Adjustable communications based on available bandwidth and power capacity

Abstract

A surgical instrument is disclosed that includes an end effector configured to grasp tissue. The end effector includes a jaw and a staple cartridge mountable to the jaw, the staple cartridge including a sensor array. The surgical instrument further includes a power source configured to provide power to the staple cartridge, a transmission system configured to wirelessly transmit at least one of power and data signals between the staple cartridge and the surgical instrument, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to detect a bandwidth of data transmission over the transmission system, detect a discharge rate of the power source, and select a sensor sampling rate of the sensor array based on the detected bandwidth and the detected bandwidth and discharge rate.

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] The present invention relates to surgical instruments and to surgical stapling and severing instruments, and staple cartridges for use therewith, designed to staple and sever tissue in a variety of devices. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0002] The various features of the embodiments described herein, together with their advantages, may be understood by the following practice of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical instrument in accordance with at least one embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a controller of a robotic surgical system. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the robotic surgical system of FIG. 2 including a plurality of robotic surgical arms, each of which operatively supports a surgical instrument thereon. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of the robotic surgical arm shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge in accordance with at least one embodiment; [Figure 5A] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the staple cartridge of FIG. 5; [Figure 5B] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the distal end of the staple cartridge of FIG. 5; [Figure 5C] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the distal end of the staple cartridge of FIG. 5; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system between a surgical instrument and a staple cartridge in accordance with at least one embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system between a surgical instrument and a staple cartridge in accordance with at least one embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system between a surgical instrument and a staple cartridge in accordance with at least one embodiment. [Figure 8A] FIG. 9 is a part of the schematic diagram of FIG. 8. [Figure 8B] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the surgical instrument of FIG. 8 with some components removed. [Figure 8C] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the cartridge jaw of the surgical instrument of FIG. 8 shown with the staple cartridge removed; [Figure 8D] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the surgical instrument of FIG. 8 shown in a closed or clamped configuration. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system between a surgical instrument and a staple cartridge in accordance with at least one embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system between a surgical instrument and a staple cartridge in accordance with at least one embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge positioned in the cartridge jaws in accordance with at least one embodiment; [Figure 11A] FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the staple cartridge of FIG. 11; [Figure 11B] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the staple cartridge of FIG. 11 removed from the cartridge jaws; [Figure 11C] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the staple cartridge of FIG. 11; [Figure 11D] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a sled of the staple cartridge of FIG. 11; [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a staple cartridge in accordance with at least one embodiment; [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm illustrating a control program or logic configuration for optimizing sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm illustrating a control program or logic configuration for optimizing sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 15]FIG. 1 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm illustrating a control program or logic configuration for optimizing sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] 1A-1C are simplified schematic diagrams illustrating various features of a surgical system according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 17] 1A-1C are simplified schematic diagrams illustrating various features of a staple cartridge in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure; [Figure 18] 1 is a table illustrating the correlation between the sampling rate (S) of a sensor array and corresponding values ​​of bandwidth capacity (B), discharge rate (D), and remaining capacity (R), according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 19] 1 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm illustrating a control program or logic configuration for monitoring and addressing signal interference in wireless power and / or data signal transmissions, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 20] 1 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm illustrating a control program or logic configuration for transfer efficiency in wireless power transmission, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 21] 10A-10C illustrate implementations of a first antenna circuit and a second antenna circuit of a wireless transmission system for power transfer between a surgical instrument 1022 and a staple cartridge in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 22] 1 illustrates an adjustable series RLC (resistor, inductor, capacitor) circuit in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 23] 1 illustrates a tunable parallel RLC circuit in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 24] 11 is a graph illustrating a resonant condition of a tunable series RLC circuit 1130 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 25] 1 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm illustrating a control program or logic configuration for improving power conservation or optimizing power consumption by a staple cartridge in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure; [Figure 26] 11 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm 1150 illustrating a control program or logic configuration for optimizing wireless transmission of power and / or data signals over a transmission system 1045 in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 27] FIG. 10 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm illustrating a control program or logic configuration for calibrating a sensor array of a surgical instrument, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 28] FIG. 10 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm illustrating a control program or logic configuration for adjusting control parameters of a surgical instrument, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of an end effector including a staple cartridge and an anvil separated by a stop member in a closed configuration of the end effector without tissue therebetween, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 30] FIG. 10 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm illustrating a control program or logic configuration for adjusting control parameters of a surgical instrument, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 31] FIG. 1 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm illustrating a control program or logic configuration for adjusting sensor parameters of a sensor array, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 32] FIG. 1 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm illustrating a control program or logic configuration for adjusting sensor parameters of a sensor array, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 33] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a staple cartridge in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 34] FIG. 10 illustrates a cartridge comprising multiple sensors coupled to a control circuit through a set of coils for transferring power and data between the cartridge and the control circuit located within the instrument housing, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 35] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a surgical instrument configured or programmed to control distal translation of a displacement member, according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 36] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an end effector of a surgical stapling and severing instrument according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 37] 1 illustrates an exemplary tissue compression sensor system according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 38A] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a tissue contact circuit showing completion of the circuit upon contact of a pair of spaced apart contact plates with tissue, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 38B] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a tissue contact circuit showing completion of the circuit upon contact of a pair of spaced apart contact plates with tissue, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 39] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a surgical instrument with sensor monitoring and processing circuitry in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 40] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a portion of an end effector comprising an anvil and a staple cartridge including a sensor array, in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 41] FIG. 41 is a partial cutaway view of the cartridge of FIG. 40 with multiple independently addressable sensors, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 42] 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for monitoring multiple sensors in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 43] 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for monitoring multiple sensors in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 44] 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for monitoring multiple sensors in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 45] 1 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for monitoring multiple sensors in accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 46] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of an end effector with multiple sensor arrays, according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 47]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first sensor array and a second sensor array positioned within a pan or retainer of a cartridge base, the first sensor array and the second sensor array shown coupled to electronic circuitry, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 48] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a staple forming pocket of an anvil including conductive circuitry according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 49] FIG. 49 illustrates a perspective view of the staple forming pocket of FIG. 48 after the conductive circuitry has been severed by the staple legs during proper formation of the staple legs, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 50] 1 illustrates a distal sensor plug comprising electronic circuitry configured to monitor and process signals from a first sensor array and a second sensor array, according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. [Figure 51] In accordance with at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for monitoring the internal systems of a staple cartridge to detect and track the state of motion of cartridge components.

[0003] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set forth herein illustrate various embodiments of the invention in one form only, and such exemplifications should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The applicant of the present application also owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on the same day as this application, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its individual entirety: -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "METHOD OF POWERING AND COMMUNICATING WITH A STAPLE CARTRIDGE," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP1 / 200837-1M; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "METHOD OF POWERING AND COMMUNICATING WITH A STAPLE CARTRIDGE," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP2 / 200837-2M; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "ADJUSTMENT TO TRANSFER PARAMETERS TO IMPROVE AVAILABLE POWER," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP4 / 200837-4; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "MONITORING OF MANUFACTURING LIFE-CYCLE," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP5 / 200837-5; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "MONITORING OF MULTIPLE SENSORS OVER TIME TO DETECT MOVING CHARACTERISTICS OF TISSUE," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP6 / 200837-6; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "MONITORING OF INTERNAL SYSTEMS TO DETECT AND TRACK CARTRIDGE MOTION STATUS," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP7 / 200837-7; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "DISTAL COMMUNICATION ARRAY TO TUNE FREQUENCY OF RF SYSTEMS," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP8 / 200837-8; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A SENSOR ARRAY," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP9 / 200837-9; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A SENSING ARRAY AND A TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP10 / 200837-10; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING AN INFORMATION ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP11 / 200837-11; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A POWER MANAGEMENT CIRCUIT," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP12 / 200837-12; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "STAPLING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SEPARATE POWER ANTENNA AND A DATA TRANSFER ANTENNA," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP13 / 200837-13; -U.S. Patent Application, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING A POWER TRANSFER COIL," attorney docket number END9295USNP14 / 200837-14; and -U.S. Patent Application entitled "STAPLING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SIGNAL ANTENNA," Attorney Docket No. END9295USNP15 / 200837-15.

[0005] The applicant of this application also owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on October 29, 2020, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety: - U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 084,179, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A RELEASABLE CLOSURE DRIVE LOCK"; -U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 084,190, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A STOWED CLOSURE ACTUATOR STOP"; - U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 084,198, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN INDICATOR WHICH INDICATES THAT AN ARTICULATION DRIVE IS ACTUATABLE"; -U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 084,205, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION INDICATOR"; -U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 084,258, entitled "METHOD FOR OPERATING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT"; -U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 084,206, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION LOCK"; -U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 084,215, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A JAW ALIGNMENT SYSTEM"; -U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 084,229, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING SEALABLE INTERFACE"; -U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 084,180, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A LIMITED TRAVEL SWITCH"; - U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 756,615, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING ASSEMBLY"; - U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 756,620, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING ASSEMBLY"; -U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 084,188, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A STAGED VOLTAGE REGULATION START-UP SYSTEM"; -U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 084,193, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SENSOR CONFIGURED TO SENSE WHETHER AN ARTICULATION DRIVE OF THE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT IS ACTUATABLE."

[0006] The applicant of the present application also owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on April 11, 2020, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 846,303, entitled "METHODS FOR STAPLING TISSUE USING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0345353). -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 846,304, entitled "ARTICULATION ACTUATORS FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0345354); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 846,305, entitled "ARTICULATION DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS ON A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0345446); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 846,307, entitled "SHAFT ROTATION ACTUATOR ON A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 03453549); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 846,308, entitled "ARTICULATION CONTROL MAPPING FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0345355); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 846,309, entitled "INTELLIGENT FIRING ASSOCIATED WITH A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0345356); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 846,310, entitled "INTELLIGENT FIRING ASSOCIATED WITH A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0345357); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 846,311, entitled "ROTATABLE JAW TIP FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0345358); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 846,312, entitled "TISSUE STOP FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0345359); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 846,313, entitled "ARTICULATION PIN FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0345360).

[0007] The entire disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 840,715, filed April 30, 2019, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ADAPTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM," is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0008] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on February 21, 2019, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,658, entitled "METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A POWERED SURGICAL STAPLER THAT HAS SEPARATE ROTARY CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298350); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,670, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A LOCKOUT KEY CONFIGURED TO LIFT A FIRING MEMBER" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298340); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,675, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLERS WITH ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAINTAINING A FIRING MEMBER THEREOF IN A LOCKED CONFIGURATION UNLESS A COMPATIBLE CARTRIDGE HAS BEEN INSTALLED THEREIN" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298354); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,685, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING CO-OPERATING LOCKOUT FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298341); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,693, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKOUT AND AN EXTERIOR ACCESS ORIFICE TO PERMIT ARTIFICIAL UNLOCKING OF THE LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298342); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,704, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH FEATURES FOR BLOCKING ADVANCEMENT OF A CAMMING ASSEMBLY OF AN INCOMPATIBLE CARTRIDGE INSTALLED THEREIN" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298356); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,707, entitled "STAPLING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A DEACTIVATABLE LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298347); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,741, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A JAW CLOSURE LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298357); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,762, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH CARTRIDGE COMPATIBLE CLOSURE AND FIRING LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298343); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,666, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH IMPROVED ROTARY DRIVEN CLOSURE SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298352); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,672, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH ASYMMETRIC CLOSURE FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298353); U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,678, entitled "ROTARY DRIVEN FIRING MEMBERS WITH DIFFERENT ANVIL AND CHANNEL ENGAGEMENT FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298355); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 281,682, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH SEPARATE ROTARY DRIVEN CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS AND FIRING MEMBER THAT ENGAGES BOTH JAWS WHILE FIRING" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0298346).

[0009] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on February 19, 2019, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 807,310, entitled "METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A POWERED SURGICAL STAPLER THAT HAS SEPARATE ROTARY CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 807,319, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH IMPROVED LOCKOUT SYSTEMS"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 807,309, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICES WITH IMPROVED ROTARY DRIVEN CLOSURE SYSTEMS."

[0010] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on March 28, 2018, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein: -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,302, entitled "INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,294, entitled "DATA STRIPPING METHOD TO INTERROGATE PATIENT RECORDS AND CREATE ANONYMIZED RECORD"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,300, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SITUATIONAL AWARENESS"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,309, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SPATIAL AWARENESS TO DETERMINE DEVICES IN OPERATING THEATER"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,310, entitled "COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,291, entitled "USE OF LASER LIGHT AND RED-GREEN-BLUE COLORATION TO DETERMINE PROPERTIES OF BACK SCATTERED LIGHT"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,296, entitled "ADAPTIVE CONTROL PROGRAM UPDATES FOR SURGICAL DEVICES"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,333, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR CUSTOMIZATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO A USER"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,327, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR SECURITY AND AUTHENTICATION TRENDS AND REACTIVE MEASURES"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,315, entitled "DATA HANDLING AND PRIORITIZATION IN A CLOUD ANALYTICS NETWORK"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,313, entitled "CLOUD INTERFACE FOR COUPLED SURGICAL DEVICES"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,320, entitled "DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,307, entitled "AUTOMATIC TOOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS," and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,323, entitled "SENSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS."

[0011] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on March 30, 2018, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties: -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 650,887, entitled "SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH OPTIMIZED SENSING CAPABILITIES."

[0012] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on December 4, 2018, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties: -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,423, entitled "METHOD OF COMPRESSING TISSUE WITHIN A STAPLING DEVICE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLAYING THE LOCATION OF THE TISSUE WITHIN THE JAWS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0200981).

[0013] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed on August 20, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,101, entitled "METHOD FOR FABRICATING SURGICAL STAPLER ANVILS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0054323); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,183, entitled "REINFORCED DEFORMABLE ANVIL TIP FOR SURGICAL STAPLER ANVIL" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,912,559); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,150, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLER ANVILS WITH STAPLE DIRECTING PROTRUSIONS AND TISSUE STABILITY FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0054326); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,098, entitled "FABRICATING TECHNIQUES FOR SURGICAL STAPLER ANVILS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0054322); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,140, ​​entitled "SURGICAL STAPLER ANVILS WITH TISSUE STOP FEATURES CONFIGURED TO AVOID TISSUE PINCH" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,779,821); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,081, entitled "METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWERED ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0054320); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,094, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH PROGRESSIVE JAW CLOSURE ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0054321); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,097, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CLUTCHING ARRANGEMENTS TO CONVERT LINEAR DRIVE MOTIONS TO ROTARY DRIVE MOTIONS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0054328); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,104, entitled "POWERED ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CLUTCHING AND LOCKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR LINKING AN ARTICULATION DRIVE SYSTEM TO A FIRING DRIVE SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,842,492); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,119, entitled "ARTICULATABLE MOTOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH DEDICATED ARTICULATION MOTOR ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0054330); -U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 105,160, entitled "SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR MOTOR POWERED ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,856,870); and -U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 660,252, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLER ANVILS."

