Surgical instrument with wireless communication between control unit and remote sensor
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- an end effector comprising at least one sensor;
a shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector, wherein the shaft comprises;
at least one electrically conductive outer tube, wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the at least one electrically conductive outer tube; and
a drive shaft disposed at least partially within the at least one electrically conductive outer tube;
a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft, the handle housing a control unit, wherein the control unit is electrically coupled to the at least one electrically conductive outer tube such that the at least one electrically conductive outer tube wirelessly radiates communication signals from the control unit to the sensor and receives wirelessly radiated communication signals from the sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise an end effector comprising at least one sensor. The surgical instrument may also comprise an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft. The handle may comprise a control unit electrically coupled to the shaft such that the shaft radiates signals as an antenna from the control unit to the sensor and receives radiated signals from the sensor. Other components electrically coupled to the shaft may also radiate the signals.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector comprising at least one sensor; a shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector, wherein the shaft comprises; at least one electrically conductive outer tube, wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the at least one electrically conductive outer tube; and a drive shaft disposed at least partially within the at least one electrically conductive outer tube; a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft, the handle housing a control unit, wherein the control unit is electrically coupled to the at least one electrically conductive outer tube such that the at least one electrically conductive outer tube wirelessly radiates communication signals from the control unit to the sensor and receives wirelessly radiated communication signals from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector comprising at least one sensor; an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector wherein the shaft comprises at least one electrically conductive outer tube, wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the at least one electrically conductive outer tube; and a control unit electrically coupled to the shaft such that the at least one electrically conductive outer tube wirelessly radiates communication signals from the control unit to the sensor and to receives wirelessly radiated communication signals from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector comprising at least one sensor; an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector, wherein the shaft comprises at least one electrically conductive outer tube, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to the at least one electrically conductive outer tube; and a control unit electrically insulated from the at least one electrically conductive outer tube, such that the at least one electrically conductive outer tube radiates wireless communication signals from the sensor to the control unit and receives wirelessly radiated communication signals from the control unit.
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Specification