Covidien LP

Tracy J Pheneger

David M Garrison

Daniel A Joseph

Robert H Wham

Amanda H Lennartz

Tyler J Bagrosky

Jing Zhao

Erin E Wehrly

Cornelia F Twomey

Pierre Gherardi

Jennifer R McHenry

A system includes a surgical instrument configured to perform a laparoscopic surgical operation, a location sensor configured to identify a spatial relationship between an anatomical structure and the surgical instrument, and a processor configured to receive a graphical representation of a patient, determine proximity of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument with the anatomical structure of the patient based on the spatial relationship, and generate a warning based on the determination of proximity.

System and methods for determining proximity relative to an anatomical structure

An electrosurgical system includes an end effector assembly and a sensor. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members each defining an electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface. At least one of the first or second jaw members is movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue between the tissue-contacting surfaces thereof. The electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces of the first and second jaw members are adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for conducting energy through tissue grasped therebetween to treat tissue. The sensor is configured to sense at least one property of smoke produced as a result of the conduction of energy through tissue grasped between the electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces.

Surgical instruments and systems configured to detect, analyze, and/or distinguish smoke and steam during a surgical procedure

A method includes providing a graphical representation of a surgical site, grasping the tissue of the patient with first and second jaw members of an end effector including a location sensor, illuminating optical light into the grasped tissue at the first jaw member, receiving the optical light that has passed through the grasped tissue, at the second jaw member, processing the received light to identify a vessel, which is encompassed within the grasped tissue, receiving location information of the end effector from the location sensor, synchronizing a location of the identified vessel within the graphical representation based on the location information, and displaying the identified vessel at the synchronized location in the graphical representation.

System and methods for identifying vessels within tissue

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Longmont, CO, United States of America

Tracy J Pheneger