Interface systems for use with surgical instruments
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsMark D. Overmyer, Brett E. Swensgard, Shane R. Adams, Thomas W. Lytle, IV, Richard L. Leimbach, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin L. Houser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical instrument for use by an operator in a surgical procedure includes an elongate shaft, an end effector extending from the elongate shaft, and a control system. The end effector is articulatable relative to the elongate shaft between a home state position and an articulated position. The control system includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor to store program instructions. The processor can alert the operator when the end effector reaches the home state position from the articulated position.
Claims27
A surgical instrument for use by an operator in a surgical procedure, said surgical instrument comprising:
- an interface comprising a control;
- and
- an indicator system, comprising:
- an indicator associated with said control;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled to said processor to store program instructions which, when executed from said memory, cause said processor to activate said indicator in response to an availability of said control in the surgical procedure to alert the operator to operate said control.
A surgical instrument for use by an operator in a surgical procedure, said surgical instrument comprising:
- an interface operable by the operator in a step of operation of said surgical instrument, wherein said interface comprises a control;
- and
- an indicator system, comprising:
- an indicator associated with said control;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled to said processor to store program instructions which, when executed from said memory, cause said processor to toggle said indicator between a first indicator configuration and a second indicator configuration, wherein said processor is configured to set said indicator to said first indicator configuration if said control is available for use by the operator in said step, and wherein said processor is configured to set said indicator to said second indicator configuration if said control is unavailable for use by the operator in said step.
A surgical indication system, comprising:
- an operator interface comprising a control actuatable by an operator in a step of an operation of a surgical device;
- an indicator associated with said control;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled to said processor to store program instructions which, when executed from said memory, cause said processor to activate said indicator in response to an availability of said control in the step of the operation to alert the operator to operate said control.
A surgical indication system, comprising:
- an operator interface comprising a control actuatable by an operator in a step of an operation of a surgical device;
- an indicator associated with said control;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled to said processor to store program instructions which, when executed from said memory, cause said processor to:
- activate said indicator to alert the operator to operate said control;
- and
- toggle said indicator between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein said processor is configured to set said indicator to said first configuration if said control is available for use by the operator in said step, and wherein said processor is configured to set said indicator to said second configuration if said control is unavailable for use by the operator in said step.
A surgical instrument system comprising:
- an operator interface comprising a control;
- a sensor configured to detect an availability of said control;
- an indicator associated with said control;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled to said processor to store program instructions which, when executed from said memory, cause said processor to activate said indicator to alert the operator to the availability of said control.
A surgical indication system, comprising:
- an operator interface comprising a control;
- a sensor configured to detect an availability of said control;
- an indicator associated with said control, wherein said indicator is configurable in at least two configurations;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory coupled to said processor to store program instructions which, when executed from said memory, cause said processor to:
- configure said indicator in a first configuration to alert an operator to the availability of said control;
- and
- configure said indicator in a second configuration to alert the operator to an unavailability of said control.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.