SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A CONTROL UNIT OF A ROBOTIC SYSTEM AND REMOTE SENSOR
A surgical instrument for use with a robotic system that has a control unit and a shaft portion that includes an electrically conductive elongated member that is attached to a portion of the robotic system. The elongated member is configured to transmit control motions from the robotic system to an end effector.
1 . A surgical instrument for use with a robotic system that has a control unit and a shaft portion that includes an electrically conductive elongated member that is attached to a portion of said robotic system and is configured to transmit control motions from the robotic system, the surgical instrument comprising an end effector that is configured to be operably coupled to the elongated electrically conductive member to receive said control motions from said surgical tool system such that at least one sensor within said end effector is electrically insulated from the elongated electrically conductive member such that the elongated electrically conductive member can wirelessly radiate communication signals from the control unit to the at least one sensor and can receive wirelessly radiated communication signals from the at least one sensor.
2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a magnetoresistive sensor.
3 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a pressure sensor.
4 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a RFID sensor.
5 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a MEMS sensor.
6 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an electromechanical sensor.
7 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is connected to a plastic cartridge of the end effector.
8 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the elongated electrically conductive member comprises an electrically conductive outer tube and wherein the end effector comprises an electrically conductive component coupled to the electrically conductive outer tube, wherein the electrically conductive component is configured to radiate communication signals to and from the sensor.
9 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises an endoscopic surgical instrument.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises a cutting and fastening surgical instrument.
11 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises a cutting instrument.
12 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises a plastic cartridge and the at least one sensor is disposed in the cartridge.
13 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the communication signals radiated wirelessly from shaft use a wireless communication protocol.
14 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the wireless signals comprise RF wireless signals.
15 . A surgical instrument for use with a robotic system that has a control unit and a shaft portion that includes an elongated electrically conductive member that is attached to a portion of said robotic system and at least partially houses a drive shaft therein, the surgical instrument comprising an end effector that is configured to be operably coupled to the elongated electrically conductive member and the drive shaft for receiving control motions from said robotic system, said end effector having at least one sensor that is electrically insulated from the elongated electrically conductive member such that the elongated electrically conductive member can wirelessly radiate communication signals from the control unit to the at least one sensor and can receive wirelessly radiated communication signals from the at least one sensor.
16 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 wherein the drive shaft is powered by a motor supported within a tool drive assembly coupled to said robotic system.
17 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor is connected to a plastic cartridge of the end effector.
18 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the end effector comprises an electrically conductive component coupled to the elongated electrically conductive member, wherein the electrically conductive component is configured to radiate wireless communication signals to and from the sensor.
19 . The surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein the end effector comprises a plastic staple cartridge and the at least one sensor is disposed in the staple cartridge.
20 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the communication signals radiated wirelessly from shaft use a wireless communication protocol.