SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH FORCE-FEEDBACK CAPABILITIES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:
- an end effector having a moveable cutting implement operably supported therein;
a main drive shaft assembly operably interfacing with the end effector for transmitting an actuation motion to the movable cutting implement therein;
a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly;
a motor for actuating the gear drive train;
a motor actuator for controlling said motor; and
a sensor arrangement operably interfacing with said end effector and said motor actuator to communicate forces experienced by said end effector to said motor actuator.
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Abstract
A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument has an end effector and a trigger in communication with the end effector. The surgical instrument also has a first sensor and an externally accessible memory device in communication with the first sensor. The first sensor has an output that represents a first condition of either the trigger or the end effector. The memory device is configured to record the output of the first sensor. In various embodiments, memory device may include an output port and/or a removable storage medium.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:
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an end effector having a moveable cutting implement operably supported therein; a main drive shaft assembly operably interfacing with the end effector for transmitting an actuation motion to the movable cutting implement therein; a gear drive train connected to the main drive shaft assembly; a motor for actuating the gear drive train; a motor actuator for controlling said motor; and a sensor arrangement operably interfacing with said end effector and said motor actuator to communicate forces experienced by said end effector to said motor actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector comprising; an elongated channel configured to operably support a staple cartridge therein; an anvil movably supported relative to said elongated channel and being movable to a open positions relative to a staple cartridge within said elongated channel upon application of opening motions thereto, said anvil being movable to closed positions relative to the staple cartridge upon application of closing motions to said anvil; and a tissue cutting implement operably supported for reciprocatable movement within said elongated channel upon application of actuation and retraction motions thereto and wherein said surgical instrument further comprises; a shaft assembly connected to the end effector, said shaft assembly comprising; a drive shaft operably interfacing with said tissue cutting implement for transmitting said actuation and retraction motions thereto; a gear drive train operably interfacing with said drive shaft; a motor for actuating the gear drive train; means for controlling said motor; and means for communicating forces experienced by said end effector to said means for controlling. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification