Prevention of cartridge reuse in a surgical instrument
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, James R. Giordano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a control unit and a staple cartridge including a transponder. The control unit is configured to transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and to receive a second wireless signal from the transponder to determine one of a first electronic state and a second electronic state of the transponder based on the second wireless signal.
Claims31
A surgical instrument comprising:
- a staple cartridge comprising a transponder;
- and
- a control unit to transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and to receive a second wireless signal from the transponder to determine one of a first electronic state and a second electronic state of the transponder based on the second wireless signal.
A staple cartridge for use in a surgical instrument, the staple cartridge comprising a transponder transitionable from a first electronic state to a second electronic state, wherein the first electronic state is indicative of an unfired state of the staple cartridge and wherein the second electronic state is indicative of a fired state of the staple cartridge.
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector to receive a staple cartridge;
- and
- a control unit to transmit a first wireless signal to a transponder disposed within the staple cartridge and to receive a second wireless signal from the transponder to determine one of a first electronic state and a second electronic state of the transponder based on the second wireless signal.
A method of preventing reuse of a staple cartridge in a surgical instrument, the method comprising:
- transmitting a first wireless signal to a transponder disposed within the staple cartridge;
- receiving a second wireless signal from the transponder to determine one of a first electronic state and a second electronic state of the transponder based on the second wireless signal;
- enabling actuation of a cutting instrument of the surgical instrument when the first electronic state is determined;
- and
- transitioning the transponder from the first electronic state to the second electronic state substantially simultaneously with an actuation of the cutting instrument.
A method of processing a surgical instrument, comprising:
- obtaining the surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
- an end effector to receive a staple cartridge;
- and
- a control unit to transmit a first wireless signal to a transponder disposed within the staple cartridge and to receive a second wireless signal from the transponder to determine one of a first electronic state and a second electronic state of the transponder based on the second wireless signal;
- sterilizing the surgical instrument;
- and
- storing the surgical instrument in a sterile container.
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector comprising a moveable cutting instrument to cut an object;
- a motor coupled to the end effector to actuate the cutting instrument, each actuation of the cutting instrument corresponding to a firing operation by the surgical instrument;
- and
- a control unit to count a number of firing operations by the surgical instrument and to electronically alter at least one component of the surgical instrument when the number of firing operations is equal to a predetermined number, wherein the altered at least one component prevents firing operations by the surgical instrument in excess of the predetermined number.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.