Staple cartridge comprising an information access control system
AssigneeCilag GmbH International
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Morgan R. Hunter, Patrick L. Creamer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A staple cartridge is disclosed, for use with a surgical instrument, having a cartridge body including a proximal end, a distal end, and staple cavities, staples removably stored in said staple cavities, a sled movable toward said distal end during a staple firing stroke to eject said staples from said staple cavities, a sensor configured to detect the position of said sled; a cartridge control circuit in communication with said sensor; and at least one memory device in communication with said cartridge control circuit, wherein said cartridge control circuit is configured to store data in said at least one memory device regarding operation of the staple cartridge.
Claims20
A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument, comprising:
- a cartridge body including a proximal end, a distal end, and staple cavities;
- staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
- a sled movable toward said distal end during a staple firing stroke to eject said staples from said staple cavities;
- a sensor configured to detect the position of said sled;
- a cartridge control circuit in communication with said sensor;
- and
- at least one memory device in communication with said cartridge control circuit, wherein said cartridge control circuit is configured to store data in said at least one memory device regarding operation of the staple cartridge, including:
- at least one datum indicating whether said staple firing stroke has been performed;
- at least one datum regarding the time and date in which said staple firing stroke was performed;
- at least one datum regarding said surgical instrument used to fire said staple cartridge;
- and
- at least one datum regarding when said at least one memory device has been accessed by a device external to said surgical instrument.
A stapling system, comprising:
- a stapling instrument;
- a staple cartridge for use with said stapling instrument, comprising:
- a cartridge body including a proximal end, a distal end, and staple cavities;
- staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
- a sled movable toward said distal end during a staple firing stroke to eject said staples from said staple cavities;
- a sensor configured to detect the position of said sled;
- a cartridge control circuit in communication with said sensor;
- and
- at least one memory device in communication with said cartridge control circuit, wherein said cartridge control circuit is configured to store data in said at least one memory device regarding operation of the staple cartridge, including:
- at least one datum indicating whether said staple firing stroke has been performed;
- at least one datum regarding the time and date in which said staple firing stroke was performed;
- at least one datum regarding said surgical instrument used to fire said staple cartridge;
- and
- at least one datum regarding when said at least one memory device has been accessed by a device external to said surgical instrument.
A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument, comprising:
- a cartridge body including a proximal end, a distal end, and staple cavities;
- staples removably stored in said staple cavities;
- a sled movable toward said distal end during a staple firing stroke to eject said staples from said staple cavities;
- a sensor configured to detect the position of said sled;
- a cartridge control circuit in communication with said sensor;
- and
- at least one memory device in communication with said cartridge control circuit, wherein said cartridge control circuit is configured to store data in said at least one memory device regarding operation of the staple cartridge, and
- wherein said cartridge control circuit further includes a processor configured to encrypt said data stored in said at least one memory device, wherein said processor is configured decrypt said data when said processor is provided with a decryption key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.