Explore the 8,759 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 53rd week of 2020, including 7,040 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
Surgical instrument system comprising an RFID system
A surgical instrument comprising a staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body defining a longitudinal axis, staples removably stored in the staple cavities, a cover releasably attached to the cartridge body, and a sled movable from a proximal unfired position to a distal fired position during a firing motion. The staple cartridge further comprises a first RFID tag affixed to the cartridge body at a first longitudinal position, a second RFID tag affixed to the sled, wherein the proximal unfired position of the sled is at a second longitudinal position which is not at the first longitudinal position, and a third RFID tag affixed to the cover at a third longitudinal position which is not at the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position.
Published: 2020-12-31 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
Surgical RFID assemblies for instrument operational setting control
A control system for a surgical instrument. The control system includes an RFID scanner and a control circuit coupled to the RFID scanner. The control circuit is configured to receive data from RFID tags associated with devices and/or users, determine a type of the surgical instrument being utilized or surgical procedure being performed according to the received data, and determine an operational setting for the surgical instrument or another device within the surgical system, which may be tailored according to the particular user identity scanned by the RFID scanner.
Published: 2020-12-31 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
Method for authenticating the compatibility of a staple cartridge with a surgical instrument
A method for authenticating the compatibility of a staple cartridge with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The method can comprise inserting a staple cartridge into a surgical instrument, receiving a first signal from a first RFID tag on a first component of the staple cartridge with an RFID reader system, receiving a second signal from a second RFID tag on a second component of the staple cartridge with the RFID reader system, comparing the first signal and the second signal to stored data for a compatible staple cartridge, and locking a staple firing system of the surgical instrument if the first signal and the second signal do not match the stored data for a compatible staple cartridge.
Published: 2020-12-31 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
Packaging for a replaceable component of a surgical stapling system
A replaceable staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The replaceable staple cartridge is stored in a packaging prior to being attached to the surgical instrument. The packaging includes a first layer, a second layer, and an RFID system. The first layer and the second layer form a seal around the replaceable staple cartridge. The RFID system includes an RFID tag and an insulator. The RFID tag includes an integrated battery, a tag antenna, and an RFID chip including stored information. The insulator electrically decouples the integrated battery from the RFID chip. The insulator is configured to detach from the integrated battery when the seal is broken between the first layer and the second layer. The RFID tag becomes active and transmits the stored information to an RFID scanner of the surgical instrument when the insulator is detached from the integrated battery.
Published: 2020-12-31 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
Surgical system with RFID tags for updating motor assembly parameters
A surgical instrument is disclosed including an end effector operable to treat tissue, a shaft extending proximally from the end effector, and a housing assembly extending proximally from the shaft. The housing assembly includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanner and a motor-assembly compartment including a motor assembly interchangeably retained by the motor-assembly compartment in an assembled configuration. The motor assembly is movable relative to the motor-assembly compartment between the assembled configuration and an unassembled configuration. The motor assembly includes a motor configured to drive the end effector to treat the tissue and an RFID tag detectable by the RFID scanner in the assembled configuration. The RFID tag stores motor-assembly information.
Published: 2020-12-31 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
Surgical systems with multiple RFID tags
A surgical instrument is disclosed including a housing assembly, a shaft assembly coupled to the housing assembly, at least one radio-frequency identification scanner configured to receive information from radio-frequency identification tags which correspond to components which are couplable to the surgical instrument, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to determine, for each component, authenticity of the component based on the information received from the radio-frequency identification tags.
Published: 2020-12-31 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
Method of using multiple RFID chips with a surgical assembly
A method of operating a surgical assembly is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first input from a first RFID scanner indicative of a first information stored in a first RFID chip of a first modular component of the surgical assembly, receiving a second input from a second RFID scanner indicative of a second information stored in a second RFID chip of a second modular component of the surgical assembly, determining an operational parameter of a motor of the surgical assembly based on the first input and the second input, and causing the motor to effect a tissue treatment motion of the first modular component.
Published: 2020-12-31 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
Surgical RFID assemblies for compatibility detection
A control system for a surgical instrument. The control system comprises an RFID scanner and a control circuit coupled to the RFID scanner. The control circuit is configured to receive data from RFID tags associated with devices, determine whether the devices are compatible based on a comparison of the received data, and provide an alert that the devices are incompatible or a suggestion to replace one of the devices with a replacement compatible device.
Published: 2020-12-31 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
Mechanisms for proper anvil attachment surgical stapling head assembly
A surgical instrument is disclosed including a housing, a shaft assembly extending distally from the housing, a stapling head assembly located at a distal end of the shaft assembly, an anvil couplable with the stapling head assembly, and an anvil adjustment assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a distal surface. The stapling head assembly is operable to drive an annular array of staples through the distal surface. The stapling head assembly includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanner. The anvil is translatable relative to the stapling head assembly toward a closed configuration and the anvil includes an RFID tag. The anvil adjustment assembly includes a translating member operable to translate relative to the housing along a longitudinal axis to thereby adjust a longitudinal position of the anvil relative to the distal surface. The RFID tag is detectable by the RFID scanner at or below an attachment threshold distance.
Published: 2020-12-31 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
Surgical stapling system having an information encryption protocol
A surgical system is disclosed including a surgical instrument including a replaceable staple cartridge. The replaceable staple cartridge includes a first RFID tag including a first set of information and a sled including a second RFID tag including a second set of information. A retainer includes a third RFID tag including a third set of information. The first set of information, the second set of information, and the third set of information collectively form a unique combination representative of the replaceable staple cartridge. A remote storage system includes a set of compatible combinations. The controller compares the unique combination to the set of compatible combinations to determine if the replaceable staple cartridge is compatible for use with the surgical instrument. The controller prevents at least one operation of the surgical instrument if the controller determines that said unique combination is not compatible for use with the surgical instrument.