Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Danius P Silkaitus

Foster B Stulen

Eitan T Wiener

Daniel W Price

Cory G Kimball

Timothy G Dietz

William Eugene Clem

William D Dannaher

Ashvani K Madan

John B Schulte

Donna L Korvick

Stephen J Balek

Michael R Lamping

Jacqueline C Aronhalt

An apparatus includes an end effector, an energy component, a control module, and a directional force sensor assembly associated with the energy component and control module. The directional force assembly can include a piezoelectric disc, a piezoresistive element, an accelerometer, and/or a Hall Effect sensor. The end effector of the apparatus can include ultrasonic blade, an RF electrode, or a staple driving assembly. In some versions, the energy component includes an ultrasonic transducer. The control module may be configured to operate the energy component at a first energy setting in response to a first detected force and at a second energy setting in response to a second detected force. The apparatus may also include an activation feature to be operated by a user. In some versions the piezoelectric disc may include a plurality of segments and may be configured to induce movement in at least part of the energy component.

Surgical instrument with stress sensor

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Danius P Silkaitus