US 12,185,931 B2
Surgical instruments, systems, and methods with optical sensors
Christopher Nelsen, San Diego, CA (US); and Michael Serra, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Globus Medical, Inc., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed by GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed on Jan. 22, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/418,862.
Application 18/418,862 is a continuation of application No. 17/474,537, filed on Sep. 14, 2021, granted, now 11,903,572.
Prior Publication US 2024/0180541 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61B 17/16 (2006.01); A61B 17/3211 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/0206 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1615 (2013.01); A61B 90/04 (2016.02); A61B 90/06 (2016.02); A61B 2017/32113 (2013.01); A61B 2090/064 (2016.02); A61B 2562/0238 (2013.01); A61B 2562/223 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for performing surgery, comprising:
positioning a surgical device proximate a surgical site, the surgical device including:
a tissue contacting component having a first portion, wherein the first portion is responsive to forces acting on the tissue contacting component; and
an optical fiber disposed along the first portion of the tissue contacting component, wherein the optical fiber is configured to deform in response to loads acting on the tissue contacting component;
coupling an interrogator to the optical fiber;
sensing, via the interrogator, light reflected through the optical fiber;
translating, via the interrogator, the sensed light into electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals are indicative of loads acting on the tissue contacting component of the surgical device;
wherein the first portion of the tissue contacting component is constructed from a first material and a second portion of the tissue contacting component is constructed from a second material more responsive to loads acting on the tissue contacting component than the second material; and
wherein the optical fiber includes a sensing portion disposed along the first material.