Monitoring of multiple sensors over time to detect moving characteristics of tissue
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Jason L. Harris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a wireless transmission system for transmitting at least one of power and a data signal through between an end effector and an instrument housing of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes the sensor monitoring and processing circuit.
Claims20
An end effector for a surgical instrument, the end effector comprising:
- a cartridge;
- a movable clamp jaw pivotally coupled to the cartridge;
- the cartridge comprising:
- a plurality of sensors disposed longitudinally and laterally on the cartridge, the plurality of sensors configured to sense a property of tissue clamped between the cartridge and the movable clamp jaw of the end effector;
- a sensors circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors;
- a first coil configured to inductively couple electrical power to the cartridge through near field communication, the first coil electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors and the sensors circuit;
- and
- a second coil configured to inductively couple to a sensor monitoring and processing circuit through near field communication, wherein the sensor monitoring and processing circuit is located in a housing of a surgical instrument separate from the end effector;
- wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged and configured to sense movement of tissue relative to each of the plurality of sensors based on a sensed property of the tissue.
A method of monitoring a plurality of sensors located in an end effector of a surgical instrument, the end effector including a cartridge, a movable clamp jaw pivotally coupled to the cartridge, the cartridge including a plurality of sensors disposed longitudinally and laterally on the cartridge, the plurality of sensors configured to sense a property of tissue clamped between the cartridge and the movable clamp jaw of the end effector, the end effector coupled to a control circuit, the method comprising:
- sensing, by at least two of the plurality of sensors, a property of tissue disposed in the end effector of the surgical instrument;
- monitoring, by the control circuit, the sensed property of tissue over time;
- determining, by the control circuit, movement of the tissue relative to the at least two of the plurality of sensors based on the sensed property of the tissue;
- and
- selecting, by the control circuit, a function of the surgical instrument based on the sensed movement of the tissue.
A method of monitoring a plurality of sensors located in an end effector of a surgical instrument, the end effector including a cartridge, a movable clamp jaw pivotally coupled to the cartridge, the cartridge including a plurality of sensors disposed longitudinally and laterally on the cartridge, the plurality of sensors configured to sense a property of tissue clamped between the cartridge and the movable clamp jaw of the end effector, the end effector coupled to a control circuit, the method comprising:
- monitoring, by the control circuit, the movable clamp jaw closing on tissue disposed between the movable clamp jaw and the cartridge;
- monitoring, by the control circuit, each of the plurality of sensors for a tissue property during the movable clamp jaw closing period;
- and
- determining, by the control circuit, heterogeneous regions of the monitored tissue property, wherein the heterogeneous regions define distinct changes in the tissue that mark a baseline location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.