (c) a body, wherein the shaft extends distally from the body, wherein the body comprises:
 (i) a power interface feature configured to receive power from at least two different kinds of electrical power sources, wherein the at least two different kinds of electrical power sources comprise a cordless battery and a corded electrical power source, and 
 (ii) a drive feature responsive to electrical power to drive the active feature of the end effector, wherein the drive feature is configured to receive electrical power from the power interface feature such that the drive feature is operable to drive the active feature of the end effector based on electrical power from a power source coupled with the power interface feature. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power interface feature comprises a socket, wherein the socket is configured to insertingly receive a portion of at least two different kinds of power source housings, wherein the at least two different kinds of power source housings comprise a cordless battery housing or a corded electrical power source housing. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the socket includes one or more electrical contacts, wherein the one or more electrical contacts are configured to engage complementary electrical contacts of a power source housing inserted in the socket. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a removable guide, wherein the removable guide is configured to guide a power source housing into the socket without the power source housing compromising sterility of the exterior of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body is further operable to transmit data via the power interface feature. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a corded electrical power source configured to couple with the power interface feature, wherein the corded electrical power source has an AC power input and a DC power output. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the corded electrical power source comprises a rectifier circuit configured to convert AC power into DC power. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the rectifier circuit comprises a toroid transformer, a diode set, a filtering capacitor, and a decoupling capacitor. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the DC power output is configured to provide a DC power output of approximately 12 volts at approximately 6 amperes. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the drive feature is configured to operate on DC power. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the corded electrical power source comprises a cable and an adapter, wherein the cable is removably coupled with the adapter. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the power interface feature comprises a socket configured to removably receive at least a portion of the adapter. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the adapter includes an integral rectifier circuit configured to convert AC power into DC power. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a handpiece grip associated with the body, wherein at least part of the handpiece grip is formed by at least part of an electrical power source coupled with the power interface feature. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power interface feature is configured to receive power from a corded electrical power source while a battery is coupled with the body. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the body further comprises:
 (i) a handpiece, and   (ii) a battery integrated into the handpiece.   
     
     
         17 . A surgical kit, comprising:
 (a) a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
 (i) a handpiece having a power socket, and 
 (ii) a shaft extending distally from the handpiece 
   (b) at least two end effectors, wherein each end effector of the at least two end effectors is configured to removably couple with the shaft assembly,
 wherein the at least two end effectors comprise at least two of: 
 (i) a surgical stapling assembly, 
 (ii) an ultrasonic blade, or 
 (iii) an electrosurgical element; 
   (c) a battery, wherein the power socket is configured to insertingly receive the battery, wherein the end effector is configured to operate based on electrical power from the battery when the battery is inserted in the power socket; and   (d) a power cable having a first plug and a second plug, wherein the power socket is configured to insertingly receive the first plug of the power cable, wherein the second plug is configured to couple with an external power source, wherein the end effector is configured to operate based on electrical power communicated through the power cable when the first plug is inserted in the power socket.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a handpiece, wherein the handpiece comprises a drive feature, wherein the handpiece is configured to removably receive a plurality of kinds of shaft assemblies, wherein the handpiece is configured to removably receive at least two different kinds of electrical power sources within a socket, wherein the at least two different kinds of electrical power sources comprise a cordless battery and a corded electrical power source, wherein the handpiece comprises a pivotable cover configured to selectively cover and uncover the socket;   (b) a shaft assembly configured to removably couple with the handpiece, wherein the shaft assembly has an end effector having an active element configured to operate on tissue, wherein the drive feature is operable to drive the active element; and   (c) a power source configured to removably couple with the handpiece, wherein the power source is configured to provide electrical power to drive the active element of the end effector of the shaft assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the shaft assembly comprises a user input feature operable to selectively activate the drive feature. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical kit of  claim 20 , further comprising a guide member configured to removably engage the handpiece and thereby guide the power source into the handpiece while maintaining sterility of the handpiece.