[0014] The applicant of the present application owns the following US patent applications and US patents, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,185, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND REPLACEABLE TOOL ASSEMBLIES THEREOF" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,639,035); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,230, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168649); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,221, entitled "LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,835,247); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,209, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS AND FIRING MEMBERS THEREOF" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,588,632); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,198, entitled "LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS AND REPLACEABLE TOOL ASSEMBLIES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,610,224); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,240, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS AND ADAPTABLE FIRING MEMBERS THEREFOR" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168651); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,939, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,835,246); - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,941, entitled "SURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLIES WITH CLUTCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHIFTING BETWEEN CLOSURE SYSTEMS WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION FEATURES AND ARTICULATION AND FIRING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,736,629); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,943, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,667,811); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,950, entitled "SURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLIES WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,588,630); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,945, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,893,864); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,946, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168633); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,951, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH JAW OPENING FEATURES FOR INCREASING A JAW OPENING DISTANCE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,568,626); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,953, entitled "METHODS OF STAPLING TISSUE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,675,026); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,954, entitled "FIRING MEMBERS WITH NON-PARALLEL JAW ENGAGEMENT FEATURES FOR SURGICAL END EFFECTORS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,624,635); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,955, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH EXPANDABLE TISSUE STOP ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,813,638); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,948, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS AND STAPLE-FORMING ANVILS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168584); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,956, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH POSITIVE JAW OPENING FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,588,631); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,958, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING FIRING SYSTEM ACTUATION UNLESS AN UNSPENT STAPLE CARTRIDGE IS PRESENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,639,034); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,947, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGES AND ARRANGEMENTS OF STAPLES AND STAPLE CAVITIES THEREIN" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,568,625); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,896, entitled "METHOD FOR RESETTING A FUSE OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SHAFT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168597); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,898, entitled "STAPLE-FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENT TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAPLES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,537,325); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,899, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING IMPROVED JAW CONTROL" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,758,229); - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,901, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE AND STAPLE CARTRIDGE CHANNEL COMPRISING WINDOWS DEFINED THEREIN" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,667,809); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,902, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CUTTING MEMBER" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,888,322). -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,904, entitled "STAPLE FIRING MEMBER COMPRISING A MISSING CARTRIDGE AND / OR SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,881,401); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,905, entitled "FIRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,695,055); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,907, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN END EFFECTOR LOCKOUT AND A FIRING ASSEMBLY LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168608); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,908, entitled "FIRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FUSE" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168609); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,909, entitled "FIRING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MULTIPLE FAILED-STATE FUSE" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168610); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,920, entitled "STAPLE-FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,499,914); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,913, entitled "ANVIL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168614); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,914, entitled "METHOD OF DEFORMING STAPLES FROM TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF STAPLE CARTRIDGES WITH THE SAME SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168615); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,893, entitled "BILATERALLY ASYMMETRIC STAPLE-FORMING POCKET PAIRS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,682,138); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,929, entitled "CLOSURE MEMBERS WITH CAM SURFACE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SEPARATE AND DISTINCT CLOSURE AND FIRING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,667,810); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,911, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLERS WITH INDEPENDENTLY ACTUATABLE CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,448,950); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,927, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH SMART STAPLE CARTRIDGES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168625); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,917, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING STAPLES WITH DIFFERENT CLAMPING BREADTHS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168617); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,900, entitled "STAPLE-FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS COMPRISING PRIMARY SIDEWALLS AND POCKET SIDEWALLS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,898,186); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,931, entitled "NO-CARTRIDGE AND SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168627); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,915, entitled "FIRING MEMBER PIN ANGLE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,779,823); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,897, entitled "STAPLE-FORMING POCKET ARRANGEMENTS COMPRISING ZONED FORMING SURFACE GROOVES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168598); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,922, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FAILURE RESPONSE MODES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,426,471); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,924, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH PRIMARY AND SAFETY PROCESSORS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,758,230); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,910, entitled "ANVIL HAVING A KNIFE SLOT WIDTH" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,485,543); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,903, entitled "CLOSURE MEMBER ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,617,414); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,906, entitled "FIRING MEMBER PIN CONFIGURATIONS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,856,868); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,188, entitled "STEPPED STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH ASYMMETRICAL STAPLES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,537,324); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,192, entitled "STEPPED STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH TISSUE RETENTION AND GAP SETTING FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,687,810); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,206, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH DEFORMABLE DRIVER RETENTION FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168586); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,226, entitled "DURABILITY FEATURES FOR END EFFECTORS AND FIRING ASSEMBLIES OF SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168648); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,222, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS HAVING END EFFECTORS WITH POSITIVE OPENING FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168647); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 386,236, entitled "CONNECTION PORTIONS FOR DEPOSABLE LOADING UNITS FOR SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168650); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,887, entitled "METHOD FOR ATTACHING A SHAFT ASSEMBLY TO A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND, ALTERNATIVELY, TO A SURGICAL ROBOT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,835,245); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,889, entitled "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MANUALLY-OPERABLE RETRACTION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A MOTORIZED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168590); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,890, entitled "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SEPARATELY ACTUATABLE AND RETRACTABLE SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,675,025); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,891, entitled "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CLUTCH CONFIGURED TO ADAPT THE OUTPUT OF A ROTARY FIRING MEMBER TO TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168592); - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,892, entitled "SURGICAL SYSTEM COMPRISING A FIRING MEMBER ROTATABLE INTO AN ARTICULATION STATE TO ARTICULATE AN END EFFECTOR OF THE SURGICAL SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,918,385); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,894, entitled "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,492,785); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,895, entitled "SHAFT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND ARTICULATION LOCKOUTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,542,982); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,916, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168575); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,918, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168618); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,919, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168619); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,921, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH MOVABLE CAMMING MEMBER CONFIGURED TO DISENGAGE FIRING MEMBER LOCKOUT FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,687,809); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,923, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168623); - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,925, entitled "JAW ACTUATED LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING ADVANCEMENT OF A FIRING MEMBER IN A SURGICAL END EFFECTOR UNLESS AN UNFIRED CARTRIDGE IS INSTALLED IN THE END EFFECTOR" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,517,595); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,926, entitled "AXIALLY MOVABLE CLOSURE SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPLYING CLOSURE MOTIONS TO JAWS OF SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168577); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,928, entitled "PROTECTIVE COVER ARRANGEMENTS FOR A JOINT INTERFACE BETWEEN A MOVABLE JAW AND ACTUATOR SHAFT OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168578); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,930, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTOR WITH TWO SEPARATE COOPERATING OPENING FEATURES FOR OPENING AND CLOSING END EFFECTOR JAWS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168579); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,932, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL END EFFECTOR WITH ASYMMETRIC SHAFT ARRANGEMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168628); - U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,933, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH INDEPENDENT PIVOTABLE LINKAGE DISTAL OF AN ARTICULATION LOCK" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,603,036); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,934, entitled "ARTICULATION LOCK ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOCKING AN END EFFECTOR IN AN ARTICULATED POSITION IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF A JAW CLOSURE SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,582,928); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,935, entitled "Laterally Actuable Articulation Lock Arrangements for Locking an End Effector of a Surgical Instrument in an Articulated Configuration" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,524,789); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 385,936, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATION STROKE AMPLIFICATION FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,517,596); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 318,996, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGES INCLUDING EXTENSIONS HAVING DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0297228); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 319,006, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING FASTENER CAVITIES INCLUDING FASTENER CONTROL FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,010,324); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 318,991, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER CARTRIDGES WITH DRIVER STABILIZING ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,833,241); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 319,004, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH FIRING ELEMENT MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,844,369); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 319,008, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING NON-UNIFORM FASTENERS" (U.S. Patent No. 10,299,792); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 318,997, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING DEPLOYABLE TISSUE ENGAGING MEMBERS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 10,561,422); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 319,002, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING TISSUE CONTROL FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,877,721); U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 319,013, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLIES AND STAPLE RETAINER COVER ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0297233); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 319,016, entitled "FASTENER CARTRIDGE INCLUDING A LAYER ATTACHED THERETO" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,470,768).

[0015] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed June 24, 2016, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 191,775, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING WIRE STAPLES AND STAMPED STAPLES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0367695); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 191,807, entitled "STAPLING SYSTEM FOR USE WITH WIRE STAPLES AND STAMPED STAPLES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,702,270); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 191,834, entitled "STAMPED STAPLES AND STAPLE CARTRIDGES USING THE SAME" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,542,979); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 191,788, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING OVERDRIVEN STAPLES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,675,024); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 191,818, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING OFFSET LONGITUDINAL STAPLE ROWS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,893,863).

[0016] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed June 24, 2016, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,218, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER" (now U.S. Design Patent No. D826,405); -U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,227, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER" (now U.S. Design Patent No. D822,206); -U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,259, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER CARTRIDGE" (now U.S. Design Patent No. D847,989); -U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 569,264, entitled "SURGICAL FASTENER CARTRIDGE" (now U.S. Design Patent No. D850,617).

[0017] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on April 1, 2016, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,325, entitled "METHOD FOR OPERATING A SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281171); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,321, entitled "MODULAR SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,271,851); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,326, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY INCLUDING A RE-ORIENTABLE DISPLAY FIELD," (now U.S. Patent No. 10,433,849); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,263, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE ASSEMBLY WITH RECONFIGURABLE GRIP PORTION" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,307,159); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,262, entitled "ROTARY POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MANUALLY ACTUATABLE BAILOUT SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,357,246); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,277, entitled "SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING END EFFECTOR WITH ANVIL CONCENTRIC DRIVE MEMBER" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,531,874); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,296, entitled "INTERCHANGEABLE SURGICAL TOOL ASSEMBLY WITH A SURGICAL END EFFECTOR THAT IS SELECTIVELY ROTATABLE ABOUT A SHAFT AXIS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,413,293); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,258, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A SHIFTABLE TRANSMISSION" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,342,543); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,278, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO PROVIDE SELECTIVE CUTTING OF TISSUE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,420,552); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,284, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A CONTOURABLE SHAFT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281186); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,295, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A TISSUE COMPRESSION LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,856,867); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,300, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN UNCLAMPING LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,456,140); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,196, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A JAW CLOSURE LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,568,632); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,203, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A JAW ATTACHMENT LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,542,991); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,210, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A SPENT CARTRIDGE LOCKOUT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,478,190); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,324, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SHIFTING MECHANISM" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,314,582). -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,335, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING MULTIPLE LOCKOUTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,485,542); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,339, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281173); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,253, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO APPLY ANNULAR ROWS OF STAPLES HAVING DIFFERENT HEIGHTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,413,297); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,304, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING A GROOVED FORMING POCKET" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,285,705); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,331, entitled "ANVIL MODIFICATION MEMBERS FOR SURGICAL STAPLERS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,376,263); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,336, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGES WITH ATRAUMATIC FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,709,446); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,312, entitled "CIRCULAR STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INCISABLE TISSUE SUPPORT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0281189); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,309, entitled "CIRCULAR STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING ROTARY FIRING SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,675,021); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 089,349, entitled "CIRCULAR STAPLING SYSTEM COMPRISING LOAD CONTROL" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,682,136).

[0018] The applicant of the present application also owns the following identified U.S. patent applications, filed on December 30, 2015, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 984,488, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR BATTERY PACK FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,292,704); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 984,525, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,368,865); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 984,552, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SEPARABLE MOTORS AND MOTOR CONTROL CIRCUITS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,265,068).

[0019] The applicant of the present application also owns the following identified U.S. patent applications, filed on February 9, 2016, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,220, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ARTICULATING AND AXIALLY TRANSLATABLE END EFFECTOR" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,245,029); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,228, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE LINK ARTICULATION ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,433,837); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,196, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ARTICULATION MECHANISM WITH SLOTTED SECONDARY CONSTRAINT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,413,291); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,206, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH AN END EFFECTOR THAT IS HIGHLY ARTICULATABLE RELATIVE TO AN ELONGATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,653,413); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,215, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH NON-SYMMETRICAL ARTICULATION ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0224332); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,227, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SINGLE ARTICULATION LINK ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0224334); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,235, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH TENSIONING ARRANGEMENTS FOR CABLE DRIVEN ARTICULATION SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,245,030); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,230, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-AXIS FIRING BEAM ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,588,625); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 019,245, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CLOSURE STROKE REDUCTION ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,470,764).

[0020] The applicant of the present application also owns the following identified U.S. patent applications, filed on February 12, 2016, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 043,254, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,258,331); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 043,259, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,448,948); U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 043,275, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0231627); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 043,289, entitled "MECHANISMS FOR COMPENSATING FOR DRIVETRAIN FAILURE IN POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0231628).

[0021] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on June 18, 2015, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,925, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH POSITIVE JAW OPENING ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,182,818); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,941, entitled "SURGICAL END EFFECTORS WITH DUAL CAM ACTUATED JAW CLOSING FEATURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,052,102); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,933, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREVENTING FIRING SYSTEM ACTUATION WHEN A CARTRIDGE IS SPENT OR MISSING" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,154,841); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,914, entitled "MOVABLE FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,405,863); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,900, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH COMPOSITE FIRING BEAM STRUCTURES WITH CENTER FIRING SUPPORT MEMBER FOR ARTICULATION SUPPORT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,335,149); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,885, entitled "DUAL ARTICULATION DRIVE SYSTEM ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,368,861); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 742,876, entitled "PUSH / PULL ARTICULATION DRIVE SYSTEMS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,178,992).

[0022] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on March 6, 2015, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,746, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,808,246); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,795, entitled "MULTIPLE LEVEL THRESHOLDS TO MODIFY OPERATION OF POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,441,279); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,832, entitled "ADAPTIVE TISSUE COMPRESSION TECHNIQUES TO ADJUST CLOSURE RATES FOR MULTIPLE TISSUE TYPES," (now U.S. Patent No. 10,687,806); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,935, entitled "OVERLAID MULTI SENSOR RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) ELECTRODE SYSTEM TO MEASURE TISSUE COMPRESSION" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,548,504); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,831, entitled "MONITORING SPEED CONTROL AND PRECISION INCREMENTING OF MOTOR FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,895,148); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,859, entitled "TIME DEPENDENT EVALUATION OF SENSOR DATA TO DETERMINE STABILITY, CREEP, AND VISCOELASTIC ELEMENTS OF MEASURES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,052,044); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,817, entitled "INTERACTIVE FEEDBACK SYSTEM FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,924,961); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,844, entitled "CONTROL TECHNIQUES AND SUB-PROCESSOR CONTAINED WITHIN MODULAR SHAFT WITH SELECT CONTROL PROCESSING FROM HANDLE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,045,776); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,837, entitled "SMART SENSORS WITH LOCAL SIGNAL PROCESSING" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,993,248); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,765, entitled "SYSTEM FOR DETECTING THE MIS-INSERTION OF A STAPLE CARTRIDGE INTO A SURGICAL STAPLER" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,617,412); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,799, entitled "SIGNAL AND POWER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM POSITIONED ON A ROTATABLE SHAFT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,901,342); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 640,780, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A LOCKABLE BATTERY HOUSING" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,245,033).

[0023] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on February 27, 2015, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,576, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INSPECTION STATION" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,045,779); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,546, entitled "SURGICAL APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO ASSESS WHETHER A PERFORMANCE PARAMETER OF THE SURGICAL APPARATUS IS WITHIN AN ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE BAND" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,180,463); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,560, entitled "SURGICAL CHARGING SYSTEM THAT CHARGES AND / OR CONDITIONS ONE OR MORE BATTERIES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0249910); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,566, entitled "CHARGING SYSTEM THAT ENABLES EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS FOR CHARGING A BATTERY" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,182,816); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,555, entitled "SYSTEM FOR MONITORING WHETHER A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,321,907); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,542, entitled "REINFORCED BATTERY FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,931,118); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,548, entitled "POWER ADAPTER FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,245,028); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,526, entitled "ADAPTABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,993,258); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,541, entitled "MODULAR STAPLING ASSEMBLY" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,226,250); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 633,562, entitled "SURGICAL APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO TRACK AN END-OF-LIFE PARAMETER" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,159,483).

[0024] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on December 18, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 574,478, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS COMPRISING AN ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTOR AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE FIRING STROKE OF A FIRING MEMBER" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,844,374); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 574,483, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING LOCKABLE SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,188,385); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,139, entitled "DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,844,375); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,148, entitled "LOCKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES WITH ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL END EFFECTORS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,085,748); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,130, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH AN ANVIL THAT IS SELECTIVELY MOVABLE ABOUT A DISCRETE NON-MOVABLE AXIS RELATIVE TO A STAPLE CARTRIDGE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,245,027); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,143, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH IMPROVED CLOSURE ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,004,501); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,117, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND MOVABLE FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,943,309); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 575,154, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ARTICULATABLE END EFFECTORS AND IMPROVED FIRING BEAM SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,968,355); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 574,493, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,987,000); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 574,500, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A LOCKABLE ARTICULATION SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,117,649).

[0025] The applicant of this application owns the following patent applications, filed on March 1, 2013, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,295, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CONDUCTIVE PATHWAYS FOR SIGNAL COMMUNICATION" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,700,309); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,323, entitled "ROTARY POWERED ARTICULATION JOINTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,782,169); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,338, entitled "THUMBWHEEL SWITCH ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0249557); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,499, entitled "ELECTROMECHANICAL SURGICAL DEVICE WITH SIGNAL RELAY ARRANGEMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,358,003); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,460, entitled "MULTIPLE PROCESSOR MOTOR CONTROL FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,554,794); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,358, entitled "JOYSTICK SWITCH ASSEMBLIES FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,326,767); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,481, entitled "SENSOR STRAIGHTENED END EFFECTOR DURING REMOVAL THROUGH TROCAR" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,468,438); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,518, entitled "CONTROL METHODS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH REMOVABLE IMPLEMENT PORTIONS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0246475); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,375, entitled "ROTARY POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE DEGREES OF FREEDOM" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,398,911); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 782,536, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SOFT STOP" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,307,986).

