EP0639349A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Surgical apparatus with indicator
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1994-08-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-08-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and system are disclosed for indicating relative positions of elements in a surgical apparatus. The indicating elements can include electrical circuitry that provides means for activating visual, audible or tactile indicators 102, thereby alerting the user that an event has occured with respect to the instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas D. Guy
- 👤 Robert H. Brady
- 👤 James R. Pratt
- 👤 Richard N. Granger
- 👤 John Webster
- 👤 Corbett W. Stone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/11; A61B17/115; A61B17/068; A61B17/072; A61B17/1155; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00115; A61B2017/07214; A61B2017/0725; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A surgical apparatus comprising: a housing; a first jaw member extending from said housing, and a second jaw member positioned opposite said first jaw member, at least one of said jaw members being movable relative to said other jaw member; means positioned in the apparatus for indicating movement of said at least one jaw member to a predetermined position relative to said other jaw member, said indicating means including an indicator to provide visual indication to the user of said movement of said at least one jaw member to said predetermined position, said indicator being connected to a power source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said second jaw member includes means for storing a plurality of surgical fasteners and said first jaw member includes a plurality of depressions for closing said fasteners.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein said indicating means comprises a light indicator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a power source positioned in said apparatus.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second jaw member is movable towards said first jaw member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising means for moving said second jaw member towards said first jaw member.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as recited in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said indicating means includes first and second contact members, said first contact member moving into contact with said second contact member when said moving means moves said first jaw member a sufficient distance towards said second jaw member, whereby the contact between said first and second contacts completes an electrical circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said first and second contacts are electrically connected to said light indicator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 8, further comprising a battery positioned in said housing and being electrically connected to said first and second contacts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a surgical stapling instrument having a housing, an anvil extending from a distal end of said housing, a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners positioned opposite said anvil, and means for relatively moving said anvil and cartridge; the improvement comprising: means positioned in said housing and responsive to relative movement of said cartridge and anvil for indicating the relative movement of said cartridge and anvil to a predetermined position, said indicating means being connected to a power source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said indicating means comprises a light indicator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 10 or 11, wherein said indicating means comprises first and second electrical contacts adapted to come into contact upon sufficient movement of said moving means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 14, 15 or 16, further comprising a voltage source positioned within said housing, said voltage source being electrically connected to said first and second contacts.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as recited in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein said moving means comprises an elongated slidable rod member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein an electrical contact is positioned on said rod member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said staples are disposed in a circular array in said cartridge, and said apparatus includes means for firing said fasteners from said cartridge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein said moving means further comprises a second rod member extending from said anvil and adapted to be connected to said slidable rod member, wherein movement of said moving means in a first direction slides said anvil toward said cartridge and movement in a second direction slides said anvil away from said cartridge.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein a complementary second electrical contact is positioned within said housing.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
77 words
A system for performing surgery, comprising: a control box which includes internal circuitry; a surgical instrument including a distal element and means for sensing a position or condition of said distal element; means associated with said surgical instrument for transmitting said sensed position or condition to said internal circuitry of said control box; and means for transmitting said sensed position or condition from said internal circuitry of said control box to a video monitor for display thereon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as recited in claim 19, further comprising a voltage source contained within said surgical instrument.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 19 or 20, wherein said sensed position or condition is displayed on said video monitor as an icon or symbol.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as recited in claim 21, wherein said icon or symbol is displayed in color.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as recited in claim 21 or 22, wherein said icon or symbol flashes on said video monitor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as recited in claim 21, 22 or 23, wherein said icon or symbol depicts said tool mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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