Surgical instruments, systems, and methods with optical sensors
AssigneeGlobus Medical, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Nelsen, Michael Serra
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Medical or surgical devices, instruments, systems, and methods for use in optically sensing loads acting on a patient's anatomy may include a surgical device or instrument configured for insertion to a surgical site and an interrogator coupled to the surgical device or instrument via an optical fiber having a sensing area at a location of the surgical device or instrument at which a load is to be sensed. The measured load may be used as being indicative of a load acting on a patient's anatomy. Such measured or determined load may be used to make decisions before, during, or after a patient procedure.
Claims20
A method for performing surgery, comprising:
- positioning a surgical device proximate a surgical site, the surgical device including:
- a tissue contacting component having a first portion, wherein the first portion is responsive to forces acting on the tissue contacting component;
- and
- an optical fiber disposed along the first portion of the tissue contacting component, wherein the optical fiber is configured to deform in response to loads acting on the tissue contacting component;
- coupling an interrogator to the optical fiber;
- sensing, via the interrogator, light reflected through the optical fiber;
- translating, via the interrogator, the sensed light into electrical signals,
- wherein the electrical signals are indicative of loads acting on the tissue contacting component of the surgical device.
A method for performing surgery, comprising:
- providing a pressure sensing surgical device, including:
- a component configured to be adjusted at or near a surgical site, the component has a tissue contacting surface;
- an optical fiber extending adjacent to or through the component;
- and
- a sensing portion of the optical fiber;
- deforming the sensing portion of the optical fiber being in response to loads acting on the tissue contacting surface caused by adjustment of the component.
A method comprising:
- positioning a surgical device proximate a surgical site;
- detecting, with an interrogator, light reflected through an optical fiber extending along the surgical device;
- and
- determining a load that is applied to tissue at or adjacent the surgical site by the surgical device based on the light reflected through the optical fiber that is detected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.