Jaw Closure Detection System
First Claim
1. A jaw angle detection system for an end effector assembly, comprising:
- a first electrical contact associated with a first jaw member and adapted to connect to one of a controller and a generator; and
a sensor associated with one of a second jaw member and an actuator and adapted to connect to one of the controller and the generator, the sensor configured to move relative to the first electrical contact upon movement of one of the respective second jaw member and the actuator when the first and second jaw members are moved to close about tissue disposed therebetween, wherein information relating to the position of the sensor relative to the first electrical contact is relayed back to one of the controller and the generator to determine an angle between the first and second jaw members.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A jaw angle detection system for an end effector assembly includes a first electrical contact that connects to a first jaw member and connects to a generator. A sensor connects to a second jaw member (or an actuator) and connects to the generator, and configured to move relative to the first electrical contact upon movement of the second jaw member (or the actuator) when the first and second jaw members are moved to close about tissue disposed therebetween. Information relating to the position of the sensor relative to the first electrical contact is relayed back to the generator to determine an angle between the first and second jaw members.
115 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A jaw angle detection system for an end effector assembly, comprising:
-
a first electrical contact associated with a first jaw member and adapted to connect to one of a controller and a generator; and a sensor associated with one of a second jaw member and an actuator and adapted to connect to one of the controller and the generator, the sensor configured to move relative to the first electrical contact upon movement of one of the respective second jaw member and the actuator when the first and second jaw members are moved to close about tissue disposed therebetween, wherein information relating to the position of the sensor relative to the first electrical contact is relayed back to one of the controller and the generator to determine an angle between the first and second jaw members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A jaw angle detection system, comprising:
-
first and second jaw members; first and second conductors adapted to connect to a capacitive sensing circuit of a generator, the first conductor fixed relative to the second conductor, the second conductor moveable relative to the first conductor upon movement of the jaw members from a first spaced position relative to one another to a second position closer to one another; and wherein information relating to the position of the second conductor relative to the first conductor is relayed back to the capacitive sensing circuit to determine an angle between the first and second jaw members. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A jaw angle detection system, comprising:
-
first and second jaw members each having proximally extending flanges adapted to connect to an energy source for conducting energy through tissue held between jaw members; a conductor disposed on the proximal flange of the first jaw member; and a variable resistor disposed on the proximal flange of the second jaw member in opposing relation to the conductor, the first conductor and the variable resistor adapted to relay a signal to a sensing circuit of the generator, wherein movement of the jaw members from an open spaced apart position to a closed position causes the conductor to move across the variable resistor and vary the signal relayed back to the sensing circuit to determine an angle between the first and second jaw members. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A jaw angle detection method, comprising:
-
sensing a position of a first jaw member relative to a second jaw member of an end effector assembly; conducting a signal representative of the sensed position back to one of a controller and a generator; determining an angle between the first and second jaw members based on the signal; and modifying energy delivery to the jaw members based on the determined angle. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification