SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONTROL UNIT AND REMOTE SENSOR
A surgical instrument including an end effector having at least one sensor. The instrument includes a distal stapling unit for performing at least one surgical task operatively connected to a remotely controllable user interface. The instrument further includes an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector, wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft. The instrument also includes a housing at a proximate end of the shaft configured to receive mechanical or electrical inputs. In addition, the instrument has a receiver unit electrically insulated from the shaft configured to receive and send wireless signals from and to the sensor.
1 . A surgical instrument comprising:
an end effector comprising at least one sensor;
a distal stapling unit for performing at least one surgical task operatively connected to a remotely controllable user interface
an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft; and
a housing at a proximate end of the shaft, configured to receive at least one of mechanical or electrical inputs; and
a receiver unit electrically insulated from the shaft configured to receive and send wireless signals from and to the sensor.
2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a magnetoresistive sensor.
4 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pressure sensor.
5 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a RFID sensor.
6 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a MEMS sensor.
7 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an electromechanical sensor.