Surgical instrument with wireless communication between control unit and remote sensor
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- an end effector comprising a movable firing member;
a first sensor transponder positioned to sense a position of the movable firing member;
a firing trigger for actuating the movable firing member;
a motor mechanically coupled to the firing trigger; and
a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to;
wirelessly receive at least one input from the first sensor transponder; and
control the motor based on the at least one input, wherein, via the coupling between the motor and the firing trigger, movements of the motor cause a force applied to the firing trigger.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one general aspect, the present invention is directed to a surgical instrument. According to one embodiment, the surgical instrument comprises an end effector comprising a movable firing member. A first sensor transponder may be positioned to sense a position of the movable firing member. A firing trigger may actuate the movable firing member. A motor may be mechanically coupled to the firing trigger. A control unit may be configured to wirelessly receive at least one input from the first sensor transponder; and control the motor based on the at least one input, wherein, via the coupling between the motor and the firing trigger, movements of the motor cause a force applied to the firing trigger.
3482 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector comprising a movable firing member; a first sensor transponder positioned to sense a position of the movable firing member; a firing trigger for actuating the movable firing member; a motor mechanically coupled to the firing trigger; and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to; wirelessly receive at least one input from the first sensor transponder; and control the motor based on the at least one input, wherein, via the coupling between the motor and the firing trigger, movements of the motor cause a force applied to the firing trigger. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector comprising a movable firing member; a first sensor transponder positioned to sense a position of the movable firing member; a firing button for actuating the movable firing member; a motor mechanically coupled to the firing button; and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to; wirelessly receive at least one input from the first sensor transponder; and control the motor based on the at least one input, wherein, via the coupling between the motor and the firing button, movements of the motor cause a translation of the firing button.
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19. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector comprising a movable firing member; a first sensor transponder positioned to sense a position of the movable firing member; a shaft extending proximally from the end effector; a drive shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector through the shaft such that rotation of at least a portion of the drive shaft assembly translates the movable firing member along an actuation stroke; a firing button for actuating the movable firing member, the firing button mechanically coupled to the drive shaft assembly; a motor mechanically coupled to the drive shaft assembly and mechanically coupled to the firing button, wherein, via the drive shaft assembly, movements of the motor cause a force applied to the firing button; and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to; wirelessly receive at least one input from the first sensor transponder, wherein the at least one input indicates a position of the firing member along the actuation stroke; and control the motor based on the at least one input. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector comprising a movable firing member; a first sensor transponder positioned to sense a position of the movable firing member; a shaft extending proximally from the end effector; a drive shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector through the shaft such that rotation of at least a portion of the drive shaft assembly translates the movable firing member along an actuation stroke; a firing button for actuating the movable firing member, the firing button mechanically coupled to the drive shaft assembly; a motor mechanically coupled to the drive shaft assembly and mechanically coupled to the firing button, wherein, via the drive shaft assembly, movements of the motor cause a translation of the firing button; and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to; wirelessly receive at least one input from the first sensor transponder, wherein the at least one input indicates a position of the firing member along the actuation stroke; and control the motor based on the at least one input.
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29. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector comprising a movable firing member; a first sensor positioned to sense a position of the movable firing member; a shaft extending proximally from the end effector; a drive shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector through the shaft such that rotation of at least a portion of the drive shaft assembly translates the movable firing member along an actuation stroke; a firing button for actuating the movable firing member, the firing button mechanically coupled to the drive shaft assembly; a motor mechanically coupled to the drive shaft assembly and mechanically coupled to the firing button; a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to; wirelessly receive at least one input from the first sensor, wherein the at least one input indicates a position of the firing member along the actuation stroke; and control the motor based on the at least one input; and a secondary element positioned intermediate the control unit and the first sensor; a distal element in electrical communication with the secondary element and positioned intermediate the secondary element and the first sensor, wherein the distal and secondary elements are positioned to receive the at least one input from the first sensor and relay the at least one input to the control unit.
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30. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an end effector comprising a movable firing member; a first sensor transponder positioned to sense a position of the movable firing member; a shaft extending proximally from the end effector; a drive shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector through the shaft such that rotation of at least a portion of the drive shaft assembly translates the movable firing member along an actuation stroke; a firing button for actuating the movable firing member, the firing button mechanically coupled to the drive shaft assembly; a motor mechanically coupled to the drive shaft assembly and mechanically coupled to the firing button; a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to; wirelessly receive at least one input from the first sensor transponder, wherein the at least one input indicates a position of the firing member along the actuation stroke; and control the motor based on the at least one input; and a run-motor sensor in communication with the control unit and positioned to sense at least one of a position of the firing button and an amount of force applied to the firing button.
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Specification