Identification device for surgical instrument
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsAnthony A. Boiarski, Mark T. Byrne, Warren P. Williamson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device is provided for identifying certain characteristics of an end piece or end effector of a surgical instrument. A preferred embodiment provides a surgical stapling instrument having an electrical circuit contained on the stapling cartridge which is capable of indicating cartridge type and/or status (i.e., with or without staples) when a voltage or current is applied to the circuit.
Claims22
An surgical fastening instrument having an end effector comprising:
- first and second jaw members for engaging and fastening tissue;
- said first jaw member comprising a removable cartridge containing surgical fastening means;
- and a cartridge channel, said end effector having an electrical identification device for identifying cartridge type, wherein said identification device comprises an impedance element having a measurable, predetermined electrical characteristic.
A removable cartridge for a surgical stapling instrument comprising an electrical identification device for identifying cartridge type wherein said identification device comprises an impedance element having a measurable, predetermined electrical characteristic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.