Surgical instrument comprising flex circuit
A method for controlling a surgical instrument is disclosed. In at least one instance, the surgical instrument comprises a shroud and the operation of the surgical instrument is modified based on input from a sensing circuit configured to sense a parameter of the shroud. In certain instances, the surgical instrument comprises a strain gage circuit and the operation of the surgical instrument is modified based on input from the strain gage circuit.
1. A surgical instrument comprising a flex circuit, the flex circuit comprising:
a first conductive trace; and
a second conductive trace, wherein the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace define a trace pair configured to perform a first function and a second function, wherein the first function comprises transmitting an electrical current, or a signal, or a combination thereof within the surgical instrument, and wherein the second function comprises shielding the electrical current, or the signal, or the combination thereof from interference caused by an electromagnetic field generated from a source external to the surgical instrument.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive trace defines a first trace layer of the flex circuit, and wherein the second conductive trace defines a second trace layer of the flex circuit.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the first conductive trace traverses a first path along the flex circuit, wherein the second conductive trace traverses a second path along the flex circuit, and wherein the first path and the second path overlap at a plurality of intervals along the flex circuit.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the overlap of the first path and the second path at the plurality of intervals along the circuit enables the trace pair to perform the second function.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the flex circuit further comprises an insulation layer positioned intermediate the first trace layer and the second trace layer.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the insulation layer is a first insulation layer, wherein the flex circuit further comprises a second insulation layer and a third insulation layer, wherein the first trace layer is positioned intermediate the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer, and wherein the second trace layer is positioned intermediate the first insulation layer and the third insulation layer.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the flex circuit further comprises a first shield layer and a second shield layer, wherein the first trace layer, the insulation layer, and the second trace layer are intermediate the first shield layer and the second shield layer.
8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the flex circuit further comprises a plurality of trace shields extending between and connected to the first shield layer and the second shield layer, wherein the plurality of trace shields, the first shield layer, and the second shield layer are configured to shield the electrical current, or the signal, or the combination thereof from interference caused by the electromagnetic field generated from the source external the surgical instrument.
9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a shaft shroud, and wherein the flex circuit extends along at least a portion of the shaft shroud.
10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the flex circuit further comprises a ferrite component, an inductor, a capacitor, or a snubber network, or a combination thereof.