[0026] The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent applications, filed on March 14, 2013, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,097, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A FIRING DRIVE" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,687,230); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,193, entitled "CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR A DRIVE MEMBER OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,332,987); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,053, entitled "INTERCHANGEABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES FOR USE WITH A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,883,860); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,086, entitled "ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ARTICULATION LOCK" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0263541); - U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,210, entitled "SENSOR ARRANGEMENTS FOR ABSOLUTE POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,808,244); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,148, entitled "MULTI-FUNCTION MOTOR FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,470,762); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,066, entitled "DRIVE SYSTEM LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,629,623); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,117, entitled "ARTICULATION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,351,726); -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,130, entitled "DRIVE TRAIN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,351,727); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 803,159, entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,888,919).

[0027] The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent applications, filed on March 7, 2014, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 200,111, entitled "CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,629,629).

[0028] The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent applications, filed on March 26, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,106, entitled "POWER MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0272582); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,099, entitled "STERILIZATION VERIFICATION CIRCUIT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,826,977); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,094, entitled "VERIFICATION OF NUMBER OF BATTERY EXCHANGES / PROCEDURE COUNT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0272580); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,117, entitled "POWER MANAGEMENT THROUGH SLEEP OPTIONS OF SEGMENTED CIRCUIT AND WAKE UP CONTROL" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,013,049); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,075, entitled "MODULAR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH DETACHABLE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,743,929); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,093, entitled "FEEDBACK ALGORITHMS FOR MANUAL BAILOUT SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,028,761); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,116, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT UTILIZING SENSOR ADAPTATION" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0272571); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,071, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT CONTROL CIRCUIT HAVING A SAFETY PROCESSOR" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,690,362); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,097, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,820,738); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,126, entitled "INTERFACE SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,004,497); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,133, entitled "MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0272557); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,081, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A SEGMENTED CIRCUIT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,804,618); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,076, entitled "POWER MANAGEMENT THROUGH SEGMENTED CIRCUIT AND VARIABLE VOLTAGE PROTECTION" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,733,663); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,111, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,750,499); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 226,125, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SHAFT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,201,364).

[0029] The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent applications, filed on September 5, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,103, entitled "CIRCUITRY AND SENSORS FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,111,679); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,119, entitled "ADJUNCT WITH INTEGRATED SENSORS TO QUANTIFY TISSUE COMPRESSION" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,724,094); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 478,908, entitled "MONITORING DEVICE DEGRADATION BASED ON COMPONENT EVALUATION" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,737,301); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 478,895, entitled "MULTIPLE SENSORS WITH ONE SENSOR AFFECTING A SECOND SENSOR'S OUTPUT OR INTERPRETATION" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,757,128); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,110, entitled "POLARITY OF HALL MAGNET TO IDENTIFY CARTRIDGE TYPE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,016,199); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,098, entitled "SMART CARTRIDGE WAKE UP OPERATION AND DATA RETENTION" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,135,242); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,115, entitled "MULTIPLE MOTOR CONTROL FOR POWERED MEDICAL DEVICE" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,788,836); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 479,108, entitled "LOCAL DISPLAY OF TISSUE PARAMETER STABILIZATION" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0066913).

[0030] The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent applications, filed on April 9, 2014, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,590, entitled "MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCKABLE DUAL DRIVE SHAFTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,826,976); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,581, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CLOSING DRIVE AND A FIRING DRIVE OPERATED FROM THE SAME ROTATABLE OUTPUT" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,649,110); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,595, entitled "SURGICAL SYSTEM COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND DRIVE SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,844,368); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,588, entitled "POWERED LINEAR SURGICAL STAPLER" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,405,857); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,591, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A GAP SETTING SYSTEM" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,149,680); - U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,584, entitled "MODULAR MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ALIGNMENT FEATURES FOR ALIGNING ROTARY DRIVE SHAFTS WITH SURGICAL END EFFECTOR SHAFTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,801,626); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,587, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL STAPLER" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,867,612); -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,586, entitled "DRIVE SYSTEM DECOUPLING ARRANGEMENT FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,136,887); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 248,607, entitled "MODULAR MOTOR DRIVEN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH STATUS INDICATION ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent No. 9,814,460).

[0031] The applicant of the present application also owns the following patent applications, filed on April 16, 2013, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,365, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,376, entitled "LINEAR CUTTER WITH POWER"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,382, entitled "LINEAR CUTTER WITH MOTOR AND PISTOL GRIP"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,385, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HANDLE WITH MULTIPLE ACTUATION MOTORS AND MOTOR CONTROL"; and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 812,372, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY A SINGLE MOTOR."

[0032] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on December 28, 2017, the entire disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference: -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 611,341, entitled "INTERACTIVE SURGICAL PLATFORM"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 611,340, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS"; and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 611,339, entitled "ROBOT ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORM."

[0033] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. provisional patent applications, filed on March 28, 2018, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein: -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,302, entitled "INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,294, entitled "DATA STRIPPING METHOD TO INTERROGATE PATIENT RECORDS AND CREATE ANONYMIZED RECORD"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,300, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SITUATIONAL AWARENESS"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,309, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SPATIAL AWARENESS TO DETERMINE DEVICES IN OPERATING THEATER"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,310, entitled "COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS"; - U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,291, entitled "USE OF LASER LIGHT AND RED-GREEN-BLUE COLORATION TO DETERMINE PROPERTIES OF BACK SCATTERED LIGHT"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,296, entitled "ADAPTIVE CONTROL PROGRAM UPDATES FOR SURGICAL DEVICES"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,333, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR CUSTOMIZATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO A USER"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,327, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR SECURITY AND AUTHENTICATION TRENDS AND REACTIVE MEASURES"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,315, entitled "DATA HANDLING AND PRIORITIZATION IN A CLOUD ANALYTICS NETWORK"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,313, entitled "CLOUD INTERFACE FOR COUPLED SURGICAL DEVICES"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,320, entitled "DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS"; -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,307, entitled "AUTOMATIC TOOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS," and -U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 649,323, entitled "SENSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS."

[0034] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed March 29, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,641, entitled "INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0207911); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,648, entitled "INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH CONDITION HANDLING OF DEVICES AND DATA CAPABILITIES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0206004); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,656, entitled "SURGICAL HUB COORDINATION OF CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION OF OPERATING ROOM DEVICES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201141); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,666, entitled "SPATIAL AWARENESS OF SURGICAL HUBS IN OPERATING ROOMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0206551); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,670, entitled "COOPERATIVE UTILIZATION OF DATA DERIVED FROM SECONDARY SOURCES BY INTELLIGENT SURGICAL HUBS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201116); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,677, entitled "SURGICAL HUB CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201143); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,632, entitled "DATA STRIPPING METHOD TO INTERROGATE PATIENT RECORDS AND CREATE ANONYMIZED RECORD" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0205566); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,640, entitled "COMMUNICATION HUB AND STORAGE DEVICE FOR STORING PARAMETERS AND STATUS OF A SURGICAL DEVICE TO BE SHARED WITH CLOUD BASED ANALYTICS SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0200863); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,645, entitled "SELF DESCRIBING DATA PACKETS GENERATED AT AN ISSUING INSTRUMENT" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,892,899); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,649, entitled "DATA PAIRING TO INTERCONNECT A DEVICE MEASURED PARAMETER WITH AN OUTCOME" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0205567); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,654, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SITUATIONAL AWARENESS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201140); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,663, entitled "SURGICAL SYSTEM DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201033); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,668, entitled "AGGREGATION AND REPORTING OF SURGICAL HUB DATA" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201115); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,671, entitled "SURGICAL HUB SPATIAL AWARENESS TO DETERMINE DEVICES IN OPERATING THEATER" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201104); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,686, entitled "DISPLAY OF ALIGNMENT OF STAPLE CARTRIDGE TO PRIOR LINEAR STAPLE LINE" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201105); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,700, entitled "STERILE FIELD INTERACTIVE CONTROL DISPLAYS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0205001); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,629, entitled "COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201112); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,704, entitled "USE OF LASER LIGHT AND RED-GREEN-BLUE COLORATION TO DETERMINE PROPERTIES OF BACK SCATTERED LIGHT" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0206050); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,722, entitled "CHARACTERIZATION OF TISSUE IRREGULARITIES THROUGH THE USE OF MONO-CHROMATIC LIGHT REFRACTIVITY" (now U.S. Patent Application No. 2019 / 0200905); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,742, entitled "DUAL CMOS ARRAY IMAGING" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0200906).

[0035] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed March 29, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,636, entitled "ADAPTIVE CONTROL PROGRAM UPDATES FOR SURGICAL DEVICES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0206003). -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,653, entitled "ADAPTIVE CONTROL PROGRAM UPDATES FOR SURGICAL HUBS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201114). -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,660, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR CUSTOMIZATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO A USER" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0206555); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,679, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR LINKING OF LOCAL USAGE TRENDS WITH THE RESOURCE ACQUISITION BEHAVIORS OF LARGER DATA SET" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201144); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,694, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR MACILITY SEGMENTED INDIVIDUALIZATION OF INSTRUMENT FUNCTION" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201119); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,634, entitled "CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR SECURITY AND AUTHENTICATION TRENDS AND REACTIVE MEASURES" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201138); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,706, entitled "DATA HANDLING AND PRIORITIZATION IN A CLOUD ANALYTICS NETWORK" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0206561); and -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,675, entitled "CLOUD INTERFACE FOR COUPLED SURGICAL DEVICES" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,849,697).

[0036] The applicant of this application owns the following U.S. patent applications, filed March 29, 2018, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,627, entitled "DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201111); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,637, entitled "COMMUNICATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201139); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,642, entitled "CONTROLS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201113); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,676, entitled "AUTOMATIC TOOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201142); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,680, entitled "CONTROLLERS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201135); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,683, entitled "COOPERATIVE SURGICAL ACTIONS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201145); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,690, entitled "DISPLAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201118); -U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 940,711, entitled "SENSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS" (now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201120).

[0037] As described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments. Well-known operations, components, and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. The reader will understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and exemplary. Variations and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0038] The terms "comprise" (and any form of comprise, such as "comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (and any form of have, such as "has" and "having"), "include" (and any form of include, such as "includes" and "including"), and "contain" (and any form of contain, such as "contains" and "containing") are open-ended linking verbs. Consequently, a surgical system, device, or apparatus that "comprises," "has," "includes," or "contains" one or more elements has those one or more elements, but is not limited to having only those one or more elements. Similarly, a system, device, or apparatus element that "comprises," "has," "includes," or "contains" one or more features has those one or more features, but is not limited to having only those one or more features.

[0039] The terms "proximal" and "distal" are used herein with reference to a clinician manipulating the handle portion of a surgical instrument. The term "proximal" refers to the portion closest to the clinician, and the term "distal" refers to the portion located away from the clinician. It will be further understood that for convenience and clarity, spatial terms such as "vertical," "horizontal," "up," and "down" may be used herein with respect to the drawings. However, surgical instruments are used in many orientations and positions, and these terms are not intended to be limiting and / or absolute.

[0040] Various exemplary devices and methods are provided for performing laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures. However, the reader will readily appreciate that the various methods and devices disclosed herein can be used in many surgical procedures and applications, including, for example, those associated with open surgical procedures. By proceeding through the Detailed Description section of this specification, the reader will further appreciate that the various instruments disclosed herein can be inserted into the body in any manner, such as through a natural opening, an incision or puncture made in tissue, etc. The working portions or end effector portions of these instruments can be inserted directly into the patient's body or through an access device having a working channel through which the end effector and elongate shaft of the surgical instrument can be advanced.

[0041] The surgical stapling system can include a shaft and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw includes a staple cartridge. The staple cartridge is insertable into and removable from the first jaw, although other embodiments are contemplated in which the staple cartridge is not removable from the first jaw, or at least not easily replaceable therefrom. The second jaw includes an anvil configured to deform staples ejected from the staple cartridge. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw about a closure axis, while the first jaw is pivotable relative to the second jaw. The surgical stapling system further includes an articulation joint configured to rotate, or articulate, the end effector relative to the shaft. The end effector is rotatable about an articulation axis extending through the articulation joint. Other embodiments are also contemplated that do not include an articulation joint.

[0042] The staple cartridge includes a cartridge body. The cartridge body includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a deck extending between the proximal and distal ends. During use, the staple cartridge is positioned on a first side of tissue to be stapled, and the anvil is positioned on a second side of the tissue. The anvil is moved toward the staple cartridge to press and clamp the tissue against the deck. Staples removably stored within the cartridge body can then be deployed into the tissue. The cartridge body includes staple cavities defined therein, and the staples are removably stored within the staple cavities. The staple cavities are arranged in six longitudinal rows. Three rows of staple cavities are positioned on a first side of a longitudinal slot, and three rows of staple cavities are positioned on a second side of the longitudinal slot. Other arrangements of staple cavities and staples may be possible.

[0043] The staples are supported by staple drivers within the cartridge body. The drivers are movable between a first, or unfired, position and a second, or fired, position to eject the staples from the staple cavities. The drivers are retained within the cartridge body by a retainer extending around a lower periphery of the cartridge body and include a resilient member configured to grip the cartridge body and hold the retainer against the cartridge body. The drivers are movable between their unfired and fired positions by a sled. The sled is movable between a proximal position adjacent the proximal end and a distal position adjacent the distal end. The sled includes a plurality of ramps configured to slide beneath the drivers and lift the drivers, on which the staples are supported, toward the anvil.

[0044] In addition to the above, the sled is moved distally by a firing member. The firing member is configured to contact the sled and push it toward the distal end. A longitudinal slot defined in the cartridge body is configured to receive the firing member. The anvil also includes a slot configured to receive the firing member. The firing member further includes a first cam engaging the first jaw and a second cam engaging the second jaw. When the firing member is advanced distally, the first cam and the second cam can control the distance between the deck of the staple cartridge and the anvil, i.e., the tissue gap. The firing member also includes a knife configured to cut tissue captured intermediate the staple cartridge and the anvil. It is desirable that the knife be positioned at least partially proximal to the beveled surface so that the staples are fired forward of the knife.

[0045] The surgical instrument 10000 is shown in FIG. 1. The surgical instrument 10000 comprises a handle 10100 including a handle housing 10120, a shaft 10200 extending from the handle 10100, and an end effector 10400. The end effector 10400 comprises a first jaw 10410 configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second jaw 10420 movable relative to the first jaw 10410. The second jaw 10420 comprises an anvil including staple forming pockets defined therein. The surgical instrument 10000 further comprises a closure actuator 10140 configured to actuate a closure system of the surgical instrument 10000 and move the second jaw 10420 between an unclamping position and a clamping position. The closure actuator 10140 is operatively coupled to a closure tube 10240 that is advanced distally when the closure actuator 10140 is closed. In such an example, the closure tube 10240 contacts the second jaw and cams and / or pushes the second jaw 10420 downward into its clamping position.

[0046] Further to the above, the second jaw 10420 is pivotally coupled to the first jaw 10410 about a pivot axis. In various embodiments, the second jaw can translate and rotate as it is moved to its clamping position. In various alternative embodiments, the surgical instrument includes a staple cartridge jaw that is movable between a non-clamping position and a clamping position relative to the anvil jaw. In either case, the handle 10100 includes a lock configured to releasably hold the closure actuator 10140 in its clamping position. The handle 10100 further includes an opposite release actuator 10180b that, when actuated, unlocks the closure actuator 10140 so that the end effector 10400 can be reopened. In various alternative embodiments, the handle 10100 includes an electric motor configured to, when actuated by the clinician, move the closure tube 10240 proximally and / or distally.

