Surgical device with an end-effector assembly and system for monitoring of tissue during a surgical procedure

A medical instrument, comprising:

• a housing;
• a shaft coupled to the housing, the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an end-effector assembly disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the end-effector assembly including a first jaw member and a second jaw member pivotably coupled to each other defining an angle therebetween, at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member movable from a first position wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to at least a second position closer to one another wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, the end effector including an angle sensor disposed in at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member, the angle sensor configured to measure the angle between the first jaw member and the second jaw;
• at least one light-emitting element coupled to at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member, the at least one light-emitting element adapted to deliver light energy at a plurality of wavelengths to the tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members;
• and
• a controller configured to control electrical energy delivered to the tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members and configured to determine properties of a tissue seal based on a difference between a plurality of fluorescence spectra obtained in response to the light energy delivered at the plurality of wavelengths, the controller being coupled to the at least one light-emitting element and the angle sensor, the controller further configured to adjust the intensity of light energy emitted based on the angle.

A system for treating tissue, comprising:

• a medical instrument including:
• a housing;
• a shaft coupled to the housing, the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an end-effector assembly disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the end-effector assembly including a first and a second jaw member pivotably coupled to each other defining an angle therebetween, at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member movable from a first position wherein the first or the second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to at least a second position closer to one another wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, the end effector including;
• a first tissue-contacting surface associated with the first jaw member;
• a second tissue-contacting surface associated with the second jaw member;
• an angle sensor disposed in at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member, the angle sensor configured to measure the angle between the first jaw member and the second jaw member;
• at least one light-emitting element coupled to at least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member, the at least one light-emitting element adapted to deliver light energy at a plurality of wavelengths to the tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members;
• and
• at least one light-detecting element configured to sense at least one property of the light energy passing through the tissue and to generate a plurality of fluorescence spectra indicative of tissue fluorescence at the plurality of wavelengths in response to the sensed at least one property of the light energy;
• and
• a controller coupled to the at least one light-detecting element and the at least one light-emitting element, the controller configured to receive the plurality of fluorescence spectra and control electrical energy delivered to the tissue disposed between the first and second tissue-contacting surfaces during activation based on a difference between the plurality of fluorescence spectra,
• wherein the controller is coupled to the at least one light-emitting element and the angle sensor, the controller further configured to adjust the intensity of light energy emitted based on the angle.