Device and method for controlling compression of tissue
AssigneeTyco Healthcare Group LP
InventorsMichael P. Whitman, Donald Malinouskas, David A. Zeichner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and device for controlling the compression of tissue include clamping tissue between a first clamping member and a second clamping member by driving at least one of the clamping members with an electric motor toward a predetermined tissue gap between the clamping members and, during the clamping, monitoring a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping members. The method and device include, during the clamping, controlling the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force to a predetermined maximum limit.
Claims19
A surgical device, comprising:
- a first clamping member;
- a second clamping member;
- an electric motor configured to drive at least one of the first and second clamping members toward a predetermined tissue gap between the clamping members;
- and
- a control unit configured to monitor the electric motor and to control the motor to limit a clamping force exerted on the tissue by the clamping members in response to monitoring of the electric motor.
A surgical device, comprising:
- a clamping mechanism configured to clamp tissue;
- an electric motor configured to drive the clamping mechanism;
- and
- a control unit configured to monitor a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping mechanism and to control the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force.
A method for controlling a surgical device, the method comprising the steps of:
- energizing an electric motor coupled to a clamping mechanism to drive the clamping mechanism to clamp tissue;
- monitoring a parameter of the electric motor indicative of a clamping force exerted to the tissue by the clamping mechanism;
- and
- controlling the electric motor, based on the monitored parameter, to limit the clamping force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.