ADJUNCT WITH INTEGRATED SENSORS TO QUANTIFY TISSUE COMPRESSION
First Claim
1. A surgical stapling system comprising:
- an elongated shaft assembly configured to transmit actuation motions from an actuator,an end effector for compressing and stapling tissue, the end effector operably coupled to the elongated shaft, the end effector comprising;
an elongated channel;
an anvil having a staple forming surface thereon, the anvil moveable relative to the elongated channel between an open position and a closed position; and
a staple cartridge removably positioned within the elongated channel, the staple cartridge comprising;
a cartridge body having a tissue contacting surface in a confronting relationship with the anvil'"'"'s staple forming surface; and
a plurality of staple drivers within the cartridge body each supporting a staple; and
a tissue thickness compensator operable to be positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge, the tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured by the staples and assume different compressed heights within the different staples, the tissue compensator comprising first conductive elements;
wherein the system is operable to determine a property of tissue compressed between the anvil and the staple cartridge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical stapling system including a shaft assembly transmits actuation motions from an actuator and an end effector compresses and staples tissue. The end effector comprises an elongated channel; an anvil having a staple forming surface is moveable relative to the elongated channel between an open position and a closed position; and a staple cartridge removably positioned within the elongated channel. The staple cartridge comprises a body having a tissue contacting surface in a confronting relationship with the staple forming surface; a plurality of staple drivers within the cartridge body each supporting a staple; and a tissue thickness compensator positionable between the anvil and the cartridge, the tissue thickness compensator is captured by the staples and assumes different compressed heights within the different staples. The tissue compensator comprises first conductive elements. The system determines properties of tissue compressed between the anvil and the cartridge.
216 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A surgical stapling system comprising:
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an elongated shaft assembly configured to transmit actuation motions from an actuator, an end effector for compressing and stapling tissue, the end effector operably coupled to the elongated shaft, the end effector comprising; an elongated channel; an anvil having a staple forming surface thereon, the anvil moveable relative to the elongated channel between an open position and a closed position; and a staple cartridge removably positioned within the elongated channel, the staple cartridge comprising; a cartridge body having a tissue contacting surface in a confronting relationship with the anvil'"'"'s staple forming surface; and a plurality of staple drivers within the cartridge body each supporting a staple; and a tissue thickness compensator operable to be positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge, the tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured by the staples and assume different compressed heights within the different staples, the tissue compensator comprising first conductive elements; wherein the system is operable to determine a property of tissue compressed between the anvil and the staple cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A surgical stapling system comprising:
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an elongated shaft assembly configured to transmit actuation motions from an actuator, an end effector for compressing and stapling tissue, the end effector operably coupled to the elongated shaft, the end effector comprising; an elongated channel; an anvil having a staple forming surface thereon, the anvil moveable relative to the elongated channel between an open position and a closed position; and a staple cartridge removably positioned within the elongated channel, the staple cartridge comprising; a cartridge body having a tissue contacting surface in a confronting relationship with the anvil'"'"'s staple forming surface; and a plurality of staple drivers within the cartridge body each supporting a staple; and a tissue thickness compensator operable to be positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge, the tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured by the staples and assume different compressed heights within the different staples, the tissue compensator comprising first conductive elements; wherein the system is operable to detect the location of the tissue compensator with respect to the end effector. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A surgical stapling system comprising:
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an elongated shaft assembly configured to transmit actuation motions from an actuator, an end effector for compressing and stapling tissue, the end effector operably coupled to the elongated shaft, the end effector comprising; an elongated channel; an anvil having a staple forming surface thereon, the anvil moveable relative to the elongated channel between an open position and a closed position; and a staple cartridge removably positioned within the elongated channel, the staple cartridge comprising; a cartridge body having a tissue contacting surface in a confronting relationship with the anvil'"'"'s staple forming surface; a slot defined within the cartridge body; and a plurality of staple drivers within the cartridge body each supporting a staple; and a cutting member operable to be engaged with the actuation motions such that the cutting member can be moved from a proximal end of the slot to a distal end of the slot; and a tissue thickness compensator operable to be positioned between the anvil and the staple cartridge, the tissue thickness compensator configured to be captured by the staples and assume different compressed heights within the different staples, the tissue compensator comprising first conductive elements; wherein the system is operable to determine the location in the slot of the cutting member. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification