Method and system to determine an optimal tissue compression time to implant a surgical element
A method for determining an optimal compression of tissue to apply a surgical element to the tissue, the method comprising: measuring an initial thickness of the tissue before applying a load to the tissue with a moveable platen; applying the load to the tissue with the moveable platen; measuring a velocity of the moveable platen in response to the load applied to the tissue; providing an audible signal when the velocity of the moveable platen reaches a predetermined velocity which is indicative that about eighty percent tissue compression has been achieved representing optimal compression.
1. A method for determining an optimal compression of tissue to apply a surgical element to the tissue, the method comprising:
measuring an initial thickness of the tissue before applying the load to the tissue with the moveable platen;
applying a load to the tissue with a moveable platen;
measuring a velocity of the moveable platen in response to the load applied to the tissue; and
providing an audible signal when the velocity of the moveable platen reaches a predetermined velocity which is indicative that about eighty percent tissue compression has been achieved representing optimal compression.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising varying the predetermined velocity in response to a distance between the moveable platen and a stationary platen.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising modulating the surgical instrument in response to the signal and the measured velocity of the moveable platen.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein modulating the surgical instrument includes changing a staple size.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein modulating the surgical instrument includes changing a size of a gap between a stapler cartridge and an anvil.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein measuring the initial thickness of the tissue includes determining a distance between the moveable platen and a stationary platen when the moveable platen contacts the tissue.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein measuring the initial thickness of the tissue includes determining the thickness of the tissue with a caliper.
8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining when the tissue thickness reaches a predetermined compression from the initial thickness, and wherein the predetermined compression from the initial thickness is a predetermined distance threshold.