End effector identification by mechanical features
View Patent ↗According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical instrument is disclosed. The instrument includes a handle portion, a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis and a loading unit. The loading unit includes a tool assembly, the loading adapted to be coupled to the body portion. The instrument also includes a sensor tube movably positioned within the body portion, the sensor tube adapted to engage the loading unit and a load switch coupled to a microcontroller. The load switch is adapted to be actuated by the sensor tube when the sensor tube is engaged by the loading unit being inserted into the body portion.
1. A surgical instrument configured for coupling with a plurality of loading unit types, the surgical instrument comprising:
a handle portion;
a body portion coupled to the handle portion;
a sensor tube movably disposed within the body portion, the sensor tube configured to engage a loading unit, wherein the sensor tube includes a contact supported thereon; and
a potentiometer disposed within the body portion and electrically and slidably coupled to the contact, wherein the potentiometer is configured to output a sensor signal corresponding to a predetermined distance traveled by the contact relative to the potentiometer upon engagement of a loading unit with the sensor tube.
2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a microcontroller coupled to the potentiometer and configured to determine a type of a loading unit engaged with the body portion based on the sensor signal.
3. The surgical instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the potentiometer is configured to transmit the sensor signal to the microcontroller.
4. The surgical instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to adjust at least one operating parameter of the surgical instrument based on a type of a loading unit engaged with the body portion.
5. The surgical instrument according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of firing stroke length, firing speed, and degree of articulation of a loading unit.
6. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle portion;
a body portion coupled to the handle portion, the body portion having a distal portion configured to releasably engage a plurality of types of loading units;
a sensor tube including a magnetic member, the sensor tube being movable relative to the body portion and configured to engage a plurality of types of loading units; and
a magnetic sensor disposed about the magnetic member and configured to be actuated by the magnetic member when the sensor tube is engaged by a loading unit, wherein upon actuation, the magnetic sensor outputs a sensor signal reflective of the sensor tube being engaged with a loading unit.
7. The surgical instrument according to claim 6 , wherein the magnetic sensor is linear variable differential transducer including a transformer disposed about the sensor tube.
8. The surgical instrument according to claim 7 , wherein the transformer includes a plurality of coils disposed about the sensor tube.
9. The surgical instrument according to claim 6 , further comprising a microcontroller configured to determine a type of a loading unit engaged with the body portion based on the sensor signal.
10. The surgical instrument according to claim 9 , wherein upon actuation, the magnetic sensor signals the microcontroller to activate the surgical instrument.
11. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the sensor tube is engageable only by a loading unit including an articulating tool assembly.
12. The surgical instrument according to claim 11 , further including an articulation mechanism configured to articulate an articulating tool assembly.
13. The surgical instrument according to claim 12 , wherein upon engagement by a loading unit including an articulating tool assembly, the microcontroller enables the articulation mechanism.
14. The surgical instrument according to claim 6 , wherein the sensor signal corresponds to a predetermined distance traveled by the magnetic member relative to the magnetic sensor upon engagement of a loading unit with the sensor tube.
15. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a handle portion;
a body portion coupled to the handle portion, the body portion having a distal portion configured to releasably engage a plurality of loading unit types;
a sensor tube including a magnetic member disposed within the body portion, the sensor tube being configured to engage a plurality of loading unit types, wherein the sensor tube moves a predetermined distance in response to engaging a loading unit; and
a transformer disposed about the sensor tube, wherein the transformer is configured to generate a sensor signal corresponding to a predetermined distance the sensor tube is displaced by a loading unit.
16. The surgical instrument according to claim 15 , wherein the transformer includes a plurality of coils disposed about the sensor tube.
17. The surgical instrument according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of coils is connected in reverse series.
18. The surgical instrument according to 15 , further including a microcontroller configured to determine a type of a loading unit engaged with the body portion based on the sensor signal.