Surgical instrument with wireless communication between control unit and sensor transponders

Abstract

A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument, comprising, according to various embodiments, an end effector comprising at least one sensor transponder. The surgical instrument also comprises a shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector and a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft. The handle comprises a control unit in communication with the sensor transponder via at least one inductive coupling. The surgical instrument may be a power-assist motorized device including a battery for powering (at least partially) the surgical instrument during use. The surgical instrument may be adapted to provide user feedback regarding the load being experienced by the end effector.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.