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 motor 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 cartridge assembly that comprises a tissue thickness sensor for sensing a thickness of tissue clamped in the end effector; and
a control circuit in communication with the tissue thickness sensor, 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 based on at least;
thickness data from the tissue thickness sensor for the tissue clamped in the end effector; and
model type data for the cartridge assembly.
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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.
2215 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an electric motor; a power source connected to the motor 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 cartridge assembly that comprises a tissue thickness sensor for sensing a thickness of tissue clamped in the end effector; and a control circuit in communication with the tissue thickness sensor, 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 based on at least; thickness data from the tissue thickness sensor for the tissue clamped in the end effector; and model type data for the cartridge assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operation for a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
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an electric motor; a power source connected to the motor 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 cartridge assembly that comprises a tissue thickness sensor that senses thickness of tissue clamped in the end effector; and a control circuit in communication with the tissue thickness sensor, the method comprising; clamping tissue in the end effector; sensing, by the tissue thickness sensor, a thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector; transmitting, by the tissue thickness sensor to the control circuit, data indicative of the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector; determining, by the control circuit, whether the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector is within a specified range based on a model type for the cartridge assembly; and upon a determination by the control circuit that the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector is not within the specified range, preventing, by the control circuit, actuation of the moveable working portion. - View Dependent Claims (15, 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; a moveable working portion; and a cartridge assembly that comprises a tissue thickness sensor for sensing a thickness of tissue clamped in the end effector; and a control circuit in communication with the tissue thickness sensor, 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 based on at least; thickness data from the tissue thickness sensor for the tissue clamped in the end effector; and model type data for the cartridge assembly. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A surgical instrument comprising:
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a tissue-clamping end effector that comprises; a moveable working portion; and a cartridge assembly that comprises a tissue thickness sensor for sensing a thickness of tissue clamped in the end effector; and a control circuit in wireless communication with the tissue thickness sensor, wherein; the control circuit comprises solid state memory that stores specified acceptable tissue thickness range data by cartridge assembly model type; the control circuit comprises a radio circuit that receives wirelessly from the tissue thickness sensor data indicative of; thickness data for the tissue clamped in the end effector; and model type data for the cartridge assembly; and the control circuit comprises a programmable controller that is programmed to determine whether the thickness of the tissue clamped in the end effector is within the specified acceptable tissue thickness range for the cartridge assembly model type based on at least (i) the stored specified acceptable tissue thickness range data by cartridge assembly model type, (ii) the thickness data for the tissue clamped in the end effector from the tissue thickness sensor, and (iii) the model type data for the cartridge assembly for the tissue thickness sensor; and upon a determination that the tissue clamped in the end effector is not within the specified acceptable thickness range for the cartridge assembly model type, the control circuit prevents actuation of the moveable working portion of the end effector. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification