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EP0630612A1
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Endoscopic surgical instrument with electromagnetic sensor
Assignee: Ethicon Inc
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Filing: 1994-05-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-05-24
Abstract
Abstract An endoscopic surgical instrument (10) including a pair of jaws (14,15). An electromagnetic sensor (20) disposed in said jaws (14,15) to determine the relative position of said jaws (14,15).
Inventors
- 👤 Mark T. Byrne
- 👤 James E. Dvorsky
- 👤 Anthony A. Boiarski
- 👤 Julie B. Swick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:26
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/072; A61B17/07207; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00039; A61B2017/07214; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A surgical instrument having: a pair of spaced apart surfaces, said surfaces being movable with respect to each other to accomplish a step in a surgical procedure; an electromagnetic sensor disposed in one of said surfaces; and a magnetic target disposed in either of said surfaces for producing a magnetic field between said surfaces, whereby a physical relationship between said surfaces may be determined.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
14 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic sensor is a magnetoresistive sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the magnetoresistive sensor is magnetically biased.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The surgical instrument of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the magnetoresistive sensor is gamma-radiation sterilizable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The surgical instrument of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the magnetic target is a permanent magnet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The surgical instrument of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the magnetic target is an electromagnet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The surgical instrument of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein variations in the magnetic field measure the distance between the surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The surgical instrument of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electromagnetic sensor is disposed in one of said surfaces and the magnetic target is disposed in the other of said surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The surgical instrument of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the surfaces are a pair of jaws for applying a surgical fastener to tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The surgical fastener of claim 9, including means for using the determined physical relationship to control other surgical fastening parameters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The surgical instrument of any one of claims 1 to 8, which is adapted for endoscopic surgery and which has a distal end for carrying out a step in a surgical procedure within a body cavity, a proximal end for manipulating said distal end from outside the body cavity and an elongate shaft portion connecting said distal and proximal ends, wherein said surfaces comprise a pair of spaced apart jaw members at said distal end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein one of said jaw members is movable and the other is stationary.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
112 words
The surgical instrument of claim 12, which is a stapler adapted for endoscopic surgery, wherein: a plurality of staples for use in joining tissue is disposed in said stationary jaw; said movable jaw includes anvil means for forming staples; means are disposed in said elongate shaft portion, extending from said proximal end to the distal end of the stapler, for moving said movable jaw into forming relationship with said stationary jaw; and actuating means are disposed in said elongate shaft portion, extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the stapler, for urging said staples towards said anvil means to form said staples to join tissue placed between said jaws.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0552050A2
Cited
US5275166A
Cited
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