[0047] The end effector 10400 is attached to the shaft 10200 about the articulation joint 10500 and is rotatable in a plane about an articulation axis. The shaft 10200 defines a longitudinal axis, and the end effector 10400 is articulatable between a non-articulated position in which the end effector 10400 is aligned with the longitudinal axis and an articulated position in which the end effector 10400 extends at an angle transverse to the longitudinal axis. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument 10000 comprises, for example, a first articulation joint that allows the end effector 10400 to articulate in a first plane and a second articulation joint that allows the end effector 10400 to articulate in a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane. The handle 10100 comprises at least one electric motor and a control system configured to control operation of the electric motor in response to the articulation actuators 10160 and 10170. The electric motor comprises a brushless DC motor; however, the electric motor may comprise any suitable motor, such as, for example, a brushed DC motor.

[0048] The entire disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 10,149,683, issued December 11, 2018, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL CUTTING AND STAPLING APPARATUS WITH MANUALLY RETRACTABLE FIRING SYSTEM," is incorporated herein by reference. The entire disclosure of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0125481, published May 10, 2018, entitled "MOTOR-DRIVEN SURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENT," is incorporated herein by reference. The handle 10100 further comprises a replaceable and / or rechargeable battery 10300 attachable to the handle housing that powers the surgical instrument 10000. The entire disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 8,632,525, issued January 21, 2014, entitled "POWER CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND BATTERIES," is incorporated herein by reference.

[0049] Further to the above, the shaft 10200 is rotatable about a longitudinal axis extending through the shaft 10200. The shaft 10200 is rotatably connected to the handle 10100 about a rotary joint 10220, and the shaft 10200 includes one or more finger grooves defined therein that facilitate rotation of the shaft 10200 by a clinician using the stapling instrument 10000. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument 10000 includes an electric motor and a rotary actuator that, when actuated by the clinician, powers the electric motor to rotate the shaft 10200 in a first direction or a second direction depending on the direction the rotary actuator is actuated.

[0050] In addition to the above, the surgical instrument 10000 includes a staple firing drive configured to fire staples from the staple cartridge. The staple firing drive includes an electric motor and a firing member that is driven distally by the electric motor through a staple firing stroke. During the staple firing stroke, the firing member pushes a thread within the staple cartridge distally to eject the staples from the staple cartridge. The entire disclosure of U.S. Patent No. 9,629,629, issued April 25, 2017, entitled "CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," is incorporated herein by reference.

[0051] The surgical tool systems described herein are powered by electric motors; however, the surgical tool systems described herein can be driven in any suitable manner. In certain examples, the motors disclosed herein may comprise one or more portions of a robotically controlled system. For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 118,241 (now U.S. Patent No. 9,072,535), entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS," discloses several examples of robotic surgical tool systems in more detail, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. International Publication No. 2017 / 083125, published May 18, 2017, entitled "STAPLER WITH COMPOSITE CARDAN AND SCREW DRIVE"; International Publication No. 2017 / 083126, published May 18, 2017, entitled "STAPLE PUSHER WITH LOST MOTION BETWEEN RAMPS"; International Publication No. 2015 / 153642, published October 8, 2015, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SHIFTABLE TRANSMISSION"; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265954, filed March 17, 2017, entitled "STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DUAL DISTAL The disclosures of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0265865, filed February 15, 2017, entitled "STAPLER WITH CABLE-DRIVEN ADVANCEABLE CLAMPING ELEMENT AND DISTAL PULLEY" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,631,858), and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0290586, filed March 29, 2017, entitled "STAPLING CARTRIDGE" (now U.S. Patent No. 10,722,233), are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0052] Various embodiments disclosed herein may be utilized in connection with a robotic surgical system, such as the robotic system 1000 shown in FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 1 illustrates a master controller 5001 that may be used with the robotic arm cart 5100 shown in FIG. 2. The master controller 5001 and robotic arm cart 5100, along with their individual components and control systems, are collectively referred to herein as the robotic surgical system 5000. Examples of such systems and devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,524,320, entitled "MECHANICAL ACTUATOR INTERFACE SYSTEM FOR ROBOTIC SURGICAL TOOLS," and U.S. Pat. No. 9,072,535, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE STAPLE DEPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS," each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Details of such systems and devices will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity. The master controller 5001 includes a control unit 5003 that is held and operated by the surgeon while the surgeon views the patient via the display 1002. The control unit 5003 can include, for example, a manual input device that moves with multiple degrees of freedom, and can further include an actuatable trigger to actuate a surgical instrument or tool, for example, to close the grasping jaws, staple and cut tissue, and / or apply an electrical potential to the electrodes.

[0053] 2 and 3, the robotic arm cart 5100 is configured to actuate one or more surgical instruments, such as the surgical instrument 6000, in response to inputs from, for example, a master controller 5001. In various forms, the robotic arm cart 5100 includes a base 5002, an arm linkage including a setup joint 5104, and an instrument manipulator 5106. Such a configuration can facilitate rotation of the surgical instrument 6000 about a point in space, as fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,084, entitled "REMOTE CENTER POSITIONING DEVICE WITH FLEXIBLE DRIVE," the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This configuration provides for pivotal rotation of the surgical instrument 6000 about axis 5112a, or pitch axis. This arrangement also provides for rotation of the surgical instrument 6000 about axis 5112b, or yaw axis. The pitch axis 5112a and yaw axis 5112b intersect at a remote center 5114 that is aligned along the shaft of the surgical instrument 6000. The surgical instrument 6000 may have additional actuation degrees of freedom, including sliding motion along the longitudinal axis LT-LT. As the surgical instrument 6000 slides relative to the manipulator 5106 along the tool's longitudinal axis LT-LT (arrow 5112c), the remote center 5114 remains fixed relative to the base 5116 of the manipulator 5106. To move the remote center 5114, the linkage 5108 is driven by one or more motors 5120 that move the linkage 5108 in response to commands from the master controller 5001 to position and / or manipulate the surgical instrument 6000 within the surgical site. Various other configurations are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 5,878,193, entitled "AUTOMATED ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM FOR OPTIMAL POSITIONING," the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0054] Additionally, while data communication between robotic components and the robotic surgical system's processor is described herein primarily with reference to communication between surgical instruments or tools and the master controller 5001, it should be understood that similar communication may occur between circuitry of a manipulator, setup joint, endoscope or other image capture device, etc., and the robotic surgical system's processor for component compatibility assessment, component type identification, component calibration (e.g., offsets), component coupling verification, etc. In accordance with at least one aspect, the various surgical instruments disclosed herein may be used in conjunction with other robotically controlled or automated surgical systems and are not necessarily limited to use with the specific robotic system components shown in Figures 1-3 and described in the aforementioned references. Various robotic surgical systems and methods are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,132,368, entitled "MULTI-COMPONENT TELEPRESENCE SYSTEM AND METHOD," the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0055] The staple cartridge 11000 is shown in FIGS. 5-5C. The staple cartridge 11000 comprises a cartridge body 11100 having a proximal end 11110 and a distal end 11120. The cartridge body 11100 further comprises a deck 11130 extending between the proximal end 11110 and the distal end 11120, and staple cavities 11140 defined within the deck 11130. The staple cavities 11140 are arranged in longitudinal rows on either side of a longitudinal slot 11150 defined within the cartridge body 11100. The longitudinal slot 11150 is configured to receive a tissue-cutting knife therein that is pushed distally during a staple firing stroke to sever tissue captured against the deck 11130 of the staple cartridge 11000. The staple cartridge 11000 further comprises a staple 11200 positioned in each staple cavity 11140, and a staple driver 11300 that supports the staple 11200 and ejects the staple 11200 from the staple cavity 11140 during a staple firing stroke. The staple cartridge 11000 further comprises a sled 11400 that is urged distally by a firing member of the staple firing drive to contact and lift the staple driver 11300 toward the deck 11130 of the cartridge body 11100 during a staple firing stroke. The staple cartridge 11000 further comprises a pan 11700 attached to the cartridge body 11100 that is configured to hold the driver 11300 and / or staples 11200 from falling out the bottom of the cartridge body 11100.

[0056] The staple cartridge 11000 further comprises electronic circuitry. Although not shown in FIGS. 5-5C , the staple cartridge 11000 comprises an electronic circuitry 11500, which is shown in FIGS. 11-11C . Referring to FIGS. 11-11C , the electronic circuitry 11500 comprises a proximal end 11510 and a second end 11520. The proximal end 11510 comprises a cartridge antenna 11530 that is positioned to communicate with an instrument antenna 10530 of the surgical instrument 10000 when the staple cartridge 11000 is installed in the jaw 10410 of the end effector 10400. The electronic circuitry 11500 comprises a flexible substrate, such as a flex circuit, for example, conductive traces defined in and / or on the flexible substrate, and electronic components mounted to the flexible substrate in electrical communication with the conductive traces. In various embodiments, the electronic circuit 11500 is comprised of an insulator, conductive traces defined in and / or on the insulator, and electronic components mounted on a flexible substrate in electrical communication with the conductive traces.

[0057] 11-11C , the electronic circuit 11500 is embedded in the cartridge body 11100. The cartridge body 11100 includes a circuit slot 11160 defined in the deck 11130, with the electronic circuit 11500 positioned in the circuit slot 11160. The cartridge body 11100 further includes a first lateral side 11170, a second lateral side 11180, and a distal portion 11120 connecting the first lateral side 11170 and the second lateral side 11180. The circuit slot 11160 extends around and / or between the longitudinal rows of staple cavities 11140 on the first lateral side 11170 of the cartridge body 11100, around the distal portion 11120, and then proximally into the second lateral side 11180. Similar to the first lateral side 11170, the circuit slot 11160 extends around / between the longitudinal row of staple cavities 11140 on the second lateral side 11180. As a result of this arrangement, the electronic circuit 11500 can extend into both lateral sides of the cartridge body 11100 without having to cross the longitudinal slot 11150. Furthermore, such an arrangement allows the electronic circuit 11500 to extend into the distal portion 11120 of the cartridge body 11100. In various embodiments, the electronic circuit 11500 is embedded within the cartridge body 11100. In at least one such embodiment, the electronic circuit 11500 is snap-fit ​​and / or press-fit into the jaws 11160. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge body 11100 is constructed of plastic that is injection molded over at least a portion of the electronic circuit 11500.

[0058] 11-11C, in various embodiments, the staple cartridge 11000 includes an elastomeric connector that mechanically and electrically connects the sensor 11600 to the cartridge body 11100. In at least one embodiment, the elastomeric connector includes conductive and insulating regions in a rubber or elastomeric matrix to create an overall anisotropic conductive property. The matrix is ​​molded into a three-dimensional shape and then attached to the cartridge body 11100. In various embodiments, the shape of the matrix conforms to features on the cartridge body. In at least one embodiment, short, thin metal wires are embedded in the rubber sheet to connect the sensor 11600 to the control system of the staple cartridge 11000. In at least one case, the metal wires are composed of, for example, silver. In at least one case, the density of the metal wires in the matrix is, for example, about 300 wires / cm to about 2000 wires / cm. At the surface of the rubber sheet, the ends of the wires extend from the surface or are folded back toward the rubber substrate. At least one material under the ZEBRA trademark is available from Fuji Polymer Industries Company.

[0059] In various embodiments, the sensor system includes multiple sections selectively powered by a control system of the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the sensor system includes a first sensor section and a second sensor section, and the processor of the control system is configured to, for example, power only the first sensor section during a first mode of operation, power only the second sensor section during a second mode of operation, and power both sensor sections during a third mode of operation. Such embodiments can, among other things, reduce the amount of heat generated by the staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the first sensor section and the second sensor section include the same number of sensors, while in other embodiments, the first sensor section and the second sensor section include different numbers of sensors. In some embodiments, the first sensor section includes connecting wires therein with a first density, and the second sensor section includes connecting wires therein with a second density different from the first density.

[0060] 6 , the cartridge antenna 11530 comprises a coil 11540 defined in a plane parallel to the plane defined by the coil 10540 of the instrument antenna 10530. The coils 10540 and 11540 are sized, configured, and positioned to provide a sufficient and / or optimal transfer coefficient so that data and / or power can be efficiently transmitted between the instrument antenna 10530 and the cartridge antenna 11530. In various instances, the instrument coil 10540 includes a primary coil and the cartridge coil 11540 includes a secondary coil, and in use, power is transmitted wirelessly from the instrument coil 10540 to the cartridge coil 11540. In at least this embodiment, data signals can also be transmitted between the instrument coil 10540 and the cartridge coil 11540. More specifically, data signals can be transmitted from the surgical instrument 10000 to the staple cartridge 11000 and / or from the staple cartridge 11000 to the surgical instrument 10000. Any suitable software protocol and / or hardware components can be used to coordinate the transmission of power and data across the single pair of coils comprising the instrument coil 10540 and the cartridge coil 11540. In at least one embodiment, power and data signals are transmitted simultaneously between the instrument coil 10540 and the cartridge coil 11540. In at least one alternative embodiment, with reference to FIG. 7 , power and data signals are transmitted sequentially between the instrument coil 10540 and the cartridge coil 11540. In various embodiments, the instrument antenna 10530 and / or the cartridge antenna 11530 comprises a multiplexer that, for example, coordinates the transmission of signals between the antennas 10530 and 11530.

[0061] Referring again to FIG. 6 , the surgical instrument 10000 includes a processor 10610 in communication with the instrument antenna 10530. In at least one embodiment, the processor 10610 includes, for example, a near field communication (NFC) reader chip. The NFC reader chip uses high frequency radio frequency identification, for example, at a frequency of 13.56 MHz with a data rate of approximately 426 kbits / second. In various cases, the processor 10610 includes a low frequency RFID reader, for example, communicating at a frequency of about 120 kHz to about 150 kHz. In various cases, the processor 10610 includes a high frequency RFID reader, for example, communicating at a frequency of about 13.6 MHz. In various cases, the processor 10610 includes an ultra high frequency RFID reader, for example, communicating at a frequency of about 868 MHz. The entire disclosure of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 0405301, published December 31, 2020, entitled "METHOD FOR AUTHENTICATING THE COMPATIBILITY OF A STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT," is incorporated herein by reference. In various instances, the processor 10610 includes a Bluetooth component communicating at a frequency of, for example, about 2.4 GHz. In various instances, the processor 10610 includes a Qi wireless charging component communicating at a frequency of, for example, about 105 kHz to about 205 kHz. In any event, the processor 10610 includes input and output channels in communication with the instrument antenna 10530, which facilitate direct peer-to-peer communication with, for example, an NFC tag in communication with the cartridge antenna 11530, as described below.

[0062] Further to the above, the instrument antenna 10530 is configured to provide power and data signals to the staple cartridge 11000 via the cartridge antenna 11530. As described above, the staple cartridge circuit 11500 includes a plurality of sensors 11600 that measure at least one property of the staple cartridge 11000 and / or at least one property of the tissue supported by the staple cartridge 11000. In at least one embodiment, the sensor 11600 includes a capacitance sensor configured to detect, for example, tissue thickness and / or the amount of fluid or edema contained in the tissue. In at least one embodiment, the sensor 11600 includes a resistive sensor, such as, for example, a strain gauge, that measures strain or force load within the cartridge body 11100. In either case, the sensor 11600 requires power to measure the property and generate an output voltage detectable by the cartridge processor 11610 of the staple cartridge 11000. During use, power is delivered from the instrument coil 10540 to the cartridge coil 11540, rectified by the rectifier 11620, and then filtered by the capacitor 11630 before being supplied to the sensor 11600. The rectifier 11620 is configured to rectify the AC input into a DC output for at least one of the rectifier's 11620 output channels. In various cases, the rectifier 11620 is also configured to conduct the AC input to at least one of its output channels without rectification. The capacitor 11630 may include a low-pass filter and / or a high-pass filter that can filter out noise and / or extraneous signals received by the cartridge antenna 11530. The above-described configurations and / or any other suitable configurations can be used to provide the appropriate potentials and currents to the sensor 11600 and / or cartridge processor 11610. The output voltage of the sensor 11600 is supplied to an input gate of the cartridge processor 11610.In at least one case, the processor 11610 includes a multiplexer (MUX) configured, for example, to condition the output signal of the sensor 11600 into a single data signal that is transmitted back to the appliance antenna 10530 via the cartridge antenna 11530.

