Compression and Firing Force Sensor for Circular Surgical Stapler

A surgical instrument comprising:

• (a) a handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly includes a casing;
• (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly, wherein the shaft assembly includes an outer sheath, a trocar actuation rod, and a trocar actuation connecting assembly;
• (c) a stapling head assembly extending distally from the shaft assembly, wherein the stapling head assembly comprises:
• (i) a body member,
• (ii) a deck member that includes an annular array of staple openings, and
• (iii) a trocar;
• (d) an anvil that includes a head and a shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to be selectively coupled with the trocar to compress tissue;
• (e) an actuator that is configured to translate the trocar relative to the handle assembly;
• and
• (f) a force sensing assembly, wherein the force sensing assembly comprises:
• (i) a compression force sensor configured to sense compression force communicated longitudinally through the surgical instrument, wherein the compression force sensor is positioned between:
• (1) the deck member and the body member,
• (2) the body member and the outer sheath,
• (3) the outer sheath and the casing, or
• (4) the casing and the actuator, or
• (ii) a tension force sensor coupled with at least one of the trocar actuation rod, the trocar actuation connecting assembly, the trocar, or the shaft of the anvil, wherein the tension force sensor is configured to sense tension force communicated longitudinally through the shaft assembly, the trocar, or the anvil.

A method of using a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising a housing assembly comprising first and second housings that are disposed adjacent one another, and a deck surface that includes at least one annular array of staple openings, a movable member at least partially disposed within the housing assembly, an anvil configured to be selectively coupled with the movable member, and at least one of a compression force sensor or a tension force sensor, the method comprising:

• (a) compressing tissue between the anvil and the deck surface;
• (b) firing the surgical instrument to drive staples through the tissue;
• (c) measuring at least one of:
• (i) a compression force communicated longitudinally between the first and second housings while at least one of compressing tissue between the anvil and the deck surface or firing the surgical instrument, using a compression force sensor disposed between the first and second housings, or
• (ii) a tension force communicated longitudinally through the movable member while at least one of compressing the tissue between the anvil and the deck surface or firing the surgical instrument, using a tension force sensor coupled with the movable member;
• and
• (d) based on at least one of the compression force or the tension force, determining at least one of:
• (i) a force with which the surgical instrument compresses tissue disposed between the deck surface and the anvil at a time prior to firing of the surgical instrument, or
• (ii) a force with which a firing assembly of the surgical instrument is actuated to fire the surgical instrument on the compressed tissue.