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US 11,660,089 B2Granted
Surgical instrument comprising a sensing system
AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Shane R. Adams, Nicholas J. Ross, Jason L. Harris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical instrument comprising a sensing system is disclosed.
Claims22
A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:
- a shaft;
- and
- an end effector extending from said shaft, wherein said end effector comprises:
- a first jaw;
- a second jaw movable relative to said first jaw;
- an anvil;
- a staple cartridge channel comprising a channel sidewall;
- a replaceable staple cartridge removably positioned within said staple cartridge channel, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises:
- a cartridge body;
- staple cavities defined in said cartridge body;
- staples removably stored within said staple cavities;
- staple drivers positioned within said staple cavities configured to progressively eject said staples from said staple cavities;
- and
- a longitudinal slot;
- and
- a firing member configured to be advanced distally through said replaceable staple cartridge to engage said staple drivers during a staple firing stroke;
- a plurality of pressure sensors positioned between said replaceable staple cartridge and said staple cartridge channel configured to detect clamping pressure within said end effector;
- and
- a flex circuit coupled to said plurality of pressure sensors, wherein said flex circuit is positioned on at least a portion of said channel sidewall.
16 more elements
A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:
- a shaft;
- a drive member movable within said shaft, wherein said drive member comprises a discontinuity portion;
- and
- a flex circuit positioned within said shaft and coupled to a surgical control circuit, wherein said flex circuit comprises an integrated strain gauge mounted on said drive member within said discontinuity portion, wherein said surgical control circuit is configured to determine a load experienced by said drive member by way of said integrated strain gauge.
1 more element
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a shaft comprising a frame, wherein said frame comprises a discontinuity portion;
- a drive member movable within said shaft;
- and
- a flex circuit positioned within said shaft and coupled to a control circuit, wherein said flex circuit comprises an integrated strain gauge mounted on said frame within said discontinuity portion, wherein said control circuit is configured to determine a load experienced by said shaft by way of said integrated strain gauge.
1 more element
A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:
- an end effector, comprising:
- a first jaw;
- a second jaw comprising a channel, wherein said channel comprises a channel sidewall;
- a replaceable staple cartridge removably positioned within said channel, wherein said replaceable staple cartridge comprises:
- a cartridge body;
- staple cavities defined in said cartridge body;
- staples removably stored within said staple cavities;
- and
- a longitudinal slot;
- and
- a firing member configured to be advanced distally through said replaceable staple cartridge to deploy said staples during a staple firing stroke;
- a plurality of pressure sensors positioned between said replaceable staple cartridge and said channel configured to detect clamping pressure within said end effector;
- and
- a flex circuit coupled to said plurality of pressure sensors, wherein said flex circuit is positioned on at least a portion of said channel sidewall.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.