[0063] In addition to the above, the staple cartridge 11000 comprises an NFC tag 11640 in communication with the instrument antenna 10530, a rectifier 11620, a processor 11610, and the cartridge antenna 11530. The NFC tag 11640 comprises an input in communication with the rectifier 11620 configured to control and / or limit the electrical potential applied to the NFC tag 11640. In at least one instance, the NFC tag 11640 comprises its own rectifier. Upon receiving an input from the rectifier 11620, the NFC tag 11640 is configured to output a data signal to the cartridge antenna 11530 that includes data regarding the staple cartridge 11000. The NFC tag 11640 internally stores information regarding the identity of the staple cartridge 11000 stored therein, which is included in the data signal. The data signal output by the NFC tag 11640 is transmitted via the cartridge antenna 11530 to the instrument antenna 10530 and then to a control system of the surgical instrument 10000, such as the instrument processor 10610, to verify or authenticate the identity of the staple cartridge 11000.

[0064] In various instances, in addition to the above, many different types of staple cartridges may be usable with the surgical instrument 10000. For example, some staple cartridges may not include a sensor array, while other staple cartridges, such as, for example, staple cartridge 11000, may include one or more sensor arrays. If the staple cartridge does not include a sensor array, the staple cartridge may not require or be able to use power that can be supplied by the surgical instrument 10000. Accordingly, the control system of the surgical instrument 10000 is configured to provide or not provide a power signal to a staple cartridge installed within the surgical instrument 10000 if the staple cartridge does not properly respond to an interrogation signal provided to the staple cartridge by the surgical instrument 10000 during an interrogation procedure. After the staple cartridge is installed within the surgical instrument 10000, in at least one such instance, the control system of the surgical instrument 10000 can instruct the instrument processor 10610 to transmit an interrogation signal to the instrument antenna 10530, which is emitted to and received by the cartridge antenna 11530. In various instances, the interrogation signal is emitted at a low power, for example, about 10 mW to about 30 mW, at a frequency that passes filtering within the cartridge circuitry 11500 so that the interrogation signal reaches the NFC tag 11640. The NFC tag 11640 is configured to transmit a response signal to the cartridge antenna 11530 upon receiving the interrogation signal. The response signal is emitted by the cartridge antenna 11530, received by the instrument antenna 10530, and conducted to the instrument processor 10610. If the response signal received by the instrument processor 10610 matches the response signal expected by the instrument processor, the staple cartridge 11000 is identified or authenticated by the surgical instrument 10000, and the instrument processor 10610 can provide a high wattage power signal to the instrument antenna 10530 to power the staple cartridge 11000. In at least one instance, the high wattage power signal can be, for example, about 1 W and / or greater than 1 W.In various instances, the wattage of the power signal provided to the instrument antenna 10530 can depend on the identified staple cartridge. For example, if a first type of staple cartridge is identified, a first wattage is used, and if a second type of staple cartridge is identified, a second or different wattage is used. However, the control system of the surgical instrument 10000 is configured to not provide a power signal to the instrument antenna 10530 if a response signal is not received from the staple cartridge. If a response signal is received from a staple cartridge installed within the surgical instrument 10000 but is not recognized, the control system can be configured to implement one of two responses. In a first instance, the control system is configured to not provide a power signal to the staple cartridge if the received response signal is not recognized, and in a second example, the control system is configured to provide a low-power signal if the received response signal is not recognized. In at least one instance, the low-power signal can be, for example, approximately 0.1 W. In such cases, the sensor and electronic circuitry may be sufficiently powered to transmit a return data signal containing data from the sensor while reducing the risk of overpowering the staple cartridge.

[0065] In various instances, the surgical instrument 10000 is configured to initiate a cartridge interrogation routine when the surgical instrument 10000 is initially powered on and / or when the surgical instrument 10000 is woken up from a low-power sleep mode. In such instances, the surgical instrument 10000 interrogates the staple cartridge to evaluate whether to provide power to the staple cartridge and the level of power to provide to the surgical instrument 10000. That said, without additional information, the control system of the surgical instrument 10000 may not be able to distinguish between an unidentifiable staple cartridge or a complete absence of a staple cartridge if no response signal is received following the interrogation signal. To this end, the surgical instrument 10000 includes a cartridge presence sensor configured to detect whether a staple cartridge is installed within the cartridge jaws of the end effector 10400. In at least one instance, the cartridge presence sensor includes, for example, a Hall Effect sensor mounted within the cartridge jaws of the end effector 10400 configured to detect a metal element within the staple cartridge. In at least one instance, the cartridge presence sensor comprises a pressure sensor that is compressed by the staple cartridge when the staple cartridge is installed in the cartridge jaws of the end effector 10400. In either case, the cartridge presence sensor is in communication with a control system of the surgical instrument 10000. If the control system receives a signal that the staple cartridge is installed in the cartridge jaws but does not receive a response signal from the staple cartridge, in various instances, the control system does not provide a power signal to the staple cartridge but allows the surgical instrument 10000 to operate to fire staples from the staple cartridge. If the control system receives a signal that the staple cartridge is missing from the cartridge jaws, the control system does not provide a power signal and electronically locks out the staple firing system until the staple cartridge is installed in the cartridge jaws.

[0066] Referring again to FIG. 6, when the staple cartridge 11000 is installed in the cartridge jaws of the surgical instrument 10000, power signals and data signals can be transmitted simultaneously from the instrument antenna 10530 to the cartridge antenna 11530. Additionally, data signals can be transmitted from the staple cartridge 11000 to the surgical instrument 10000 simultaneously with the transmission of power from the surgical instrument 10000 to the staple cartridge 11000. Referring now to FIG. 7, the control system of the surgical instrument 10000' is constructed and arranged to intermittently supply power and data signals to the staple cartridge 11000'. In at least one instance, the control system is configured to alternately deliver low-power and high-power signals to the instrument antenna 10530 to transmit data and power, respectively, but not simultaneously, to the electronic circuitry 11500' of the staple cartridge 11000'. In at least one such instance, the control system delivers a low-power signal having a power of, for example, about 0.1 W and a high-power signal of greater than 1 W. As discussed above in connection with FIG. 6, the instrument processor 10610 includes an NFC reader chip that simultaneously generates and provides both power and data signals to the staple cartridge 11000. In contrast, FIG. 7 illustrates a control system that includes an NFC reader chip 10610' that generates the data signals and a separate power driver 10620' that generates the power signals. The NFC reader chip 10610' and power driver 10620' are in communication with the instrument antenna 10530 and are configured to sequentially provide separate data and power signals via the instrument antenna 10530 to the cartridge antenna 11530. In at least one instance, the NFC reader chip 10610' and power driver 10620' are in communication with a multiplexer, e.g., the multiplexer coordinates the sequential transmission of the data and power signals to the staple cartridge 11000'.

[0067] As described above in connection with FIG. 7 , data signals and power signals are transmitted alternately between the surgical instrument and the staple cartridge 11000′. In various instances, the surgical instrument provides power to the staple cartridge 11000′ until the instrument processor has data to transmit to the staple cartridge 11000′. At such time, the instrument processor stops the power signal and then issues a data signal. After the instrument processor issues the data signal, the instrument processor is configured to resume the power signal. The data signal and the power signal are transmitted at different frequencies, although in other embodiments they can be emitted at the same frequency. In either case, the power signal is emitted at a higher intensity than the data signal. In various embodiments, the processor of the staple cartridge 11000′ is configured to issue a pause signal to the surgical instrument when the processor has data to transmit to the surgical instrument. After receiving the pause signal, the instrument processor either stops the power signal or does not generate a power signal until it receives data from the staple cartridge 11000′. In at least one such embodiment, the surgical instrument can transmit a pause signal back to the staple cartridge 11000' after receiving the pause signal from the staple cartridge. Upon receiving the pause signal from the surgical instrument, the staple cartridge is configured to issue a data signal to the surgical instrument.

[0068] 8 and 8A, the surgical instrument 10000" includes a data antenna 10530" and a separate power transmission antenna 10535" that are used to communicate with and provide power to a staple cartridge 11000" installed in the cartridge jaws of the surgical instrument 10000". The data antenna 10530" communicates with an NFC reader chip 10610'. A power driver 10620' communicates with the power transmission antenna 10535". The data antenna 10530" includes a coil 10540" that is aligned with the coil 11540" of the cartridge data antenna 11530" when the staple cartridge 11000" is installed in the cartridge jaws. In at least one instance, the coil 10540" is wound in a plane that is parallel, or at least substantially parallel, to a plane that defines the cartridge coil 11540". The instrument coil 10540" and the cartridge coil 11540" are the same size, or at least substantially the same size, but may be any suitable size. The instrument coil 10540" comprises a primary coil with a first number of windings, and the cartridge coil 11540" in at least one embodiment comprises a secondary coil with a second number of windings that is greater than the first number of windings. Such a configuration can improve the transmission coefficient between the instrument data antenna 10530" and the cartridge data antenna 11530". The power transmission antenna 10535" comprises a coil 10545" that aligns with the coil 11545" of the cartridge power antenna 11535" when the staple cartridge 11000" is installed in the cartridge jaws. In at least one case, the instrument coil 10545" is wound in a plane that is parallel, or at least substantially parallel, to the plane defining the cartridge coil 11545". The instrument coil 10545" and the cartridge coil 11545" are the same size, or at least substantially the same size, but can be any suitable size. The instrument coil 10545" comprises a primary coil comprising a first number of windings, and the cartridge coil 11545" in at least one embodiment comprises a secondary coil comprising a second number of windings that is greater than the first number of windings.Such an arrangement can improve the transmission coefficient between the power transmission antenna 10535'' and the cartridge power antenna 11535''.

[0069] Further to the above, the staple cartridge 11000" includes a rectifier 11620 and a capacitor 11630 in communication with the cartridge power antenna 11535". As above, the rectifier 11620 and the capacitor 11630 are configured to rectify, filter, and / or modify the power signal provided from the power transmission antenna 10535" to the staple cartridge 11000" before power is provided to the sensors of the staple cartridge 11000". The staple cartridge 11000" further includes an NFC tag 11640 in communication with the cartridge data antenna 11530". As above, the control system of the surgical instrument 10000" receives a query generated by the NFC reader chip 10610" and issued to the NFC tag 11640 via the coupled data antennas 10530" and 11530". The NFC tag 11640 can be interrogated using a matching signal. Upon receiving the interrogation signal, the NFC tag 11640 is configured to generate a response signal that is transmitted back to the NFC reader chip 10610' via the coupled data antennas 10530'' and 11530''. The NFC tag 11640 also communicates with a cartridge processor 11610'' of the staple cartridge 11000'', which is configured to receive data from the cartridge sensor, generate a data signal including the sensor data, and provide the data signal to the NFC tag 11640 and the cartridge data antenna 11530'', as described above. The data signal provided to the cartridge data antenna 11530" is transmitted via the instrument data antenna 10530" to the NFC reader chip 10610' and then used by the control system to interpret, for example, characteristics of the surgical instrument 10000", the staple cartridge 11000", and / or the tissue captured relative to the staple cartridge 11000". In particular, the cartridge processor 11610" also communicates with the cartridge power antenna 11535" of the staple cartridge 11000", and in various embodiments, can provide power to the NFC tag 11640 from the cartridge power antenna 11535".

[0070] As described in detail above, the surgical instrument 10000" and the staple cartridge 11000" are equipped with a first pair of antenna systems for communicating data and a second pair of antenna systems for communicating power. In various embodiments, the first pair of antenna systems is positioned on a first lateral side 11170 of the staple cartridge 11000" and the second pair of antenna systems is positioned on a second, or opposite, lateral side 11180 of the staple cartridge 11000". In at least one such embodiment, the cartridge jaw of the surgical instrument 10000″ comprises a channel including a bottom wall, a first lateral sidewall extending from a first side of the bottom wall, and a second lateral sidewall extending from a second or opposite side of the bottom wall. When the staple cartridge 11000″ is installed in the cartridge jaw, the staple cartridge 11000″ is positioned between the first and second lateral sidewalls, and a snap and / or locking mechanism on the staple cartridge 11000″ can engage the cartridge jaw to release the staple cartridge 11000″ into position within the cartridge jaw. In at least one such embodiment, a first instrument antenna is mounted to the first side wall and a second instrument antenna is mounted to the second side wall, and further, a first cartridge antenna is mounted to a first lateral side of the cartridge body and a second cartridge antenna is mounted to a second lateral side of the cartridge body. When the staple cartridge 11000" is installed in the cartridge jaws, the first cartridge antenna is aligned with the first instrument antenna and, similarly, the second cartridge antenna is aligned with the second instrument antenna. By locating the first paired antenna system on one lateral side and the second paired antenna system on the opposite lateral side, the possibility of one paired antenna system interfering with the other paired antenna system is reduced. In various instances, the first paired antenna system is operated within a first frequency range and the second paired antenna system is operated within a second or different frequency range that does not overlap with the first frequency range, thereby reducing the possibility of one paired antenna system interfering with the other.To this end, in addition to the above, the appliance antenna and / or cartridge antenna may be provided with one or more capacitors capable of filtering frequencies outside the intended operating frequency range for each of the paired antenna systems.

[0071] In various instances, further to the above, the cartridge data antenna 11530" is mounted on a first lateral side of the cartridge body 11100, and the cartridge power antenna 11535" is mounted on a second lateral side of the cartridge body 11100. More specifically, the coils 11540" and 11545" of the antennas 11530" and 11535" are mounted on the proximal ends of their respective sides, i.e., they are positioned much closer to the proximal end 11110 of the staple cartridge 11000" than the distal end 11120. As a result, the cartridge data antenna 11530" and the cartridge power antenna 11535" can be shorter than if they were positioned at the distal end 11120 of the staple cartridge 11000", and as a result, are less susceptible to interference. In various alternative embodiments, the coils 11540" and 11545" are mounted at or near the centerline between the proximal end 11110 and the distal end 11120 of the staple cartridge 11000". In such a configuration, the distance between the cartridge data coil 11540" and the sensor mounted on the cartridge body 11100 can be shorter compared to when the cartridge data coil 11540" is mounted at the proximal end 11110 of the cartridge body 11100, thereby reducing the possibility of the sensor output being corrupted before it is processed and transmitted via the cartridge data coil 11540".

[0072] In various embodiments, further to the above, the coils 11540" and 11545" are mounted to the cartridge body 11100 and / or pan 11700 (FIG. 5A) of the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge body 11100 includes a recessed pocket defined in a lateral side thereof, and the coils 11540" and 11545" are positioned within the recessed pocket. In at least one such embodiment, a potting material is injected into the recessed pocket to secure, seal, and / or protect the coils 11540" and 11545" within the pocket. The potting material can include, for example, a sealing adhesive such as TECHNOMELT manufactured by Eastern Adhesive Systems Technology, Inc., a light-curing acrylic adhesive such as LOCTITE 3321 manufactured by Henkel Corporation, e.g., wax and / or paraffin. In various cases, the potting material can include an air-curing material.

[0073] In various embodiments, the antenna coils 11540" and 11545" are encapsulated in the cartridge body using one or more manufacturing processes. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge body 11100 is formed by a two-shot injection molding process. In at least one such embodiment, a first plastic component or core is molded during a first injection molding process, the coils 11540" and 11545" are attached to the core, and then a second injection molding process is used to at least partially cover, encapsulate, seal, and / or protect the coils 11540" and 11545". In at least one embodiment, the coils 11540" and 11545" are positioned within recesses or pockets defined in the cartridge body, and a cover is attached to the cartridge body 11100 that at least partially covers, encapsulates, seals, and / or protects the coils 11540" and 11545". In at least one such embodiment, the cover is snap-fit ​​and / or press-fit onto the cartridge body 11100. In certain embodiments, an ultrasonic staking process is used to attach the cover to the cartridge body 11000.

[0074] The materials and methods described above for attaching the antenna coils 11540" and 11545" to the cartridge body 11100 can also be used to attach an RFID tag to the sled 11400 and / or staple driver 11300. In such embodiments, the position and / or movement of the sled 11400 and / or staple driver 11300 can be tracked by the control system of the staple cartridge 11000 using the RFID tag attached to and / or embedded in the sled 11400 and / or staple driver 11300.

