SURGICAL CUTTING AND FASTENING INSTRUMENT HAVING RF ELECTRODES
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical cutting and fastening instrument. The instrument comprises a handle and an end effector connected to the handle. The end effector comprises upper and lower opposing jaw members, wherein the upper jaw member comprises a plurality of co-linear, separately actuatable, RF electrodes.
564 Citations
39 Claims
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1-16. -16. (canceled)
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17. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
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a proximal end; a distal end; a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein said first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw to capture tissue between said first jaw and said second jaw; a sensor system configured to sense the impedance of the tissue at a plurality of discrete locations; a staple cartridge comprising staple cavities; staples removably stored in said staple cavities; an anvil configured to deform said staples; a firing system configured to move said staples toward said anvil; an electric motor configured to move said firing system toward said distal end during a firing stroke; and a control system configured to; evaluate the impedance of the tissue at said discrete locations; and control the speed of said electric motor during said firing stroke as said firing system moves relative to said discrete locations. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
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a proximal end; a distal end; a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein said first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw to capture tissue between said first jaw and said second jaw; a sensor system configured to sense the impedance of the tissue; a staple cartridge comprising staple cavities; staples removably stored in said staple cavities; an anvil configured to deform said staples; a firing system configured to move said staples toward said anvil; an electric motor configured to move said firing system toward said distal end during a firing stroke; and a control circuit configured to; evaluate the impedance of the tissue; and control the speed of said electric motor during said firing stroke. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
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a proximal end; a distal end; a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein said first jaw is movable relative to said second jaw to capture tissue between said first jaw and said second jaw; a sensor system configured to sense the impedance of the tissue at a plurality of discrete locations; a staple cartridge comprising staple cavities; staples removably stored in said staple cavities; an anvil configured to deform said staples; a firing system configured to move said staples toward said anvil; an electric motor configured to move said firing system toward said distal end during a firing stroke; and a control system configured to; evaluate the impedance of the tissue at said discrete locations; and control the power applied to said electric motor during said firing stroke as said firing system moves relative to said discrete locations. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification