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US 11,324,557 B2Granted
Surgical instrument with a sensing array
AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Michael J. Vendely, Jason L. Harris, Gregory J. Bakos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a shaft, a sensing array and a fluid detection circuit. The sensing array is positioned within the shaft. The fluid detection circuit is electrically coupled to the sensing array, and is configured to determine when a fluid originating from an environment external to the shaft is present within the shaft.
Claims16
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft;
- electrical components positioned within the shaft, wherein a performance of the electrical components is adversely affected when the electrical components are exposed to a fluid contaminant;
- a sensing array positioned within the shaft;
- and
- a detection circuit electrically coupled to the sensing array, wherein the detection circuit is configured to determine when a fluid originating from an environment external to the shaft is present within the shaft.
2 more elements
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a sensing array positioned within the shaft;
- a detection circuit electrically coupled to the sensing array, wherein the detection circuit is configured to determine when a fluid originating from an environment external to the shaft is present within the shaft;
- and
- an absorption material positioned within the shaft.
2 more elements
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft;
- electrical components positioned within the shaft, wherein an operation of the electrical components is adversely affected when the electrical components are exposed to a fluid contaminant;
- a sensor circuit positioned within the shaft;
- a detection circuit in communication with the sensor circuit, wherein the detection circuit is configured to determine when a fluid originating from an environment external to the shaft is present within the shaft;
- and
- a control circuit in communication with the detection circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust an operation of the surgical instrument based on a signal from the detection circuit.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.