[0075] As described above, the surgical instrument 10000 comprises a shaft 10200 extending distally from the instrument housing configured to be attached to a handle and / or the arm of a robotic surgical system. In various cases, the shaft 10200, handle 10100, instrument housing, and / or robotic surgical system may include an instrument processor that communicates with the staple cartridge via one or more antenna pairs, as described above. To facilitate communication between the instrument processor and the cartridge processor, the shaft 10200 comprises a wiring harness that includes an instrument antenna. In at least one such embodiment, the wiring harness comprises a flex circuit 10900 ( FIG. 11B ) that includes a flexible substrate and conductive wires or traces extending within the flexible substrate. In various embodiments, the flex circuit 10900 comprises, for example, a stack of conductive and insulating layers. Referring to FIG. 8C , the distal end of the flex circuit of the surgical instrument 10000″ includes coils 11540″ and 11545″ that comprise wires embedded within the non-conductive substrate of the flex circuit.

[0076] Further to the above, a distal end of the flex circuit is attached to a sidewall of the first jaw 10410, for example, by one or more adhesives. In at least one embodiment, a ferrite component may be attached to and / or embedded within the substrate of the flex circuit to control the fields radiated by the coils 11540" and 11545". In at least one embodiment, the ferrite component is positioned intermediate the first jaw 10410 and the coils 11540" and 11545". Furthermore, electronic components may be attached to and / or embedded within the substrate of the flex circuit to condition and / or amplify the signals emitted by the coils 11540" and 11545". In at least one such embodiment, one or more capacitors are embedded in the flex circuit to filter out low and / or high frequencies. Additionally, in at least one such embodiment, one or more amplifier circuits are embedded in the flex circuit, which can boost and / or control the power of the signals being emitted by the coils 11540" and 11545". In various embodiments, the first jaw 10410 and / or the second jaw 10420 are constructed of metal and configured to minimize the effect of the metal jaws on the fields emitted by the coils 11540" and 11545". In at least one embodiment, the cross section of the metal jaws is designed to create a uniform or substantially uniform region that shields or substantially shields external signals from interfering with signals within the end effector 10400.

[0077] In embodiments where the coils 11540" and 11545" are mounted in the cartridge body 11000 and the coils 10540" and 10545" are mounted in the first jaw 10410, the pan 11700 can have one or more windows defined therein such that the coils 10540" and 11540" of the data coil set have a direct line of sight to each other and the coils 10545" and 11545" of the power coil set have a direct line of sight to each other. In embodiments where the coils 11540" and 11545" are mounted in the pan 11700, the coils 10540" and 11540" of the data coil set have a direct line of sight to each other and the coils 10545" and 11545" of the power coil set have a direct line of sight to each other.

[0078] In various embodiments, the antenna of the surgical instrument 10000" and / or the antenna of the staple cartridge 11000" comprises a coil antenna. However, the surgical instrument and / or staple cartridge can comprise any suitable type of antenna. In at least one instance, the surgical instrument and / or staple cartridge can comprise a slot antenna. In at least one such embodiment, the slot antenna comprises a flat plate with one or more holes or slots cut into it. One or more slot antennas can be attached to the side wall and / or bottom wall of the first jaw 10410, while one or more slot antennas can be mounted to the pan 11700. In various embodiments, the slot antenna can be integrally formed with the first jaw 10410 and / or the pan 11700, for example.

[0079] In various embodiments, the surgical instrument and / or staple cartridge can be equipped with an active cancellation system that includes a control system that monitors environmental magnetic and / or electric fields and their frequencies and emits signals through one or more antennas to cancel or at least partially cancel the environmental fields.

[0080] In various embodiments, the cartridge body of the staple cartridge includes conductive traces plated on a plastic substrate, which can be made, for example, from a liquid crystal polymer such as VECTRA manufactured by Ticona. In at least one embodiment, the conductive traces are, for example, electroplated onto the plastic substrate and / or plated onto the plastic substrate using a vapor deposition process. In at least one embodiment, the electrical traces are comprised, for example, of a conductive ink printed onto the plastic substrate. In various cases, the traces are comprised, for example, of silver and / or copper. In various embodiments, the cartridge body includes recesses defined in the plastic substrate, and the conductive traces are plated onto the plastic substrate within the recesses. In at least one embodiment, the recesses are laser etched into the plastic substrate. In various embodiments, a non-conductive material is printed over the conductive traces to cover them where, for example, contact with tissue is undesirable. Such a non-conductive material can also control the field generated by the conductive traces. In various embodiments, the plastic substrate is formed by a three-dimensional printing process using a non-conductive material and a conductive material, such as graphene-embedded polylactic acid (PLA). In at least one such embodiment, the conductive material is printed into conductive traces that are at least partially embedded in the non-conductive material.

[0081] In various embodiments, further to the above, the staple cavities 11140 are arranged in three longitudinal rows on a first side of the cartridge deck 11130 and three longitudinal rows on a second side of the cartridge deck 11130. After the staple firing stroke is performed, the patient tissue is incised with three rows of staples on either side of the incision to seal, or at least substantially seal, the tissue. However, it has been demonstrated that implanting two rows of staples, rather than three, on either side of the incision is clinically acceptable. Thus, the third row of staples need not comprise a continuous row of staples. Instead, in at least one embodiment, at least some of the staple cavities 11140 in the outermost row house sensors therein instead of staples and staple drivers. In at least one such embodiment, force-sensing sensors are positioned within the staple cavities 11140. The force sensing sensor comprises a tissue contacting element slidable within the staple cavity 11140, the tissue contacting element sized and configured to conform to, or at least substantially conform to, the periphery of the staple cavity 11140 such that movement of the tissue contacting element is limited, or at least substantially limited, to the firing axis of the staple cavity 11140. The force sensing sensor further comprises a base attached to the cartridge deck 11130 and a spring, such as, for example, a linear coil spring, positioned intermediate the base and the tissue contacting element. When the end effector 10400 is clamped to patient tissue, the tissue contacts the tissue contacting element and compresses the spring. The force sensing sensor further comprises a magnetic element mounted on the tissue contacting element, the movement of which is detectable and measurable, for example, by a Hall effect circuit within the cartridge deck 11130. The Hall effect circuit is in communication with a cartridge processor, which is configured to analyze the voltage output to assess the presence of tissue positioned over the force sensing sensor and the force being applied to the tissue at the force sensing sensor. The staple cartridge 11000 can include any suitable number of force sensing sensors.For example, in at least one embodiment, both of the outermost rows of staple cavities 11140 include a sensor at the distal end of the staple cartridge 11000, a sensor at the proximal end of the staple cartridge 11000, and at least one sensor positioned intermediate the distal and proximal sensors. As described above, the staple cartridge can include any suitable type and / or number of sensors within the staple cavities.

[0082] In at least one embodiment, further to the above, some of the staple cavities 11300 can include a typical staple driver positioned therein, but not a staple, and at least a portion of a sensor extending above the staple cavity. In at least one such embodiment, the portion of the sensor extending above the staple cavity is frangible and configured to break or snap when the staple driver is driven upward toward the anvil during the staple firing stroke. Such a configuration can be used to gradually decouple the sensor from the cartridge processor as the staple firing stroke progresses. Such a configuration can be used, among other things, to conserve processing power and / or track the progress of the staple firing stroke.

[0083] U.S. Patent No. 8,622,274, entitled "Motorized Cutting and Fastening Instrument Having Control Circuit for Optimizing Battery Usage"; U.S. Patent No. 10,135,242, entitled "Smart Cartridge Wake-Up Operation and Data Retention"; U.S. Patent No. 10,548,504, entitled "Overlaid Multi-Sensor Radio Frequency (RF) Electrode System to Measure Tissue Compression"; U.S. Patent No. 9,993,248, entitled "Smart Sensors with Local Signal Processing"; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0256071, entitled "Overlaid Multi-Sensor Radio Frequency (RF) Electrode System to Measure Tissue Compression"; The entire disclosures of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0168625, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENTS WITH SMART STAPLE CARTRIDGES," U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0250002, entitled "POWERED SURGICAL DEVICES HAVING TISSUE SENSING FUNCTION," and WO 2018 / 049206, entitled "STAPLER RELOAD DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION," are incorporated herein by reference.

[0084] In various instances, and with reference to FIG. 9 , the staple cartridge 12000 includes an identification circuit 12100 and a power supply circuit 12200 that are independent of one another. The identification circuit 12100 includes a passive RFID system 12110 that is activated, for example, when an interrogation signal is transmitted from the equipment data antenna 10530″ to the cartridge data antenna 11530″. The identification circuit 12100 is self-contained and does not receive power from the power supply circuit. The passive RFID system 12110 does not include a power source and is powered by the interrogation signal. When the passive RFID system 12110 receives the interrogation signal, the passive RFID system 12110 transmits a response signal containing data regarding the identification of the staple cartridge 12000 back to the surgical instrument via the cartridge data antenna 11530". The surgical instrument includes an RFID reader chip 12610 configured to receive and process the response signal from the passive RFID system 12110. In at least one alternative embodiment, the independent identification circuit includes an active RFID system that includes its own power source. In such an embodiment, the active RFID system can include a beacon that periodically emits an identification signal having sufficient power to be received by the equipment data antenna 10530".

[0085] In various embodiments, further to the above, the independent power supply circuit 12200 of the staple cartridge 12000 includes a cartridge power antenna 11535" configured to receive power from the power transmission antenna 10535" of the surgical instrument. In various cases, similar to the above, the staple cartridge 12000 is configured to transmit a data signal including data from the sensor array 11600 of the staple cartridge 12000 back to the surgical instrument via a power antenna pair including antennas 10535" and 11535". In certain cases, the staple cartridge 12000 includes a third antenna configured to transmit sensor data to the surgical instrument via an independent low-power antenna pair that is separate from the power antenna pair of the power circuit 12200 and the cartridge identification circuit 12100. In such cases, power is transmitted from the surgical instrument to the staple cartridge via the power antenna pair, an identification signal is transmitted between the surgical instrument and the staple cartridge via the identification signal antenna pair, and sensor data is transmitted from the staple cartridge to the surgical instrument via the sensor data signal antenna pair.

[0086] In various embodiments, referring to FIG. 10 , the staple cartridge 13000 includes a cartridge power antenna 11535″ and a cartridge data antenna 11530″, both of which are coupled to a single instrument antenna 13530. In at least one such embodiment, the single instrument antenna 13530 comprises a coil 13540 defined in the instrument coil plane, the cartridge data antenna 11530″ comprises a coil 11540″ defined in the data coil plane, and the cartridge power antenna 11535″ comprises a coil 11545″ defined in the power coil plane. The coils 13540, 11540″, and 11545″ are stacked such that signals transmitted by the single instrument antenna 13530 are received by the cartridge data antenna 11530″ and the cartridge power antenna 11535″. In at least one case, the coils 13540, 11540", and 11545" can be positioned on one lateral side of the staple cartridge 13000. In various cases, the coils 13540, 11540", and 11545" can be disposed on the bottom of the staple cartridge 13000. In various cases, it may be desirable for the cartridge data antenna 11530" to receive signals at a lower power than the cartridge power antenna 11535". In at least one such case, the coils 13540, 11540", and 11545" are stacked such that the cartridge power coil 11545" is positioned intermediate the instrument antenna coil 13540 and the cartridge data coil 11540". In such cases, the resulting signal strength emitted by the instrument antenna coil 13540 is greater in the cartridge power coil 11545" than in the cartridge data coil 11540". In various cases, the coils 13540, 11540", and 11545" are spaced equally or equidistantly from one another. In other cases, the gap between the cartridge data coil 11540" and the cartridge power coil 11545" is larger than the gap between the cartridge power coil 11545" and the appliance antenna coil 13540.In such cases, the power transmitted to the cartridge data coil 11540" may be substantially lower than the power transmitted to the cartridge power coil 11545". In various alternative embodiments, the instrument antenna coil 13540 is positioned intermediate the cartridge data coil 11540" and the cartridge power coil 11545", and the coils 11540" and 11545" can be positioned any suitable distance from the instrument antenna coil 13540.

[0087] Referring again to FIG. 10 , the instrument antennas 10530″ and 10535″ are used to radiate fields that interact with the cartridge antennas 11530″ and 11535″. In various cases, the fields radiated by the instrument antennas 10530″ and 10535″ are radiated in all directions. As a result, a significant amount of power may be radiated by the instrument antennas 10530″ and 10535″ that is not received by the cartridge antennas 11530″ and 11535″. In various cases, the surgical instrument is configured to shape the fields radiated by the instrument antennas 10530″ and 10535″. In at least one case, the surgical instrument includes one or more metal walls that surround, for example, the instrument data antenna 10530″ and / or the power transmission antenna 10535″. Such metal walls can limit the strength of the fields radiated in directions not directed toward the cartridge antennas 11530″ and 11535″. In at least one case, the metal wall forms a horn that directs a radiated field from the coil of the instrument antenna toward the corresponding coil of the cartridge antenna. In at least one such case, the metal wall extends, for example, from a metal side wall and / or a metal bottom wall of the cartridge jaw. In various cases, for example, a ferrite ring can be positioned around the coil of the instrument antenna to tunnel the radiated field toward the corresponding coil of the cartridge antenna. In at least one such case, the ferrite ring is attached, for example, to the side wall and / or the bottom wall of the cartridge jaw. In various cases, the staple cartridge 11000" includes a metal wall that directs a field radiated from the instrument antenna toward the corresponding coil of the cartridge antenna. In at least one such case, the metal wall forms a horn that is attached to a cartridge body of the staple cartridge that is constructed of, for example, plastic. Also, in various cases, the staple cartridge includes a ferrite material configured to direct and / or amplify a field radiated by the coil of the instrument antenna toward the corresponding cartridge antenna.The entire disclosures of U.S. Patent No. 10,135,242, issued on November 20, 2018, entitled "SMART CARTRIDGE WAKE UP OPERATION AND DATA RETENTION," U.S. Patent No. 9,345,481, issued on May 24, 2016, entitled "STAPLE CARTRIDGE TISSUE THICKNESS SENSOR SYSTEM," and U.S. Patent No. 9,872,722, issued on January 23, 2018, entitled "WAKE-UP SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," are incorporated herein by reference.

[0088] 5A , the staple cartridge 11000 includes a metal pan 11700 attached to the cartridge body 11100. The metal pan 11700 includes a floor 11710 that extends around the bottom of the cartridge body 11100 and is configured to prevent the staple driver 11300 and / or staples from falling off the bottom of the staple cartridge 11000. The metal pan 11700 includes a first sidewall 11720 that extends along a first lateral side of the cartridge body 11100 and a second sidewall 11720 that extends along a second lateral side of the cartridge body 11100. The first sidewall 11720 is attached to the cartridge body 11100 via one or more attachment mechanisms 11730, such as, for example, hooks and / or shoulder retainers. Similar to the first sidewall 11720, the second sidewall 11720 is attached to the cartridge body 11100 via one or more attachment mechanisms 11730, such as, for example, hooks and / or shoulder retainers. The metal pan 11700 is constructed of any suitable metal, such as, for example, stainless steel or nitinol. In various embodiments, the metal pan 11700 can also include portions constructed of plastic and / or any other suitable material. In various cases, the cartridge antenna is attached to the metal pan 11700. In at least one such case, the cartridge data coil 11540" and / or the cartridge power coil 11545" are attached to the metal pan 11700 to position the coils closer to the respective instrument antennas and improve the transmission efficiency of the antennas.

[0089] In various embodiments, the surgical instrument and / or staple cartridge can include a mask or shield configured to control, block, and / or direct signals emitted by the surgical instrument and / or staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the mask is constructed of, for example, ferrite. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge jaws include a metal wall shield extending from the side and / or bottom wall. In at least one embodiment, the pan and / or cartridge body of the staple cartridge includes a metal wall shield housed therein and / or extending therefrom. In at least one embodiment, the mask is configured to limit the direction in which signals are emitted and / or received. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument and / or staple cartridge includes a horn antenna configured to direct signals emitted therefrom. In at least one embodiment, the surgical instrument and / or staple cartridge can include an antenna constructed of metal walls. In at least one such embodiment, the cartridge jaws of the surgical instrument are constructed of metal walls, at least one of which is used as an antenna. Further, in at least one such embodiment, the staple cartridge pan is constructed with metal walls, at least one of which is used as an antenna. In various embodiments, one or more capacitors or capacitive elements are soldered to the staple cartridge pan, which can filter out undesirable frequencies that are conducted within and / or transmitted through the pan.

