Surgical cutting and fastening instrument with apparatus for determining cartridge and firing motion status
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsJerome R. Morgan, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Sensor arrangements for determining the position of a firing element in an end effector of a surgical instrument. In various forms, the sensor arrangement comprises a resistive element supported in the end effector. As the firing element translates within the end effector, it movingly contacts the resistive element to generate signals indicative of the firing element position. In other arrangements, the sensor can detect the status or presence of a staple cartridge in the end effector. The sensor arrangement can communicate with a memory device, processor and indicator.
Claims20
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a surgical end effector, comprising:
- an elongate channel having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a firing element configured to selectively translate between said proximal end of said elongate channel and said distal end of said elongate channel upon application of a driving motion thereto;
- a resistive member supported for moving contact by said firing element as said firing element is driven from said proximal end to said distal end of said elongate channel such that said resistive member generates output signals indicative of positions of said firing element within said elongate channel;
- and
- a memory device operably communicating with said resistive member and configured to record said output signals as said firing element translates through said elongate channel.
A staple cartridge for use in connection with a surgical instrument, said staple cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body configured to be operably supported by the surgical instrument such that a firing element of the surgical instrument may longitudinally translate through said cartridge body upon application of a driving motion thereto;
- and
- a resistive member supported on said cartridge body for moving contact by the firing element as the firing element is translated therethrough, said resistive member configured to operably communicate output signals indicative of positions of the firing element within said cartridge body to a memory portion of the surgical instrument.
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a robotic system comprising a processor;
- and
- a surgical end effector operably interfacing with said robotic system to receive drive motions therefrom, said surgical end effector comprising:
- an elongate channel having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a firing element configured to selectively translate between said proximal end of said elongate channel and said distal end of said elongate channel upon application of a driving motion thereto from said robotic system;
- and
- a resistive member supported for moving contact by said firing element as said firing element is driven from said proximal end to said distal end of said elongate channel such that said resistive member generates output signals indicative of positions of said firing element within said elongate channel and communicates said output signals to said processor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.