Surgical cutting instrument that analyzes tissue thickness
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- an electric motor;
a power source connected to the electric motor via at least one switch, wherein the power source is for supplying electric power to the electric motor;
a tissue-clamping end effector that comprises;
a moveable working portion that is moveable upon actuation of the electric motor;
a removable cartridge that comprises a tissue thickness module that senses thickness of tissue clamped in the end effector; and
a control circuit in communication with the tissue thickness module, wherein the control circuit automatically prevents actuation of the moveable working portion when the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector is not within a specified thickness range by controlling the at least one switch that connects the power source to the electric motor based on at least;
thickness data from the tissue thickness module for the tissue clamped in the end effector; and
model type data for the removable cartridge from the tissue thickness module.
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Abstract
A surgical instrument with a tissue-clamping end effector, where actuation of the instrument is locked out when the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector is not within a specified thickness range. The end effector may comprise a tissue thickness module that senses the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector. The surgical instrument also comprises a control circuit in communication with the tissue thickness module. The control circuit prevents actuation of a working portion of the end effector when the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector is not within the specified thickness range.
2197 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an electric motor; a power source connected to the electric motor via at least one switch, wherein the power source is for supplying electric power to the electric motor; a tissue-clamping end effector that comprises; a moveable working portion that is moveable upon actuation of the electric motor; a removable cartridge that comprises a tissue thickness module that senses thickness of tissue clamped in the end effector; and a control circuit in communication with the tissue thickness module, wherein the control circuit automatically prevents actuation of the moveable working portion when the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector is not within a specified thickness range by controlling the at least one switch that connects the power source to the electric motor based on at least; thickness data from the tissue thickness module for the tissue clamped in the end effector; and model type data for the removable cartridge from the tissue thickness module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A surgical cutting and fastening instrument comprising:
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an end effector, wherein the end effector comprises; first and second opposing jaw members moveable between open and closed position; a moveable cutting instrument that severs tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members when the jaw members are in the closed position; a magnet at a distal end of the first jaw member; a disposable cartridge in the second jaw member, wherein the disposable cartridge comprises a tissue thickness module that senses thickness of tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members, wherein the tissue thickness module comprises a Hall effect sensor that senses a magnetic field strength from the magnet, wherein the magnetic field strength is indicative of the thickness of the tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members; a drive shaft that drives the cutting instrument; an electric motor for actuating the drive shaft; a power source connected to the motor via at least one switch, wherein the power source is for supplying electric power to the electric motor; and a control circuit in communication with the tissue thickness module, wherein the control circuit comprises a processing unit programmed to determine whether the tissue clamped in the end effector is within a specified thickness range for the disposable cartridge based on data communicated to the control circuit by the tissue thickness module, wherein the control circuit automatically prevents actuation of the drive shaft when the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector is not within the specified thickness range for the disposable cartridge by controlling the at least one switch that connects the power source to the electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a tissue-clamping end effector that comprises; first and second opposing jaw members; a moveable working portion; a cartridge located in the first jaw member; a thickness sensor on the cartridge that senses thickness of tissue clamped between the first and second jaw members; a microcontroller in communication with the thickness sensor, wherein the microcontroller stores data indicative of a cartridge type of the cartridge; and a radio module in communication with the microcontroller; an electric motor that actuates the moveable working porting of the end effector; a power source connected to the electric motor via at least one switch, wherein the power source is for supplying electric power to the electric motor; and a control circuit in communication with the radio module, wherein; the control circuit receives data from the radio module, the data comprising; data indicative of the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector; and the data indicative of the cartridge type of the disposable cartridge the control circuit determines whether the tissue clamped in the end effector is within a specified thickness range for the disposable cartridge based on the data communicated to the control circuit; and the control circuit automatically prevents actuation of the moveable working portion when the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector is not within the specified thickness range for the disposable cartridge by controlling the at least one switch that connects the power source to the electric motor.
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Specification