[0090] 11 , a staple cartridge, such as, for example, staple cartridge 14000, includes a cartridge body 11100 and an electronic circuit 11500 that includes a sensor 11600. The staple cartridge 14000 is similar in many respects to the other staple cartridges disclosed herein, which will not be described herein for the sake of brevity. The cartridge body 11100 includes a deck 11130 and a longitudinal row of staple cavities 11140 defined within the deck 11130. Each staple cavity 11140 contains a staple stored therein that is driven upwardly from the staple cavity 11140 by a staple driver during a staple firing stroke. Each staple includes a base and two legs extending from the base, the legs extending generally upwardly and outwardly to form a V-shaped configuration. In various instances, the legs of the staples are resiliently biased inward by the proximal and distal end walls of the staple cavities 11140 when the staples are stored within the staple cavities 11140. When the staples are driven upward from the staple cavities 11140, the legs of the staples emerge from the staple cavities 11140 and extend above the deck 11130, while the remainder of the staples are pushed upward from the staple cavities 11140. The cartridge body 11100 includes protrusions 11132 ( FIG. 5B ) extending from the deck 11130, the protrusions configured to guide and / or control the legs of the staples as they are ejected from the staple cavities 11140. The protrusions 11132 are positioned at a distal end of each staple cavity 11140 and at a proximal end of each staple cavity 11140. However, alternative embodiments are contemplated in which the protrusions 11132 are positioned at only one end of each staple cavity 11140. Additionally, various embodiments are envisioned in which some of the staple cavities 11140 do not include protrusions 11132 at their ends. The protrusions 11132 are further configured to engage patient tissue positioned against the deck 11130 and restrict the flow or movement of patient tissue against the deck 11130.

[0091] In various embodiments, the electronic circuit 11500 comprises a substrate including a feature that engages with the protrusion 11132. In at least one embodiment, the substrate includes an opening defined therein, the sidewall of which is engaged with the protrusion 11132. The opening is in a snap-fit ​​and / or press-fit configuration with the protrusion 11132 such that the electronic circuit 11500 is held in place relative to the cartridge body 11100. In at least one embodiment, the protrusion 11132 includes an at least partially annular or circumferential shoulder that holds the sensor circuit 11500 against the cartridge body 11100.

[0092] In various embodiments, the sensor circuit of the staple cartridge is comprised of a conductive material printed on the deck of the cartridge body. In at least one embodiment, the conductive material is comprised of metal particles bonded to the deck, forming an electrical circuit connecting the sensor. In at least one such embodiment, the printed electrical circuit is printed on the cartridge body using a three-dimensional printer. In various embodiments, the sensor circuit includes electrodes or contacts printed on the cartridge body. In at least one embodiment, the sensor circuit includes an electrode having a polygonal surface configured to contact tissue. In at least one alternative embodiment, the electrode includes a curved and / or serpentine path on the deck surface, which, in various cases, can increase the contact area between the electrode and the tissue. In at least one embodiment, the electrode includes a needle extending therefrom that is configured to penetrate tissue. In at least one embodiment, the needle has a diameter of, for example, about 1 μm. In various cases, the needle provides a parallel signal path between the tissue and the sensor circuit in one electrode to improve the sensitivity of the sensor circuit. In at least one embodiment, a conductive grease or conductive viscous agent covers the tissue contact points of the sensor circuit to improve contact between the electrodes and the tissue. In various embodiments, a portion of the sensor circuit is embedded within the cartridge body. In at least one such embodiment, the sensor circuit includes flat, thin conductors that are embedded in the cartridge body, for example, when a plastic material is overmolded over the conductor portions. However, portions of the conductors remain exposed to provide tissue-engaging pads and / or conductive attachment points for soldering the sensor thereto. In at least one embodiment, a portion of the cartridge sensor circuit can be defined on a lateral sidewall of the cartridge jaw. In at least one such embodiment, proximal and distal portions of the sensor circuit are defined on the cartridge body, and an intermediate portion of the sensor circuit is defined on the cartridge jaw that electrically connects the proximal and distal portions of the sensor circuit. In at least one embodiment, the portion of the sensor circuit attached to the cartridge jaw includes a conductive strip attached to the sidewall.When the staple cartridge is installed in the cartridge jaws, the cartridge sensor circuit engages the conductive strip to complete the circuit.

[0093] As described above, the sensor circuit can include a conductive tissue-contacting surface. In various embodiments, the sensor circuit can include a non-conductive tissue-contacting surface. In at least one embodiment, the sensor circuit includes one or more capacitive electrodes. In various cases, projective capacitance measurement technology is used to measure the presence of tissue on the capacitive electrodes and / or the characteristics of the tissue on the capacitive electrodes. In at least one embodiment, each capacitive electrode includes an insulating cover that covers a capacitive pad contained therein. In various cases, surface capacitance measurement technology can be used in addition to the above. In various embodiments, the sensor circuit includes one or more inductive sensors. In at least one embodiment, eddy currents are induced in each of the inductive sensors, and the eddy currents change when tissue contacts the sensor. In such embodiments, the change in the sensor eddy current is detected by a staple cartridge control system. In various embodiments, the sensor circuit can include a temperature sensor used to detect the presence of tissue on the temperature sensor. In at least one embodiment, the sensor circuit includes electrodes composed of a doped polycrystalline ceramic, including, for example, barium titanate (BaTiO). The resistance of these ceramic materials changes in response to temperature changes, such as when patient tissue is positioned against the electrodes. The cartridge processor is configured to employ an algorithm that monitors resistance variations in the ceramic material to assess whether tissue is positioned against the electrodes. In various instances, the electrodes of the sensor circuit are in a parallel configuration such that changes in detected resistance, capacitance, voltage, and / or current can be directly correlated to the position of the sensor. Using this information, the processor can assess whether and where tissue is positioned on the staple cartridge.

[0094] 11A and 11D , the staple cartridge 14000 further comprises a laminate material 14900 attached to one or more components of the staple cartridge 14000 to control electrical effects generated within the cartridge components by electric fields emanating from the staple cartridge 14000 and / or ambient electric fields. In at least one instance, the laminate material 14900 comprises a magnetic flux field directing material including at least two layers: a first layer 14910 or cover and a second layer 14920 of magnetic material attached to the first layer 14910. The first layer 14910 is, for example, composed of polyethylene terephthalate, which protects the second layer 14920, but can be composed of any suitable material. The second layer 14920 is, for example, composed of a sintered ferrite sheet, but can be composed of any appropriate material. In at least one case, an adhesive layer 14930, comprised of, for example, a pressure sensitive adhesive, is bonded to the second layer 14920 and is used to attach the laminate material 14900 to one or more components of the staple cartridge 14000, as discussed further below. In at least one case, the laminate material 14900 is, for example, Flux Field Directional Material EM15TF manufactured by 3M.

[0095] In various embodiments, further to the above, the laminate material 14900 is coupled to the cartridge body 11100 and is configured to change and / or control the shape of the field extending from the cartridge antenna. In at least one embodiment, the laminate material 14900 focuses the field away from the metal cartridge jaws of the surgical instrument 10000 in which the staple cartridge 14000 is installed. In at least one case, the cartridge body 11100 is constructed of plastic, and the laminate material 14900 is attached to the cartridge body 11100 such that the laminate material 14900 surrounds, or at least substantially surrounds, the cartridge antenna. In at least one case, the laminate material 14900 is attached to the cartridge body 11100 at a location intermediate the cartridge data coil 11540″ and the cartridge power coil 11545″ such that the cartridge coils 11540″ and 11545″ are separated by the laminate material 14900. In various embodiments, the laminate material 14900 is bonded to the metal wall of the cartridge jaw 10410. In at least one instance, the laminate material 14900 is attached to the metal wall of the cartridge jaw 10410 at a location intermediate the instrument data coil 10540" and the sending coil 10545". In various embodiments, the laminate material 14900 bonds the cartridge data antenna 11530" and / or the cartridge power antenna 11535" to the cartridge body 11100. In at least one embodiment, the laminate material 14900 bonds the instrument data antenna 10530" and / or the instrument power antenna 10535" to the metal cartridge jaw 10410.

[0096] In various embodiments, further to the above, the laminate material 14900 is attached to the metal pan 11700. In at least one such case, the laminate material 14900 is positioned intermediate the metal pan 11700 and the cartridge data antenna 11530″, and intermediate the metal pan 11700 and the cartridge power antenna 11535″. Such a configuration can concentrate the fields generated by the antennas 11530″ and 11535″ away from the metal pan 11700, minimizing the electrical impact of the fields on the metal pan 11700. In various embodiments, the laminate material 14900 is attached to a moving component of the staple cartridge 14000. In at least one case, referring to FIG. 11D , the laminate material 14900 is attached to the sled 11400. In at least one such case, the laminate material 14900 is attached to a lateral side 11410 of the sled 11400, for example. 11A , the laminate material 14900 is attached to, for example, one or more of the staple drivers 11300. In at least one such case, the laminate material 14900 is attached to a lateral side 11310 of the staple driver 11300. The laminate material 14900 can be attached to all of the staple drivers 11300 or only to those staple drivers 11300 adjacent to the cartridge antennas 11530″ and 11535″, for example.

[0097] In addition to the above, fields generated by the cartridge antenna and / or the instrument antenna can affect the output of the sensor 11600. Such effects can be reduced or mitigated, for example, by the laminate material 14900. In various cases, the processor of the staple cartridge 14000 is configured to electronically account for the effect of the antenna fields on the sensor 11600. In at least one such case, the cartridge processor can monitor when a signal is being transmitted between the antenna pair, and in such case, can modify the sensor output being received from the sensor 11600 before transmitting the sensor output to the surgical instrument processor and / or before recording the sensor output in a memory device within the staple cartridge 14000. When a signal is not being transmitted between the antenna pair, the sensor output may not need to be modified by the processor before being transmitted to the surgical instrument processor and / or before being recorded in a memory device within the staple cartridge 14000. In various cases, the processor may apply a first compensation factor to the sensor output when the power antenna pair is transmitting a signal, a second compensation factor to the sensor output when the signal antenna pair is transmitting a signal, and a third compensation factor to the sensor output when both antennas are transmitting a signal. In at least one such case, for example, the third compensation factor is greater than the first compensation factor, which is greater than the second compensation factor.

[0098] Further to the above, the circuit 11500 is flush with and / or recessed relative to the top surface of the deck 11130. In various instances, the staple cartridge 11000 further includes a rotatably mounted latch that is rotatable from an unlatched position to a latched position to retain the circuit 11500 within the circuit slot 11160. The latch engages the cartridge body 11100 in a press-fit and / or snap-fit ​​manner when the latch is in the latched position. When the latch is in its latched position, the latch is flush with and / or recessed below the top surface of the deck 11130. In at least one embodiment, the protrusion 11132 is attached to and / or formed integrally with the latch and / or any other suitable restraining mechanism. In any event, the circuit 11500 includes one or more sensors that are held in place relative to the cartridge body 11100 as a result of the above.

[0099] As described above, the sensors 11600 can be affected by their surrounding environment. In various instances, the sensors 11600 can be affected by temperature changes when the end effector 10400 of the surgical instrument is inserted into a patient. With reference to FIG. 12 , a staple cartridge, such as, for example, staple cartridge 15000, can include a thermal management system. The staple cartridge 15000 is similar in many respects to the other staple cartridges disclosed herein, and such points will not be repeated for the sake of brevity. The staple cartridge 15000 includes a cartridge body 15100 and a sensor 11600 attached to the cartridge body 15100. The staple cartridge 15000 further includes a heat sink system 15800 that transfers and / or equalizes thermal energy to the cartridge body 15100. The cartridge body 15100 includes a first lateral side 15170 and a second lateral side 15180, and the heat sink system 15800 includes a first heat sink 15870 embedded in the first lateral side 15170 and a second heat sink 15880 embedded in the second lateral side 15180. The first heat sink 15870 includes a first longitudinal rail 15872 extending along the first lateral side 15170 of the cartridge body 15100 and a lateral rail 15874 extending laterally from the first longitudinal rail 15872. The lateral rail 15874 extends between and around the staple cavities 11140 and conducts heat outwardly away from the sensor 11600 positioned adjacent the first longitudinal rail 15872. However, other embodiments are contemplated in which the rails 15872 and 15874 are positioned to conduct heat inwardly and away from the sensor 11600 positioned along the periphery of the cartridge body 15100. The second heat sink 15880 includes a second longitudinal rail 15882 extending along the second lateral side 15180 and a lateral rail 15884 extending from the second longitudinal rail 15882.The lateral rails 15884 extend between and around the staple cavities 11400 and conduct heat outwardly, away from the sensor 11600 positioned adjacent the second longitudinal rail 15882. However, other embodiments are contemplated in which the rails 15882 and 15884 are positioned to conduct heat inwardly, away from the sensor 11600 positioned along the outer periphery of the cartridge body 15100.

[0100] Further to the above, the first heat sink 15870 and the second heat sink 15880 are configured to conduct heat from one region of the staple cartridge 15000 to another. In various cases, the first heat sink 15870 includes a first region constructed from a first material having a first thermal conductivity and a second region having a second thermal conductivity higher than the first thermal conductivity. In at least one case, the first region is positioned adjacent to the sensor 11600 such that the second region quickly draws heat from the first region. In this manner, the first heat sink 15870 comprises a heat pump. The second heat sink 15880 can have a similar configuration. In various cases, the first heat sink 15870 includes a first region constructed from a first material having a first heat capacity and a second region constructed from a second material having a second heat capacity higher than the first heat capacity. In such an embodiment, the second region can store heat away from the sensor 11600. The second heat sink 15880 can have a similar configuration.

[0101] Further to the above, in various cases, the first longitudinal rail 15872 includes a constant cross-section along its length. During use, thermal energy flows along the first longitudinal rail 15872 from a location of higher temperature to a location of lower temperature along the first longitudinal rail 15872. In at least one alternative embodiment, the cross-section of the first longitudinal rail 15872 varies along its length. During use, thermal energy can flow along the first longitudinal rail 15872 from a location having a smaller cross-section to a location having a larger cross-section. In at least one case, the first longitudinal rail 15872 tapers linearly from one end to the other. In at least one such case, the larger end of the first longitudinal rail 15872 is at the distal end of the staple cartridge 15000. In such cases, heat may flow toward the distal end of the staple cartridge 15000, for example, instead of toward a processor and / or other electronics within the proximal end of the staple cartridge 15000. The second heat sink 15880 can comprise a similar configuration.

[0102] Further to the above, in various cases, the lateral rail 15874 includes a constant cross-section along its length. During use, thermal energy flows along the lateral rail 15874 from a location of higher temperature to a location of lower temperature. In at least one alternative embodiment, the cross-section of the lateral rail 15874 varies along its length. During use, thermal energy can flow along the lateral rail 15874 from a location with a smaller cross-section to a location with a larger cross-section. In at least one case, each lateral rail 15874 tapers linearly from one end to the other. In at least one such case, the larger end of the lateral rail 15874 is at a lateral side of the staple cartridge 15000. In such cases, heat can flow from the first longitudinal rail 15872 toward the lateral side of the staple cartridge 15000, where it can be easily dissipated from the staple cartridge 15000. The second heat sink 15880 can include a similar configuration. That said, any suitable configuration of heat sink may be used.

[0103] In various cases, further to the above, a portion of the heat sink is in direct contact with at least one electronic component of the staple cartridge 15000. In at least one case, the staple cartridge 15000 includes a microprocessor mounted on the cartridge body 15100, and the heat sink is in direct contact with, for example, the microprocessor. In various embodiments, the cartridge body 15100 is in direct contact with at least one electronic component of the staple cartridge 15000. In at least one case, the cartridge body 15100 includes fins extending therefrom, which increase the convection area and increase the rate at which the electronic component can be cooled. 11A , the cartridge body 15100 includes longitudinal rails 11105 defining longitudinal slots 11115 configured to receive the staple drive rails 11415 of the sled 11400, the longitudinal rails 11105 being part of a thermal path for cooling electronic components of the staple cartridge 15000. In at least one embodiment, the longitudinal rails 11105 of the cartridge body 15100 are at least partially coated with a material that improves thermal conductivity, convection, and / or radiation of heat between the electronic components and the longitudinal rails 11105, and between the longitudinal rails 11105 and the ambient environment. In various embodiments, the metal pan 11700 of the staple cartridge 15000 is in abutting contact with one or more electronic components of the staple cartridge and is configured to conduct heat away from the electronic components. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge body 15100 and / or the metal pan 11700 comprise windows or through-holes configured to allow bodily fluids to enter the staple cartridge 15000 when the end effector 10400 is within a patient. In such an embodiment, the electronic components of the staple cartridge 15000 are coated with a sealant, such as, for example, an epoxy, that protects the electronic components when bodily fluids enter the staple cartridge 15000.Such openings can also be positioned and arranged to facilitate contact of bodily fluids with the heat sink of staple cartridge 15000.

