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US 7,721,931 B2Granted
Prevention of cartridge reuse in a surgical instrument
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, James R. Giordano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a control unit and a staple cartridge including a transponder. The control unit is configured to transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and to receive a second wireless signal from the transponder to determine one of a first electronic state and a second electronic state of the transponder based on the second wireless signal.
Claims18
A surgical instrument comprising:
- an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge comprising a transponder;
- and
- a control unit disposed in a handle coupled to the end effector, the control unit comprising an inductive element to transmit and receive wireless signals, the control unit to:
- transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and determine an electronic state of the transponder based on receipt or non-receipt of a second wireless signal from the transponder by the control unit in response to the transmission of the first wireless signal, wherein a first electronic state of the transponder corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge, and wherein a second electronic state of the transponder corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge;
- enable actuation of a cutting instrument of the surgical instrument when the first electronic state is determined and prevent actuation of the cutting instrument when the second electronic state is determined;
- and
- transmit a third wireless signal to the transponder when the cutting instrument is actuated;
- wherein the transponder comprises at least one component electronically alterable by the transponder in response to receipt of the third wireless signal by the transponder to effect a transition of the transponder from the first electronic state to the second electronic state.
5 more elements
A staple cartridge for use in a surgical instrument, the staple cartridge comprising a transponder transitionable from a first electronic state to a second electronic state, wherein the first electronic state corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge and wherein the second electronic state corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge, wherein the transponder is to indicate one of the electronic states based on a response or a nonresponse of the transponder to a first wireless signal transmitted by the surgical instrument.
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector to receive a staple cartridge;
- and
- a control unit disposed in a handle coupled to the end effector, the control unit comprising an inductive element to transmit and receive wireless signals, the control unit to:
- transmit a first wireless signal to a transponder disposed within the staple cartridge and determine an electronic state of the transponder based on receipt or non-receipt of a second wireless signal from the transponder by the control unit in response to the transmission of the first wireless signal, wherein a first electronic state of the transponder corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge, and wherein a second electronic state of the transponder corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge;
- enable actuation of a cutting instrument of the surgical instrument when the first electronic state is determined and prevent actuation of the cutting instrument when the second electronic state is determined;
- and
- transmit a third wireless signal to the transponder when the cutting instrument is actuated, the third wireless signal to effect a transition of the transponder from the first electronic state to the second electronic state.
4 more elements
A surgical instrument comprising:
- an end effector comprising a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge comprising a transponder;
- and
- a control unit disposed in a handle coupled to the end effector, the control unit comprising an inductive element to transmit and receive wireless signals, the control unit to:
- transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and determine an electronic state of the transponder-based on receipt or non-receipt of a second wireless signal from the transponder by the control unit in response to the transmission of the first wireless signal, wherein a first electronic state of the transponder corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge, and wherein a second electronic state of the transponder corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge;
- and
- enable actuation of a cutting instrument of the surgical instrument when the first electronic state is determined and prevent actuation of the cutting instrument when the second electronic state is determined;
- wherein the transponder comprises at least one component electronically alterable by movement of the cutting instrument when actuated, the altered at least one component to effect a transition of the transponder from the first electronic state to the second electronic state.
4 more elements
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- an end effector to receive a staple cartridge;
- and
- a control unit disposed in a handle coupled to the end effector, the control unit comprising an inductive element to transmit and receive wireless signals, the control unit to:
- transmit a first wireless signal to a transponder disposed within the staple cartridge and determine an electronic state of the transponder based on receipt or non-receipt of a second wireless signal from the transponder by the control unit in response to the transmission of the first wireless signal, wherein a first electronic state of the transponder corresponds to an unfired state of the staple cartridge, and wherein a second electronic state of the transponder corresponds to a fired state of the staple cartridge;
- and
- enable actuation of a cutting instrument of the surgical instrument when the first electronic state is determined and prevent actuation of the cutting instrument when the second electronic state is determined;
- wherein the cutting instrument, when actuated, electronically alters at least one component of the transponder to effect a transition of the transponder from the first electronic state to the second electronic state.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.