Accessing data stored in a memory of a surgical instrument
First Claim
1. A method for capturing sensor data from a procedure involving a surgical cutting and fastening instrument, wherein the surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprises (a) a control unit, (b) a shaft, and (c) an end effector connected to the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises first and second pivotably connected, opposing jaw members for clamping tissue clamped therebetween and an cutting instrument that traverses longitudinally the end effector when actuated, the method comprising:
- storing data from a cutting instrument position sensor, located in the end effector, in a memory device of the control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument during a surgical procedure involving the surgical cutting and fastening instrument, wherein the cutting instrument position sensor senses a position of the cutting instrument in the end effector, and wherein the cutting instrument position sensor is in communication with the control unit;
establishing, after the surgical procedure, a data link between the control unit and a remote computer device; and
downloading the data from the cutting instrument position sensor stored in the control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument to the remote computer device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process and system are disclosed for downloading sensor data, stored in a memory device of a surgical cutting and fastening instrument, to an external or remote computer device. The process may involve storing data from one or more sensors of a surgical cutting and fastening instrument in a memory device of a control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument during a surgical procedure involving the surgical cutting and fastening instrument. Next, after the surgical procedure, a data link between the control unit and the remote computer device is established. Then, the sensor data can be downloaded from the control unit to the remote computer device.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for capturing sensor data from a procedure involving a surgical cutting and fastening instrument, wherein the surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprises (a) a control unit, (b) a shaft, and (c) an end effector connected to the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises first and second pivotably connected, opposing jaw members for clamping tissue clamped therebetween and an cutting instrument that traverses longitudinally the end effector when actuated, the method comprising:
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storing data from a cutting instrument position sensor, located in the end effector, in a memory device of the control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument during a surgical procedure involving the surgical cutting and fastening instrument, wherein the cutting instrument position sensor senses a position of the cutting instrument in the end effector, and wherein the cutting instrument position sensor is in communication with the control unit; establishing, after the surgical procedure, a data link between the control unit and a remote computer device; and downloading the data from the cutting instrument position sensor stored in the control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument to the remote computer device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for capturing sensor data from a procedure involving a surgical cutting and fastening instrument, wherein the surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprises (a) a control unit, (b) a shaft, and (c) an end effector connected to the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises first and second pivotably connected, opposing jaw members clamping tissue clamped therebetween and a replaceable tissue-fastening cartridge, the method comprising:
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storing data from cartridge present sensor, located in the end effector, in a memory device of the control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument during a surgical procedure involving the surgical cutting and fastening instrument, wherein the cartridge present sensor senses whether the replaceable fastening cartridge is present in the end effector, and wherein the cartridge present sensor is in communication with the control unit; establishing, after the surgical procedure, a data link between the control unit and a remote computer device; and downloading the data from cartridge present sensor stored in the control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument to the remote computer device.
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16. A method for capturing sensor data from a procedure involving a surgical cutting and fastening instrument, wherein the surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprises (a) a control unit, (b) a shaft, and (c) an end effector connected to the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises first and second pivotably connected, opposing jaw members clamping tissue clamped therebetween and a replaceable tissue-fastening cartridge, the method comprising:
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storing data from cartridge condition sensor, located in the end effector, in a memory device of the control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument during a surgical procedure involving the surgical cutting and fastening instrument, wherein the cartridge condition sensor senses a condition of the replaceable fastening cartridge, and wherein the cartridge condition sensor is in communication with the control unit; establishing, after the surgical procedure, a data link between the control unit and a remote computer device; and downloading the data from cartridge condition sensor stored in the control unit of the surgical cutting and fastening instrument to the remote computer device.
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Specification