Electrical surgical stapling instrument with tissue compressive force control
First Claim
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1. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
- a handle having a stapler-closing device;
a surgical stapling end effector connected to the handle and having a pair of opposing stapling surfaces, at least one of the stapling surfaces operable to move with respect to the other of the stapling surfaces upon actuation of the stapler-closing device to apply a compressive force to tissue therebetween;
a mechanical force switch operable to receive the compressive force applied to the tissue and to switch from a the first electrical switching state to a second electrical switching state, the first and second electrical switching states being initiated and changed solely by mechanical movements associated with the received compressive force, the change in electrical switching states influencing a surgical procedure on the compressed tissue; and
the change in electrical switching states being dependent upon the received compressive force being at least equal to a pre-determined compressive force, wherein the pre-determined compressive force is a biasing force that retains the mechanical force switch in the first electrical switching state until the opposing compressive force received upon the mechanical force switch overcomes the biasing force to change the mechanical force switch to the second electrical switching state.
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Abstract
A surgical stapling instrument includes a handle having a stapler-closing device. A surgical stapling end effector is connected to the handle and has a pair of opposing stapling surfaces. At least one of the stapling surfaces is operable to move with respect to the other of the stapling surfaces upon actuation of the stapler-closing device to apply a compressive force to tissue therebetween. At least one variable member is operable to receive the compressive force applied to the tissue and to exhibit at least one of mechanical and electrical change associated with the received compressive force. The change influences a surgical procedure on the compressed tissue.
1106 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
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a handle having a stapler-closing device; a surgical stapling end effector connected to the handle and having a pair of opposing stapling surfaces, at least one of the stapling surfaces operable to move with respect to the other of the stapling surfaces upon actuation of the stapler-closing device to apply a compressive force to tissue therebetween; a mechanical force switch operable to receive the compressive force applied to the tissue and to switch from a the first electrical switching state to a second electrical switching state, the first and second electrical switching states being initiated and changed solely by mechanical movements associated with the received compressive force, the change in electrical switching states influencing a surgical procedure on the compressed tissue; and the change in electrical switching states being dependent upon the received compressive force being at least equal to a pre-determined compressive force, wherein the pre-determined compressive force is a biasing force that retains the mechanical force switch in the first electrical switching state until the opposing compressive force received upon the mechanical force switch overcomes the biasing force to change the mechanical force switch to the second electrical switching state. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
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a handle having a stapler-closing device; a surgical stapling end effector connected to the handle and having a pair of opposing stapling surfaces, at least one of the stapling surfaces operable to move with respect to the other of the stapling surfaces upon actuation of the stapler-closing device to apply a compressive force to tissue therebetween; and a mechanical force switch operable to receive the compressive force applied to the tissue and to exhibit at least one of mechanical and electrical change associated with the received compressive force, the at least one change influencing a surgical procedure on the compressed tissue. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
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a handle having a stapler-closing device and a longitudinal axis; a surgical stapling end effector connected to the handle and having a pair of opposing stapling surfaces, at least one of the stapling surfaces operable to move with respect to the other of the stapling surfaces upon actuation of the stapler-closing device to apply a compressive force to tissue therebetween; a mechanical force switch disposed along the longitudinal axis of the handle, the mechanical force switch being operable to receive the compressive force applied to the tissue and to exhibit at least one of mechanical and electrical change associated with the received compressive force, the at least one change influencing a surgical procedure on the compressed tissue; and an electric indication circuit electrically connected to the mechanical force switch and operable to produce a signal indicating occurrence of the at least one of mechanical and electrical change. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification