System and method for real-time tissue perfusion assessment during clamping

A surgical stapler comprising:

• an annular reload including a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples;
• an anvil movable relative to the annular reload and configured to compress tissue therebetween;
• a knife disposed within the annular reload configured to cut the tissue;
• a spectroscopy assembly disposed within the staple cartridge and including a plurality of light sources and a plurality of photodetectors interspersed among the plurality of light sources;
• and
• a handle assembly including:
• a motor configured to move the anvil;
• and
• a controller coupled to the spectroscopy assembly, the controller configured to:
• activate the motor during a first phase of clamping to move the anvil to clamp tissue between the anvil and the staple cartridge;
• activate the plurality of light sources to irradiate the tissue contacting the staple cartridge with light;
• receive signals from the plurality of photodetectors based on reflected light detected by the plurality of photodetectors;
• measure an oxygen saturation value in the tissue based on the signals;
• compare the oxygen saturation value to a first oxygen saturation range;
• output a first message indicating inadequate blood flow if the oxygen saturation value is outside the first oxygen saturation range;
• and
• activate the motor during a second phase of the clamping to move the anvil to further clamp the tissue between the anvil and the staple cartridge if the oxygen saturation value is within the first oxygen saturation range.

A method for real-time tissue perfusion assessment during a clamping procedure using a powered surgical stapler including a motor, a staple cartridge having a plurality of staples, and an anvil movable by the motor relative to the staple cartridge, the method comprising:

• activating the motor during a first phase of clamping to move the anvil to clamp tissue between the anvil and the staple cartridge;
• measuring an oxygen saturation value in the tissue using a spectroscopy assembly disposed in the staple cartridge;
• comparing the oxygen saturation value to a first oxygen saturation range;
• outputting a first message indicating inadequate blood flow if the oxygen saturation value is outside the first oxygen saturation range;
• and
• activating the motor during a second phase of the clamping to move the anvil to further clamp the tissue between the anvil and the staple cartridge if the oxygen saturation value is within the first oxygen saturation range.