Time dependent evaluation of sensor data to determine stability, creep, and viscoelastic elements of measures
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Brett E. Swensgard, Richard L. Leimbach, Shane R. Adams, Mark D. Overmyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A powered surgical cutting and stapling instrument is disclosed. The instrument includes at least one sensor to measure at least one parameter associated with the instrument, at least one processor, and a memory operatively associated with the processor. The memory includes machine executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to monitor the at least one sensor over a predetermined time period and determine a rate of change of the measured parameter.
Claims14
A surgical instrument for cutting and stapling tissue, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
- a shaft;
- an end effector comprising a distal end;
- at least one load condition sensor for sensing at least one load condition of the end effector;
- a drive system configured to transmit a drive load, the drive system comprising:
- a firing member movable toward the distal end during a firing stroke;
- and
- a motor configured to move the firing member through the firing stroke;
- and
- a motor control circuit configured to operate the motor in:
- a first operating mode when the drive load is below a predetermined threshold, wherein the motor control circuit controls a drive current that is supplied to the motor in the first operating mode;
- and
- a second operating mode when the drive load is above a predetermined threshold, wherein the motor control circuit increases the drive current that is supplied to the motor based on the rate of change of the at least one load condition in the second operating mode.
A surgical instrument for cutting and stapling tissue, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
- a shaft;
- an end effector connected to the shaft, wherein the end effector is configured to staple and cut tissue;
- a motor for driving the end effector;
- sensing means for sensing a load condition of the end effector;
- and
- motor control means for controlling operation of the motor based on input from the sensing means, such that, in a first mode of operation, a drive current that is supplied to the motor to drive the motor is controlled based on a rate of change of the sensed load condition of the end effector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.