Prevention of cartridge reuse in a surgical instrument
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge comprising a transponder; and
a control unit disposed in a handle coupled to the end effector, the control unit comprising an inductive element to transmit and receive wireless signals, the control unit to;
transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and determine an electronic state of the transponder based on receipt or non-receipt of a second wireless signal from the transponder by the control unit in response to the transmission of the first wireless signal, wherein a first electronic state of the transponder corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge, and wherein a second electronic state of the transponder corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge;
enable actuation of a cutting instrument of the surgical instrument when the first electronic state is determined and prevent actuation of the cutting instrument when the second electronic state is determined; and
transmit a third wireless signal to the transponder when the cutting instrument is actuated;
wherein the transponder comprises at least one component electronically alterable by the transponder in response to receipt of the third wireless signal by the transponder to effect a transition of the transponder from the first electronic state to the second electronic state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a control unit and a staple cartridge including a transponder. The control unit is configured to transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and to receive a second wireless signal from the transponder to determine one of a first electronic state and a second electronic state of the transponder based on the second wireless signal.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge comprising a transponder; and a control unit disposed in a handle coupled to the end effector, the control unit comprising an inductive element to transmit and receive wireless signals, the control unit to; transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and determine an electronic state of the transponder based on receipt or non-receipt of a second wireless signal from the transponder by the control unit in response to the transmission of the first wireless signal, wherein a first electronic state of the transponder corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge, and wherein a second electronic state of the transponder corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge; enable actuation of a cutting instrument of the surgical instrument when the first electronic state is determined and prevent actuation of the cutting instrument when the second electronic state is determined; and transmit a third wireless signal to the transponder when the cutting instrument is actuated; wherein the transponder comprises at least one component electronically alterable by the transponder in response to receipt of the third wireless signal by the transponder to effect a transition of the transponder from the first electronic state to the second electronic state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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- 6. A staple cartridge for use in a surgical instrument, the staple cartridge comprising a transponder transitionable from a first electronic state to a second electronic state, wherein the first electronic state corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge and wherein the second electronic state corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge, wherein the transponder is to indicate one of the electronic states based on a response or a nonresponse of the transponder to a first wireless signal transmitted by the surgical instrument.
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15. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector to receive a staple cartridge; and a control unit disposed in a handle coupled to the end effector, the control unit comprising an inductive element to transmit and receive wireless signals, the control unit to; transmit a first wireless signal to a transponder disposed within the staple cartridge and determine an electronic state of the transponder based on receipt or non-receipt of a second wireless signal from the transponder by the control unit in response to the transmission of the first wireless signal, wherein a first electronic state of the transponder corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge, and wherein a second electronic state of the transponder corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge; enable actuation of a cutting instrument of the surgical instrument when the first electronic state is determined and prevent actuation of the cutting instrument when the second electronic state is determined; and transmit a third wireless signal to the transponder when the cutting instrument is actuated, the third wireless signal to effect a transition of the transponder from the first electronic state to the second electronic state. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge comprising a transponder; and a control unit disposed in a handle coupled to the end effector, the control unit comprising an inductive element to transmit and receive wireless signals, the control unit to; transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and determine an electronic state of the transponder-based on receipt or non-receipt of a second wireless signal from the transponder by the control unit in response to the transmission of the first wireless signal, wherein a first electronic state of the transponder corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge, and wherein a second electronic state of the transponder corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge; and enable actuation of a cutting instrument of the surgical instrument when the first electronic state is determined and prevent actuation of the cutting instrument when the second electronic state is determined; wherein the transponder comprises at least one component electronically alterable by movement of the cutting instrument when actuated, the altered at least one component to effect a transition of the transponder from the first electronic state to the second electronic state.
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18. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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an end effector to receive a staple cartridge; and a control unit disposed in a handle coupled to the end effector, the control unit comprising an inductive element to transmit and receive wireless signals, the control unit to; transmit a first wireless signal to a transponder disposed within the staple cartridge and determine an electronic state of the transponder based on receipt or non-receipt of a second wireless signal from the transponder by the control unit in response to the transmission of the first wireless signal, wherein a first electronic state of the transponder corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge, and wherein a second electronic state of the transponder corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge; and enable actuation of a cutting instrument of the surgical instrument when the first electronic state is determined and prevent actuation of the cutting instrument when the second electronic state is determined; wherein the cutting instrument, when actuated, electronically alters at least one component of the transponder to effect a transition of the transponder from the first electronic state to the second electronic state.
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Specification