Surgical instruments with electrodes
First Claim
1. An end-effector assembly configured to be attached to a surgical instrument, the end-effector assembly comprising:
- a first jaw;
a second jaw comprising a staple cavity, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other jaw;
a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity, wherein the staple comprises an electrode; and
an electrically-conductive driver configured to move the staple between a first stored position in which the staple is at least partially positioned within the staple cavity and a second position in which the staple is at least partially deployed from the staple cavity into tissue positioned intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An end-effector assembly configured to be attached to a surgical instrument. The end-effector assembly comprises a first jaw and a second jaw comprising a staple cavity. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other jaw. The end-effector assembly comprises a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity and an electrically-conductive driver configured to move the staple between a first stored position in which the staple is at least partially positioned within the staple cavity and a second position in which the staple is at least partially deployed from the staple cavity into tissue positioned intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw. The staple comprises an electrode.
1872 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An end-effector assembly configured to be attached to a surgical instrument, the end-effector assembly comprising:
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a first jaw; a second jaw comprising a staple cavity, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other jaw; a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity, wherein the staple comprises an electrode; and an electrically-conductive driver configured to move the staple between a first stored position in which the staple is at least partially positioned within the staple cavity and a second position in which the staple is at least partially deployed from the staple cavity into tissue positioned intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An end-effector assembly configured to be engaged with a surgical instrument, the end-effector assembly comprising:
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a first jaw; a second jaw comprising a staple cavity, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other jaw; a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity, wherein the staple comprises a first electrode; and an electrically-conductive driver configured to deploy the staple at least partially from the staple cavity into tissue positioned intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw; and wherein one of the first jaw and the second jaw comprises a second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An end-effector assembly configured to be engaged with a surgical instrument, the end-effector assembly comprising:
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an electrode system comprising an electrode; a staple deploying system, comprising; a staple cavity; a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity; and a staple driver configured to move the staple between a first position in which the staple is stored at least partially within the staple cavity and a second position in which the staple is at least partially deployed from the staple cavity; a staple sensor configured to sense when the staple is in the first position; a tissue thickness sensor configured to sense a thickness of tissue positioned within the end-effector assembly; and a lockout device configured to deactivate the electrode system when the sensed thickness is greater than a predetermined tissue thickness threshold and when the staple sensor does not sense the staple in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An end-effector assembly configured to be attached to a surgical instrument, the end-effector assembly comprising:
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a first jaw; a second jaw, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other jaw; a staple removably positioned within the second jaw, wherein the staple comprises an electrode; and an electrically-conductive driver configured to deploy the staple into tissue positioned intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An end-effector assembly configured to be engaged with a surgical instrument, the end-effector assembly comprising:
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an electrode system comprising an electrode; a staple deploying system, comprising; a staple cavity; a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity; and a staple driver configured to move the staple between a first position in which the staple is stored at least partially within the staple cavity and a second position in which the staple is at least partially deployed from the staple cavity; a staple sensor configured to sense when the staple is in the first position; a tissue thickness sensor configured to sense a thickness of tissue positioned within the end-effector assembly; and a lockout device configured to deactivate the electrode system when at least one of the sensed thickness is greater than a predetermined tissue thickness threshold and the staple sensor does not sense the staple in the first position.
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24. A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, the staple cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body, comprising; a staple removably positioned within the cartridge body, wherein the staple comprises an electrode; and an electrically-conductive driver configured to deploy the staple into tissue positioned intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw.
Specification