Interchangeable tools for surgical instruments

US10743851B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jeffrey S. Swayze · Hamilton, US
• Thomas W. Huitema · Cincinnati, US
• Glen A. Armstrong · Hamilton, US
• Shailendra K. Parihar · Mason, US
• Donna L. Korvick · Maineville, US
• Richard W. Timm · Cincinnati, US
• Frederick E. Shelton, IV · Hillsboro, US
• Kevin R. Doll · Mason, US
• Bret W. Smith · South Lebanon, US
• William D. Kelly · Mason, US
• Ronald J. Kolata · Raleigh, US
• Joshua R. Uth · Mason, US
• Charles J. Scheib · Loveland, US
• Eugene L. Timperman · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 6, 2017
• Grant date: Aug 18, 2020
• Expiry date: Oct 3, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M5/31581
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical tool for use with a surgical instrument including a handle assembly and an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and a drive system is disclosed. The surgical tool comprises a carrier removably couplable to the elongated body, an anvil movably supported for selective movement relative to the carrier in response to drive motions from the drive system, a tissue thickness measuring member movably supported in the carrier and configured to move toward and away from an underside of the anvil in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a sensor arrangement supported between the tissue thickness measuring member and the carrier. The sensor arrangement is configured to interface with an indicator member to provide an indication of a thickness of tissue clamped between the anvil and the tissue thickness measuring member at a location that is proximal to the anvil when in use.