# US 12,178,664 B2 · Compression force sensor for a handheld electromechanical surgical system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,664 B2 - Document ID: US12178664B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/345,054 - Filed: 2023-06-30 - Published: 2023-10-26 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-09 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: David A. Nicholas; Brian L. Holden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178664B2 ## CPC - A61B 90/06: {Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for} - A61B 17/1155: {Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples} - A61B 2017/0003: {of parts of the instruments} - A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output} - A61B 2017/00199: {with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated} - A61B 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension} - A61B 2090/065: {for measuring contact or contact pressure} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical device includes a tool assembly and a handle assembly. The tool assembly includes a distal portion including a plurality of staples and an anvil assembly movable relative to the distal portion from an open position to a clamped position. The handle assembly includes an approximation mechanism coupled to the anvil assembly and configured to move the anvil assembly from the open position to the clamped position, a force sensor disposed at a distal end of the surgical device, and a controller. The force sensor is configured to sense a change in resistance indicating a force imparted on compressed tissue and on the approximation mechanism. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a force measured by the force sensor and provide an indication of the sensed force. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical device comprising: a tool assembly having an anvil and a staple cartridge; an approximation mechanism configured to approximate the anvil toward the staple cartridge; a force sensor in contact with the approximation mechanism, the force sensor including: a substrate having a conductive trace disposed on a surface of the substrate; and a conductive material disposed over the conductive trace, wherein the force sensor is configured to output a signal corresponding to a force imparted by the approximation mechanism; and a controller configured to: receive the signal; and provide an indication of the force based on the signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the indication of the force includes at least one of visual feedback, haptic feedback, or audible feedback based on the force. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the force sensor is a force sensitive resistor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive trace includes an interdigitated pattern. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material includes a conductive sheet or a conductive ink. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material includes conductive and non-conductive particles suspended in a matrix. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical device according to claim 1, further comprising a display, wherein the controller is further configured to output the indication of the force to the display. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine whether the force is within a force range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The surgical device according to claim 8, wherein the indication of the force indicates whether the force is within the force range. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The surgical device according to claim 9, further including at least one multicolor LED configured to output a light corresponding to the indication. ### Claim 11 A method for measuring force imparted by a surgical device, the method comprising: sensing a force imparted by an approximation mechanism configured to actuate a tool assembly by a force sensor disposed in the surgical device and in contact with the approximation mechanism, the force sensor including: a substrate having a conductive trace disposed on a surface of the substrate; and a conductive material disposed over the conductive trace, wherein the force sensor is configured to output a signal corresponding to the force; and providing an indication of the force. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising outputting the indication of the force on a display. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising: determining whether the force is within a force range. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein providing the indication of the force includes indicating whether the force is within the force range. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the indication of the force includes at least one of visual feedback, haptic feedback, or audible feedback. ### Claim 16 A force sensor configured to sense a change in resistance indicating a force imparted on an approximation mechanism, the force sensor comprising: a substrate; a conductive trace disposed on the substrate; and a conductive material disposed on the conductive trace. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The force sensor according to claim 16, wherein the conductive trace includes an interdigitated pattern. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The force sensor according to claim 16, wherein the conductive material includes at least one of a conductive sheet or a conductive ink. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The force sensor according to claim 16, wherein the conductive material includes a plurality of conductive particles and a plurality of non-conductive particles suspended in a matrix. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The force sensor according to claim 16, wherein the substrate is substantially circular.