Medtronic has been granted a patent for a powered surgical device that includes a motor, transmission assembly, sensor, and controller. The device can determine the position of the transmission assembly and operate the motor based on this position and any interruption in the sensor data. GlobalData’s report on Medtronic gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Medtronic, Prosthetic cardiac valves was a key innovation area identified from patents. Medtronic's grant share as of September 2023 was 58%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
A surgical device with motor control based on sensor data
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11771432B2) describes a surgical device that includes a power source, a motor, a transmission assembly, a sensor, and a controller. The motor is connected to the power source and is responsible for moving the transmission assembly. The sensor monitors the operation of the transmission assembly and provides sensor data. The controller determines the position of the transmission assembly and operates the motor based on the position and any interruption in the sensor data.
The patent also mentions that the controller can operate the motor to complete a process when the position of the transmission assembly reaches or exceeds a threshold position. Additionally, the controller can terminate a process if the position of the transmission assembly falls below the threshold position and there is an interruption in the sensor data.
The surgical device further includes a reload that can be selectively coupled to the transmission assembly. The reload consists of a plurality of staples that can be ejected by the transmission assembly. The reload also includes a cutting assembly. Completing the process involves advancing the transmission assembly and either ejecting the staples or advancing the cutting assembly. Terminating the process involves retracting the transmission assembly.
The sensor in the surgical device is a strain gauge that measures the force exerted on the transmission assembly.
In another embodiment of the invention, the surgical device includes a power source, a motor, a reload with staples and a cutting assembly, and two transmission assemblies (stapling and cutting). The sensor monitors the operation of both transmission assemblies and provides sensor data. The controller determines the position of each transmission assembly and operates the motor based on the position and any interruption in the sensor data.
Similar to the previous embodiment, the controller can complete a stapling process when the position of the stapling transmission assembly reaches or exceeds a threshold position. Completing the process involves advancing the stapling transmission assembly to eject the staples. The controller can also terminate the stapling process if the position of the stapling transmission assembly falls below the threshold position and there is an interruption in the sensor data.
The controller can also complete a cutting process when the position of the cutting transmission assembly reaches or exceeds a threshold position. Completing the process involves advancing the cutting transmission assembly to advance the cutting assembly. Similarly, the controller can terminate the cutting process if the position of the cutting transmission assembly falls below the threshold position and there is an interruption in the sensor data.
The sensor in this embodiment is also a strain gauge that measures the force exerted on both the stapling and cutting transmission assemblies.
Overall, this patent describes a surgical device with advanced control mechanisms that ensure precise and efficient operation during surgical procedures.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
