Pneumatically powered surgical cutting and fastening instrument with electrical feedback
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsFrederick E. Shelton, IV, Randall J. Tanguay
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A status module for use with a pneumatically powered surgical instrument includes at least one sensor and a housing structured and arranged to releasably connect to the pneumatically powered surgical instrument. At least one contact is connected to the pneumatically powered surgical instrument. Each individual contact is structured and arranged to be in electrical communication with a different sensor when the housing is connected to the pneumatically powered surgical instrument. The at least one sensor is fluidically coupled to the pneumatically powered surgical instrument. A circuit is in electrical communication with the least one contact and at least one of a plurality of indicators.
Claims24
A status module for use with a pneumatically powered surgical instrument comprising at least one sensor, the status module comprising:
- a housing structured and arranged to releasably mount on the pneumatically powered surgical instrument;
- at least one contact, wherein an individual contact is structured and arranged to be in electrical communication with a different sensor when the housing is connected to the pneumatically powered surgical instrument, and wherein the at least one sensor is fluidically coupled to the pneumatically powered surgical instrument;
- a circuit in electrical communication with the at least one contact;
- and
- at least one electrical indicator in electrical communication with the circuit, wherein the at least one electrical indicator is located on the housing to provide a current status of the surgical instrument to the user during a surgical procedure.
A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a pneumatically-actuated drive member;
- an electronic control module coupled to the pneumatically-actuated drive member;
- a plurality of sensors;
- and
- a status module, wherein the status module comprises:
- a housing releasably mounted on the surgical instrument;
- at least one contact, wherein an individual contact is in electrical communication with a different sensor
- a circuit in electrical communication with the at least one contact;
- and
- at least one electrical indicator, wherein the at least one indicator is in electrical communication with the circuit, wherein the at least one electrical indicator is located on the housing to provide a current status of the surgical instrument to the user during a surgical procedure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.