# US 2025/0143699 A1 · Intelligent anvil insert for linear surgical stapler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0143699 A1 - Document ID: US20250143699A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/500,693 - Filed: 2023-11-02 - Published: 2025-05-08 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-02 - Assignees: Cilag GmbH International - Applicants: Cilag GmbH International - Inventors: Brian D. Schings - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250143699A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 90/92: coded with colour - A61B 2017/00022: {Sensing or detecting at the treatment site} - A61B 2017/00119: {alarm; indicating an abnormal situation} - A61B 2017/00221: {with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves} - A61B 2017/0023: {disposable} - A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated} - A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2017/07285: {characterised by its cutter} - A61B 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical stapler includes an elongate cartridge channel, an anvil assembly, a clamp member and a deflection sensor. The elongate cartridge channel includes a proximal frame portion and a distal jaw portion. The distal jaw portion is configured to releasably receive a staple cartridge. The anvil assembly includes an elongate anvil channel and an anvil insert. The elongate anvil channel includes a proximal frame portion and a distal jaw portion. The anvil insert is disposed at the distal jaw portion. The deflection sensor is associated with the anvil assembly and is configured to detect deflection of the anvil assembly to facilitate generation of a notification as a function of the detected deflection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: (a) an elongate cartridge channel comprising a proximal frame portion and a cartridge distal jaw portion, the cartridge distal jaw portion being configured to releasably receive a staple cartridge; (b) an anvil assembly comprising an elongate anvil channel and an anvil insert, the elongate anvil channel comprising a proximal frame portion and an anvil distal jaw portion and the anvil insert being disposed at the anvil distal jaw portion; (c) a clamp member pivotally coupled to the elongate cartridge channel and pivotable between a released position and an actuated position, wherein pivoting of the clamp member from the released position to the actuated position facilitates clamping of patient tissue between the anvil assembly and the elongate cartridge channel; and (d) a deflection sensor associated with the anvil assembly and configured to detect deflection of the anvil assembly to facilitate generation of a notification as a function of the detected deflection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deflection sensor is coupled with the anvil insert. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the deflection sensor is embedded in the anvil insert. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the deflection sensor comprises one of a strain gage, a load cell, or a Hall-effect sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the anvil assembly comprises a power module that is configured to power the deflection sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the power module comprises a battery. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the battery is coupled with the anvil insert. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deflection sensor is configured to facilitate generation of a notification when the detected deflection exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicator that is configured to generate the notification. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indicator comprises one or more of a light and a speaker. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indicator is coupled with the anvil insert. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the elongate anvil channel defines an aperture that is substantially aligned with the indicator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: (i) the clamp member comprises a pair of opposed jaws that extend distally from a distal end of the clamp member, (ii) each of the opposed jaws defines a curved slot, and (iii) pivoting of clamp member from the released position to the actuated position facilitates capturing of a pair of latch pins of the elongate anvil channel within the opposed jaws to facilitate clamping of the anvil assembly against the elongate cartridge channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a gap spacing pin that extends from the elongate cartridge channel towards the anvil assembly, wherein the gap spacing pin is configured to space the anvil assembly and the elongate cartridge channel from each other by a predetermined distance when the anvil assembly is clamped against the elongate cartridge channel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate anvil channel is configured to interact with staples from the staple cartridge, and the anvil insert defines a slot that is configured to accommodate a knife. ### Claim 16 An apparatus, comprising: (a) an elongate cartridge channel comprising a proximal frame portion and a cartridge distal jaw portion, the cartridge distal jaw portion being configured to releasably receive a staple cartridge; (b) an anvil assembly comprising an elongate anvil channel and an anvil insert, the elongate anvil channel comprising a proximal frame portion and an anvil distal jaw portion and the anvil insert being disposed at the anvil distal jaw portion; (c) a clamp member pivotally coupled to the elongate cartridge channel and pivotable between a released position and an actuated position, wherein pivoting of the clamp member from the released position to the actuated position facilitates clamping of patient tissue between the anvil assembly and the elongate cartridge channel; (d) a strain gage embedded in the anvil insert and configured to detect deflection of the anvil insert; (e) an indicator coupled with the anvil insert and configured to generate a notification as a function of the detected deflection; and (f) a battery coupled with the anvil insert and configured to power the strain gage and the indicator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the indicator is configured to generate a notification when the detected deflection exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the indicator comprises one or more of a light and a speaker. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the elongate anvil channel defines an aperture that is substantially aligned with the indicator. ### Claim 20 An anvil insert for a linear surgical stapler, the anvil insert comprising: (a) an elongate main body that defines an elongate slot for accommodating a knife; (b) a tip disposed at a distal end of the elongate main body; (c) a deflection sensor coupled with the elongate main body and configured to detect deflection of the elongate main body; (d) an indicator coupled with the tip and configured to generate a notification when the detected deflection exceeds a threshold value; and (e) a battery coupled with the anvil insert and configured to power the deflection sensor and the indicator.