ELECTROMECHANICAL SURGICAL DEVICE WITH SIGNAL RELAY ARRANGEMENT
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- an end effector;
a shaft extending proximally from the end effector,a sensor disposed in the end effector configured to generate a first signal indicative of a condition at the end effector;
a transmitter in the end effector to transmit the first signal at a first power level;
a relay station located proximal to the shaft, the relay station configured to receive the first signal from the transmitter, wherein the relay station is configured to convert the first signal to a second signal indicative of the condition at the end effector, wherein the relay station transmits the second signal at a second power level, wherein the second power level is greater than the first power level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument configured to relay a low-power signal from an end effector to a remote device is disclosed. The surgical instrument may comprise a handle, a shaft extending distally from the handle, and an end effector attached to the distal end of the shaft. A sensor may be disposed in the end effector. The sensor may generate a signal indicative of a condition at the end effector. A transmitter may be located in the end effector. The transmitter may transmit the signal from the sensor at a first power level. The signal may be received by a relay station located proximally to the shaft. The relay station is configured to retransmit the signal at a second power level, wherein the second power level is higher than the first power level.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector; a shaft extending proximally from the end effector, a sensor disposed in the end effector configured to generate a first signal indicative of a condition at the end effector; a transmitter in the end effector to transmit the first signal at a first power level; a relay station located proximal to the shaft, the relay station configured to receive the first signal from the transmitter, wherein the relay station is configured to convert the first signal to a second signal indicative of the condition at the end effector, wherein the relay station transmits the second signal at a second power level, wherein the second power level is greater than the first power level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A surgical relay station for relaying a signal from to a remote location during surgery, the relay station comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive a signal from a sensor, the sensor located in an end effector of a surgical instrument, wherein the signal is transmitted at a first power level; an amplifier configured to increase a power level of the signal from the first power level to a second power level; a transmitter configured to transmit the signal at the second power level, wherein the second power level is higher than the first power level. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for relaying a surgical sensor signal, the method comprising:
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generating, by a sensor, a first signal indicative of a condition at a surgical end effector; transmitting, by a transmitter, the first signal at a first power level; receiving, by a relay station, the first signal; converting, by the relay station, the first signal to a second signal, wherein the second signal is indicative of the condition at the surgical end effector; transmitting, by the relay station, the second signal at a second power level, wherein the second power level is greater than the first power level. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification