The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 23, 2019
Filed:
Jun. 26, 2015
Ethicon Endo-surgery, Llc, Guaynabo, PR (US);
John P. Measamer, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Charles J. Scheib, Loveland, OH (US);
Emily A. Schellin, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Brian W. Bear, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Brian F. DiNardo, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Christopher C. Miller, Loveland, OH (US);
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US);
Ethicon LLC, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a stapling head assembly, an anvil, a firing assembly, a load sensor, and an indicator. The firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly to drive an annular array of staples through tissue toward the anvil. The load sensor is operable to sense a load in the firing assembly while the firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly. The indicator is operable to provide feedback based on the load sensed by the load sensor. The firing assembly may include a longitudinally translatable member. The instrument may further include a position sensor that is operable to sense a longitudinal position of the translatable member while the firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly. The indicator may be activated based on data from at least one of the sensors indicating completion or failure of a full actuation stroke of the firing assembly.