Surgical systems for detecting end effector tissue distribution irregularities
A surgical stapling instrument includes an end effector that has a first jaw; a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open configuration and a closed configuration to grasp tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw; an anvil; and a staple cartridge with staples deployable into the tissue and deformable by the anvil. The surgical stapling instrument further includes a control circuit configured to: determine tissue impedances at predetermined zones; detect an irregularity in tissue distribution within the end effector based on the tissue impedances; and adjust a closure parameter of the end effector in accordance with the irregularity.
1. A circular surgical stapling instrument for stapling a previously-stapled tissue, the circular surgical stapling instrument comprising:
a shaft defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;
an end effector extending from the shaft, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open configuration and a closed configuration to grasp tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw;
an anvil;
a circular staple cartridge comprising staples deployable into the previously-stapled tissue and deformable by the anvil; and
predetermined zones between the anvil and the circular staple cartridge, wherein the predetermined zones are arranged circumferentially, and wherein the predetermined zones are configured to define a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis; and
a circuit configured to:
measure tissue impedances at the predetermined zones;
compare the measured tissue impedances to a predetermined tissue impedance signature of the predetermined zones; and
detect an irregularity in at least one of position and orientation of the previously-stapled tissue within the end effector from the comparison.
2. The circular surgical stapling instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector comprises sensing circuits at the predetermined zones.
3. The circular surgical stapling instrument of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined zones are separated by insulating elements.
4. The circular surgical stapling instrument of claim 1 , wherein detecting the irregularity causes the circuit to alert a user.
5. The circular surgical stapling instrument of claim 1 , wherein the circuit is configured to pass at least one therapeutic signal through tissue at each of the predetermined zones to determine the tissue impedances.
6. A circular surgical stapling instrument for stapling a previously-stapled tissue, the circular surgical stapling instrument comprising:
a shaft defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;
an end effector extending from the shaft, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open configuration and a closed configuration to grasp tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw;
an anvil;
a circular staple cartridge comprising staples deployable into the previously-stapled tissue and deformable by the anvil; and
predetermined zones between the anvil and the circular staple cartridge, wherein the predetermined zones are arranged circumferentially around the longitudinal axis; and
a circuit configured to:
measure tissue impedances at the predetermined zones; and
detect an irregularity in at least one of position and orientation of the previously-stapled tissue within the end effector based on the measured tissue impedances and a predetermined tissue impedance signature at the predetermined zones.