Surgical cutting and fastening instrument having RF electrodes
A surgical cutting and fastening instrument. The instrument comprises a handle and an end effector connected to the handle. The end effector comprises upper and lower opposing jaw members, wherein the upper jaw member comprises a plurality of co-linear, separately actuatable, RF electrodes.
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an elongate shaft;
an end effector movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said end effector comprises:
a first jaw, wherein said first jaw comprises:
a longitudinal axis; and
an array of electrodes; and
a second jaw, wherein a tissue gap is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said end effector is in said closed configuration;
a staple firing drive comprising an electric motor, a cutting member coupled to said electric motor, and a firing member, wherein said firing member is movable through a staple firing stroke; and
a control system in communication with said staple firing drive and said array of electrodes, wherein said control system is configured to:
sense an operating parameter of said surgical instrument; and
automatically slow a speed of said electric motor as said cutting member advances through tissue positioned between said first and second jaws.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said operating parameter is said tissue gap.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said operating parameter is a force imparted by said staple firing drive.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein said end effector further comprises a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein, and wherein said staples are ejected from said staple cartridge during said staple firing stroke.
5. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an elongate shaft;
an end effector movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said end effector comprises:
a first jaw, wherein said first jaw comprises:
a longitudinal axis; and
an array of sensing elements; and
a second jaw, wherein a tissue gap is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said end effector is in said closed configuration;
a staple firing drive comprising an electric motor, a cutting member coupled to said electric motor, and a firing member, wherein said firing member is movable through a staple firing stroke; and
a control system in communication with said staple firing drive and said array of sensing elements, wherein said control system is configured to:
sense an operating parameter of said surgical instrument; and
automatically slow a speed of said electric motor as said cutting member advances through tissue positioned between said first and second jaws.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein said operating parameter is said tissue gap.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein said operating parameter is a force imparted by said staple firing drive.
8. The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein said end effector further comprises a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein, and wherein said staples are ejected from said staple cartridge during said staple firing stroke.
9. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an elongate shaft;
an end effector movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said end effector comprises:
a first jaw, wherein said first jaw comprises:
a longitudinal axis; and
an array of electrodes; and
a second jaw, wherein a tissue gap is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said end effector is in said closed configuration, wherein tissue of a patient is positionable in said tissue gap;
a staple firing drive comprising an electric motor, a cutting member coupled to said electric motor, and a firing member, wherein said firing member is movable through a staple firing stroke; and
a control system in communication with said staple firing drive and said array of electrodes, wherein said control system is configured to:
sense a parameter of the tissue in said tissue gap; and
automatically slow a speed of said electric motor as said cutting member advances through said tissue.
10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein said end effector further comprises a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein, and wherein said staples are ejected from said staple cartridge during said staple firing stroke.
11. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising:
an elongate shaft;
an end effector movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said end effector comprises:
a first jaw, comprising:
a longitudinal axis; and
an array of sensors; and
a second jaw, wherein a tissue gap is defined between said first jaw and said second jaw when said end effector is in said closed configuration;
a staple firing drive comprising an electric motor, a cutting member drivable by said electric motor, and a firing member advanceable longitudinally through a staple firing stroke; and
a control system in communication with said staple firing drive and said array of sensors, wherein said control system is configured to:
sense a parameter of tissue in said tissue gap;
sense a parameter of said surgical stapling instrument;
automatically alter a non-zero speed of said electric motor as said cutting member is advanced through said staple firing stroke based on a sensed parameter; and automatically alter an output having an effect on the tissue captured in said tissue gap based on a sensed parameter.
12. The surgical stapling instrument of claim 11 , wherein said end effector further comprises a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein, and wherein said staples are ejected from said staple cartridge during said staple firing stroke.