US 11,896,221 B2
Surgical cartridge system with impedance sensors
Jeffrey D. Messerly, Cincinnati, OH (US); David C. Yates, Morrow, OH (US); Jason L. Harris, Lebanon, OH (US); and Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH Intemational, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on May 13, 2020, as Appl. No. 15/930,621.
Application 15/930,621 is a continuation of application No. 15/636,096, filed on Jun. 28, 2017, granted, now 11,298,128.
Prior Publication US 2020/0397432 A1, Dec. 24, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/295 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/07207 (2013.01) [A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/29 (2013.01); A61B 18/00 (2013.01); A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 18/1445 (2013.01); A61B 17/295 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00026 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0046 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00075 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00084 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00115 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00119 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00128 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00199 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00353 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00464 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00734 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07257 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07271 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07278 (2013.01); A61B 2017/07285 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2902 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00005 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0063 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00172 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00589 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00642 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00791 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00898 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00988 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1452 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1455 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1495 (2013.01); A61B 2090/061 (2016.02); A61B 2090/065 (2016.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A staple cartridge usable with a surgical instrument, the staple cartridge comprising:
a deck;
an elongate slot extending through the deck;
a plurality of staple cavities defined in the deck;
staples removably positioned in the plurality of staple cavities; and
a plurality of impedance sensing electrodes, comprising:
a first impedance sensing electrode positioned in a first zone of the deck, wherein the first impedance sensing electrode is addressable to apply first energy to tissue positioned in the first zone, wherein a control circuit is configured to determine a thickness of the tissue positioned in the first zone based on the first energy; and
a second impedance sensing electrode positioned in a second zone of the deck, wherein the second zone is distal to the first zone, wherein the second impedance sensing electrode is addressable to apply second energy to tissue positioned in the second zone, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine a thickness of the tissue positioned in the second zone based on the second energy, wherein the second impedance sensing electrode and the first impedance sensing electrode are independently addressable; and
wherein advancement of a knife through the elongate slot is based on the determined thickness of the tissue in the first zone and the determined thickness of the tissue in the second zone.