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Method and apparatus for determining parameters of linear motion in a surgical instrument

  • US 8,960,520 B2
  • Filed: 02/24/2011
  • Issued: 02/24/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

  • a housing;

    an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing and defining a first longitudinal axis;

    a firing rod disposed at least partially within the elongated shaft;

    a drive mechanism disposed at least partially within the elongated shaft, the drive mechanism being in mechanical cooperation with the firing rod;

    a sensor that senses a change in an electric field between the firing rod and the elongated shaft;

    a signal generator that generates a pulse signal that varies with the change in the electric field between the firing rod and the elongated shaft; and

    a measurement unit that includes a counter that counts pulses of the pulse signal, and a data processor that computes a pulse signal frequency based on the counted pulses and measures a parameter of a motion of the firing rod based on the pulse signal frequency.

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