SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONTROL UNIT AND REMOTE SENSOR
A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise an end effector comprising at least one sensor. The surgical instrument may also comprise an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft. The handle may comprise a control unit electrically coupled to the shaft such that the shaft radiates signals as an antenna from the control unit to the sensor and receives radiated signals from the sensor. Other components electrically coupled to the shaft may also radiate the signals.
1 - 21 . (canceled)
22 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a shaft;
an end effector extending distally from the shaft, the end effector comprising:
an anvil;
a staple cartridge, wherein the anvil and the staple cartridge are configured to cooperate to capture tissue therebetween, and wherein the staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples removably stored in the staple cartridge; and
a firing member movable to deploy the plurality of staples into the tissue; and
a housing extending proximally from the shaft, wherein the housing comprises:
a firing trigger movable at a variable control rate;
a sensor configured to generate a variable output signal in accordance with the variable control rate of the firing trigger; and
a motor assembly configured to motivate the firing member at a rate of motion corresponding to the variable output signal.
23 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a shaft;
an end effector extending distally from the shaft, the end effector comprising:
an anvil;
a staple cartridge, wherein the anvil and the staple cartridge are configured to cooperate to capture tissue therebetween, and wherein the staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples removably stored in the staple cartridge; and
a firing member movable to deploy the plurality of staples into the tissue; and
a housing extending proximally from the shaft, wherein the housing comprises:
a motor operably coupled to the firing member; and
an actuator movable to drive the motor to motivate the firing member to deploy the plurality of staples into the tissue, wherein the motor is driven at a speed modulated in accordance with a motion characteristic of the actuator.
24 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
a shaft;
an end effector extending distally from the shaft, the end effector comprising:
an anvil;
a staple cartridge, wherein the anvil and the staple cartridge are configured to cooperate to capture tissue therebetween, and wherein the staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples removably stored in the staple cartridge; and
a firing member movable to deploy the plurality of staples into the tissue; and
a housing extending proximally from the shaft, wherein the housing comprises:
a motor operably coupled to the firing member; and
a control assembly, comprising:
a firing trigger movable to deploy the plurality of staples into the tissue; and
a circuit configured to receive a variable input signal produced by a motion characteristic of the firing trigger, wherein the circuit is configured to generate a variable control signal in accordance with the variable input signal, and wherein the motor is driven to motivate the firing member to deploy the plurality of staples into the tissue in accordance the variable control signal.