# US 10,945,616 B2 · Blood pressure measuring surgical instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,616 B2 - Document ID: US10945616B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/954,538 - Filed: 2018-04-16 - Published: 2018-11-15 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-12 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Justin Williams; Patrick Mozdzierz; Matthew Eschbach - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945616B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/02233: {Occluders specially adapted therefor (tourniquets A61B17/132)} - A61B 5/0215: by means inserted into the body - A61B 5/02225: {using the oscillometric method} - A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery - A61B 90/06: {Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for} - A61B 5/0261: {using optical means, e.g. infrared light} - A61B 5/6847: {mounted on an invasive device} - A61B 7/04: Electric stethoscopes - A61B 17/1114: {of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus} - A61B 17/115: Staplers for performing anastomosis, e.g. in a single operation - A61B 2017/00022: {Sensing or detecting at the treatment site} - A61B 2017/00057: {Light} - A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output} - A61B 2017/00557: {inflatable (A61B2017/22051 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/2926: {Details of heads or jaws} - A61B 2017/2932: {Transmission of forces to jaw members} - A61B 2090/065: {for measuring contact or contact pressure} - A61B 2562/168: Fluid filled sensor housings - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An end effector for determining blood pressure includes a jaw member including a jaw body, a piston coupled to the jaw body and configured to move relative to the jaw body, an inflatable member coupled to the piston, and a pressure sensor associated with the inflatable member. The piston is configured to apply pressure to tissue grasped by the end effector. The pressure sensor is configured to detect pressure fluctuations caused by blood flowing through the grasped tissue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An end effector for determining blood pressure, comprising: a pair of jaw members, a first jaw member of the pair of jaw members including: a jaw body; a piston coupled to the jaw body and configured to move relative to the jaw body to apply pressure to tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members; a first inflatable member coupled to the piston; a first pressure sensor associated with the first inflatable member, the first pressure sensor configured to detect pressure fluctuations caused by blood flowing through tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members; and a second inflatable member disposed adjacent the piston such that the second inflatable member moves the piston and the first inflatable member upon being inflated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure sensor is further configured to determine a pressure within the first inflatable member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw member further includes a second pressure sensor associated with the second inflatable member, the second pressure sensor configured to determine a pressure within the second inflatable member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure sensor has a first portion in communication with an interior of the first inflatable member, and a second portion in communication with an interior of the second inflatable member, the second portion of the first pressure sensor being configured to determine a pressure within the second inflatable member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the piston has an elongated configuration and defines a hole having the first inflatable member captured therein. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the first jaw member further includes a housing fixed within the jaw body, the housing defining an opening having the piston movably disposed therein. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The end effector according to claim 1, wherein the piston is configured to move relative to the jaw body between a first position and at least one second condition, in which the piston protrudes a greater distance relative to the jaw body than in the first position. ### Claim 8 A surgical instrument for determining blood pressure, comprising: a handle portion; a shaft coupled to the handle portion; and a pair of jaw members operably coupled to the shaft, a first jaw member of the pair of jaw members including: a jaw body; a piston coupled to the jaw body and configured to move relative to the jaw body to apply pressure on tissue disposed between the pair of jaw member; a first inflatable member coupled to the piston, wherein the piston defines a hole having the first inflatable member disposed therein; and a first pressure sensor associated with the first inflatable member, the first pressure sensor configured to detect pressure fluctuations caused by blood flowing through tissue disposed between the pair of jaw members. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the first pressure sensor is further configured to determine a pressure within the first inflatable member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the first jaw member further includes a second inflatable member disposed adjacent the piston such that the second inflatable member moves the piston and the first inflatable member upon being inflated with an inflation medium. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the first jaw member further includes a second pressure sensor associated with the second inflatable member, the second pressure sensor being configured to determine a pressure within the second inflatable member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the first pressure sensor has a first portion in communication with an interior of the first inflatable member, and a second portion in communication with an interior of the second inflatable member, the second portion of the first pressure sensor being configured to determine a pressure within the second inflatable member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the piston is coupled to the second inflatable member such that the piston moves away from the jaw body in response to an expansion of the second inflatable member and the piston moves toward the jaw body in response to a contraction of the second inflatable member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The surgical instrument according to claim 8, further comprising a processor in communication with the first pressure sensor, the processor being configured to calculate a blood pressure of tissue grasped by the pair of jaw members based on the pressure fluctuations detected by the first pressure sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the first jaw member further includes a housing fixed within the jaw body, the housing defining an opening having the piston movably disposed therein. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the piston is configured to move relative to the jaw body between a first position and at least one second condition, in which the piston projects a greater distance relative to the jaw body than in the first position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the surgical instrument is laparoscopic, and the pair of jaw members are movable relative to one another between spaced and approximated positions in response to an actuation of the handle portion. ### Claim 18 A method of determining local blood pressure, comprising: positioning tissue between a pair of jaw members of a surgical instrument; moving a piston having a first inflatable member associated therewith relative to a jaw body of a first jaw member of the pair of jaw members, thereby applying pressure on the tissue with at least one of the piston or the first inflatable member; measuring pressure fluctuations in the first inflatable member with a first pressure sensor associated with the first inflatable member; and determining, using the measured pressure fluctuations, the local blood pressure of the tissue, wherein the piston is moved by expanding a second inflatable member of the first jaw member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, further comprising determining a pressure within the second inflatable member as the piston is being moved, wherein the local blood pressure of the tissue is determined using both the measured pressure fluctuations in the first inflatable member and the measured pressure within the second inflatable member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, further comprising moving the piston and the first inflatable member toward the jaw body to reduce the applied pressure on the tissue, wherein the first pressure sensor measures the pressure fluctuations as the pressure applied on the tissue is reduced. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, further comprising contracting the second inflatable member to move the piston and the first inflatable member toward the jaw body, thereby reducing the pressure applied on the tissue by the piston.