[0104] In various embodiments, the staple cartridge 15000 further comprises a temperature sensor circuit including at least one temperature sensor 15900 in communication with the processor of the staple cartridge 15000. In at least one embodiment, the temperature sensor 15900 includes, for example, a thermistor, a thermocouple, and / or a resistance temperature detector. In various cases, the staple processor, electronic hardware, tissue sensor, and / or antenna of the staple cartridge 15000 generate heat that, in some circumstances, can adversely affect the function of these devices. Using data provided to the staple cartridge processor from the temperature sensor 15900, the staple cartridge processor can adjust the sampling or processing rate of the tissue sensor, for example, to reduce the heat generated by the staple cartridge processor. In at least one case, the staple cartridge processor is configured to reduce the data sampling or processing rate of the tissue sensor when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 15900 exceeds a threshold value. In at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge processor can maintain the lower sampling rate of the tissue sensor regardless of whether the temperature remains above the temperature threshold or falls back below the temperature threshold. In other embodiments, the staple cartridge processor can increase or restore the sampling rate of the tissue sensor after the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 15900 falls back below the temperature threshold. Similarly, the staple cartridge processor can be configured to decrease the data transfer rate between the staple cartridge 15000 and the surgical instrument via the data antenna pair when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 15900 rises above the threshold. In at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge processor can maintain the lower transfer rate regardless of whether the temperature remains above or falls back below the temperature threshold. In other embodiments, the staple cartridge processor can increase or restore the data transfer rate across the data antenna pair after the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 15900 falls back below the temperature threshold.

[0105] In at least one embodiment, further to the above, the processor of the staple cartridge 15000 and / or the processor of the surgical instrument 10000 are configured to reduce the power transferred across the power antenna coupling between the staple cartridge 15000 and the surgical instrument 10000 when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 15900 exceeds a threshold value. In at least one embodiment, the processor(s) can maintain the lower power transfer rate regardless of whether the temperature remains above or falls back below the temperature threshold. In other embodiments, the processor(s) can increase or restore the power transfer rate after the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 15900 returns below the temperature threshold value.

[0106] In various embodiments, the staple cartridge processor is configured to evaluate the operating state of the staple cartridge 15000 when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 15900 exceeds a temperature threshold before modifying the operation of the staple cartridge 15000. For example, if the staple cartridge processor senses that a staple firing stroke has not yet been initiated by the surgical instrument 10000 when the sensed temperature exceeds the temperature threshold, the staple cartridge processor is configured to otherwise reduce heat generated by the staple cartridge processor, for example, by modifying or reducing the sensor sampling rate, data transfer rate, and / or power transfer rate, and / or altering or stopping functionality of the staple cartridge processor. Such a configuration can reduce heat generated by the staple cartridge 15000 during use. If the staple cartridge processor senses that a staple firing stroke has already been initiated by the surgical instrument 10000 when the sensed temperature exceeds the temperature threshold, in at least one such embodiment, the staple cartridge processor does not alter the sensor sampling rate, data transfer rate, and / or power transfer rate, for example, during the staple firing stroke. After the staple firing stroke, in such cases, the staple cartridge processor can modify the operation of the staple cartridge 15000 in some manner to reduce the heat generated by the staple cartridge 15000. In various cases, the staple cartridge 15000 includes a sensor configured to detect the position of the sled, or at least whether the sled is in a proximal, unfired position, to determine whether the staple firing stroke has been initiated. In various embodiments, the control system of the surgical instrument 10000 is configured to communicate to the staple cartridge processor that the staple firing stroke has been initiated.The staple cartridge 15000 may also be equipped with a sensor for determining when the sled has reached its fully fired position, and / or the control system of the surgical instrument 10000 may be configured to communicate to the staple cartridge processor that the retraction stroke of the staple firing system has begun.

[0107] In various embodiments, further to the above, the staple cartridge processor is configured to modify operation of the first system when the sensed temperature exceeds a first temperature threshold and modify operation of the second system when the sensed temperature exceeds a second or higher temperature threshold. For example, the staple cartridge processor may reduce the sensor sampling rate when the first temperature threshold is exceeded and then also reduce the data transfer rate to the surgical instrument when the second temperature threshold is exceeded.

[0108] In various embodiments, further to the above, the processor of the staple cartridge 15000 includes an internal temperature sensor used in cooperation with, or in place of, the temperature sensor 15900. In various embodiments, the cartridge body 15100 is constructed of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material used as the temperature sensor. In such embodiments, the cartridge body 15100 is part of a temperature sensor circuit that communicates with the processor of the staple cartridge 15000. In various cases, the cartridge body 15100 includes a temperature sensor in addition to, or in place of, other temperature sensors disclosed herein. In at least one case, the PTC material is constructed of a doped polycrystalline ceramic including, for example, barium titanate BaTiO. In at least one embodiment, the processor of the staple cartridge 15000 is in communication with the temperature sensor 15900 and at least one temperature sensor within the surgical instrument 10000. In such embodiments, the staple cartridge processor can employ an algorithm that evaluates temperatures at multiple locations and considers temperature readings from both temperature sensors before modifying the operation of the staple cartridge 15000. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge 15000 can be equipped with two or more temperature sensors, and the staple cartridge processor can employ an algorithm that takes into account all temperature readings of the temperature sensors before modifying the operation of the staple cartridge 15000.

[0109] In various embodiments, heat generated by the cartridge processor can affect, for example, components of the sensor circuit and / or the electrical potential generated by a sensor of the sensor circuit. In various cases, an increase in the sensed temperature can be the result of, for example, an increase in a magnetic or electric field generated by the processor. In at least one embodiment, the processor employs an algorithm configured to utilize a correction factor to compensate for the effect of the increase in temperature on the sensor output. In at least one such embodiment, the compensation factor is applied when the sensed temperature exceeds a threshold value. In various embodiments, the voltage output is modified according to a correction function, for example, a linear and / or nonlinear function. In various embodiments, the cartridge control system includes a sensor configured to directly detect the field generated by the processor and employ an algorithm to compensate for the effect of the field on the sensor output.

[0110] In various embodiments, the staple cartridges disclosed herein are configured to operate in a low power mode and a high power mode. The staple cartridge processor is configured to switch from the low power mode to the high power mode when the staple cartridge processor receives one or more inputs or triggers. In such embodiments, the staple cartridge consumes less power and generates less heat while the staple cartridge processor waits for a signal or combination of signals to switch to the high power mode. In the low power mode, in at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge processor is configured to process data from the cartridge sensor at a low sampling rate and / or transmit data to the surgical instrument 10000 at a low transmission rate, for example, via a data antenna coupling. In the high power mode, in at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge processor is configured to process data from the cartridge sensor at a higher sampling rate and / or transmit data to the surgical instrument 10000 at a higher transmission rate via a data antenna coupling. In at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge includes at least one strain gauge mounted on the cartridge body, for example, the strain gauge in communication with the staple cartridge processor and configured to sense when the cartridge body is compressed. When the electrical potential output by the strain gauge (in response to the cartridge body being subjected to high strain) exceeds a threshold, the staple cartridge processor switches from a low power mode to a high power mode. In such an instance, the staple cartridge can detect that the end effector 10400 of the surgical instrument 10000 is clamped onto patient tissue. In addition to or instead of the strain gauges described above, the processor of the surgical instrument 10000 can, for example, emit a signal across a data antenna pair to the staple cartridge processor when the surgical instrument 10000 is clamped. In either case, the staple cartridge processor switches from a low power mode to a high power mode when the processor determines that the surgical instrument 10000 is in a clamped state.In such cases, the staple cartridge processor may, for example, increase the sampling rate of the tissue sensor output and / or increase the data transfer rate back to the processor of the surgical instrument 10000.

[0111] In at least one embodiment, further to the above, the staple cartridge is in a low-power mode when the surgical instrument 10000 is in an unclamped state and the staple cartridge is in an unfired state. When the surgical instrument 10000 is clamped, the staple cartridge enters a first, high-power mode in which one or more, but not all, of the staple cartridge's functions are switched on and / or altered. When a staple firing stroke is initiated by the surgical instrument 10000, the staple cartridge enters a second, high-power mode in which all of the staple cartridge's functions are switched on and fully operational. In at least one such embodiment, the staple cartridge's processor is configured to issue a first signal to the surgical instrument 10000 indicating that the staple cartridge has entered the first, high-power mode and a second signal to the surgical instrument 10000 indicating that the staple cartridge has entered the second, high-power mode. When the instrument processor of the surgical instrument 10000 receives a first signal, the instrument processor increases the wattage of the power signal to the staple cartridge to power the staple cartridge in a first, higher power mode. Similarly, when the instrument processor receives a second signal, the instrument processor increases the wattage of the power signal to the staple cartridge to power the staple cartridge in a second, higher power mode.

[0112] In at least one embodiment, the surgical instrument is configured to power the staple cartridge at a first wattage when the staple cartridge is installed in the end effector of the surgical instrument and the end effector is in an unclamped state, at a second wattage when the end effector is in a clamped state prior to the staple firing stroke, and at a third wattage during the staple firing stroke. In at least one such embodiment, the second wattage is higher than the first and third wattages, such that the cartridge processor can process data from the tissue sensor at a faster rate to evaluate tissue before the staple firing stroke without generating an excessive amount of heat before the end effector is clamped and / or during the staple firing stroke. In at least one alternative embodiment, the third wattage is higher than the first and second wattages, such that the cartridge processor can process data from the tissue sensor at a faster rate to evaluate tissue during the staple firing stroke without generating an excessive amount of heat before the staple firing stroke.

[0113] In at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge is in a low power mode before the staple cartridge is installed in the surgical instrument 10000. Once the staple cartridge is installed in the surgical instrument 10000, the staple cartridge enters a first, high power mode in which one or more, but not all, of the staple cartridge's functions are switched on and / or modified. For example, an identification circuit in the staple cartridge is switched on when the staple cartridge is in the first high power mode. Once the surgical instrument 10000 is clamped, the staple cartridge enters a second, high power mode in which one or more additional, but not all, of the staple cartridge's functions are switched on and / or modified. For example, a tissue sensing circuit in the staple cartridge is switched on when the staple cartridge is in the second high power mode. When a staple firing stroke is initiated by the surgical instrument 10000, the staple cartridge enters a third, high power mode in which all of the staple cartridge's functions are switched on and fully operational. In at least one such embodiment, the staple cartridge processor is configured to issue a first signal to the surgical instrument 10000 indicating that the staple cartridge has entered a first high power mode, issue a second signal to the surgical instrument 10000 indicating that the staple cartridge has entered a second high power mode, and issue a third signal to the surgical instrument 10000 indicating that the staple cartridge has entered a third high power mode. When the instrument processor of the surgical instrument 10000 receives the first signal, the instrument processor increases the wattage of the power signal to the staple cartridge to power the staple cartridge in the first high power mode. Similarly, when the instrument processor receives the second signal, the instrument processor increases the wattage of the power signal to the staple cartridge to power the staple cartridge in the second high power mode. Similarly, when the instrument processor receives the third signal, the instrument processor increases the wattage of the power signal to the staple cartridge to power the staple cartridge in the third high power mode.

[0114] As described above, the staple cartridge processor responds to an input or trigger and activates one or more systems of the staple cartridge when the trigger is received. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge includes a control system including a wake-up circuit and an on-board power supply. When energized by a power source external to the staple cartridge, i.e., an off-board power supply, the wake-up circuit connects the on-board power supply to a data transmission circuit of the control system to transmit data to the surgical instrument 10000 via a data antenna pair. In at least one instance, the data transmission circuit emits an identification beacon to the surgical instrument 10000. If the staple cartridge control system does not establish authenticated communication with the surgical instrument 10000 within a predetermined time after emitting the identification beacon, the control system shuts down the data transmission circuit by disconnecting the on-board power supply from the data transmission circuit until the wake-up circuit is again energized by the off-board power supply. However, if the staple cartridge establishes authenticated communication with the surgical instrument 10000 within a predetermined period of time after emitting the identification beacon, the control system enters a full wake high power operating mode.

[0115] In various embodiments, further to the above, the staple cartridge control system switches from a low power or sleep mode to a high power or awake mode after receiving two inputs or triggers. In at least one embodiment, with reference to FIG. 5A , the staple cartridge includes a retainer or cover 11900 attached to the cartridge body that extends above the top or deck of the cartridge body. The cover 11900 includes one or more attachment mechanisms 11910 configured to releasably retain the cover 11900 to the staple cartridge. The staple cartridge further includes a cover sensor circuit including a sensor, such as, for example, a Hall Effect sensor, in communication with a processor of the cartridge control system. When the cover 11900 is attached to the cartridge body, a magnetic element attached to the cover 11900 interferes with a magnetic field emitted by the Hall Effect sensor, and when the cover 11900 is removed from the cartridge body, the magnetic element no longer interferes with the magnetic field of the Hall Effect sensor. This change in the Hall Effect sensor field is reflected in the voltage output of the Hall Effect sensor, which is one of the triggers used by the cartridge control system to switch the staple cartridge to a wake mode. In addition to the above, the cartridge jaws of the surgical instrument include a cartridge presence sensor circuit that is completed or closed when a staple cartridge is installed in the cartridge jaws. In at least one instance, the staple cartridge closes a proximity switch, for example, when the staple cartridge is installed in the cartridge jaws. Like the cover sensor circuit, the cartridge presence sensor circuit is part of the wake circuit. The processor of the control system is configured to switch from a low power mode or sleep mode to a high power mode or wake mode when the processor receives an input that a staple cartridge is installed in the cartridge jaws and an input that the cover 11900 has been removed from the staple cartridge.In the sleep mode, the processor is not sampling data from the tissue sensor, processing data communicated from the surgical instrument to the staple cartridge, and / or transmitting data to the surgical instrument. In the wake mode, the processor is sampling data from the tissue sensor, processing data communicated from the surgical instrument to the staple cartridge, and transmitting data to the surgical instrument.

[0116] In addition to the above, any suitable combination of wake-up events or triggers can be used to switch the staple cartridge control system from sleep mode to wake mode. In at least one embodiment, a first trigger is the removal of a cover from the staple cartridge, and a second trigger includes a completed authentication sequence. In at least one instance, the removal of the cover from the staple cartridge is sensed by a control system processor, which switches the staple cartridge from sleep mode to authentication mode. In authentication mode, the staple cartridge processor emits an identification beacon through a data antenna pair. If the instrument processor recognizes the identification beacon, the instrument beacon sends a wake-up signal back to the staple cartridge. Upon receiving the wake-up signal, the processor switches from authentication mode to wake mode. In wake mode, the staple cartridge control system is fully functional, but in authentication mode, the staple cartridge control system may not be fully functional. For example, in at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge control system does not process input from the tissue sensor when the staple cartridge is in authentication mode. Additionally, the processor may include a timer circuit, function, and / or clock that is started, for example, when the processor enters the authentication mode. The processor may be configured to return to sleep mode if the processor does not receive a wake-up signal within a predetermined period of time as measured by the timer circuit. In various cases, the identification beacon and / or wake-up signal are encoded or encrypted. In at least one such case, the appliance processor is configured to decode or decrypt the identification beacon and / or the cartridge processor is configured to decode or decrypt the wake-up signal.

[0117] Various wake-up triggers can include, for example, attaching a battery to the surgical instrument, removing the surgical instrument from a charging station, and / or attaching the surgical instrument to a robotic surgical system. In at least one embodiment, the surgical instrument includes electrical contacts that mate with corresponding electrical contacts on the arm of the robotic surgical system, and the electrical contacts close a circuit that is sensed by the processor of the surgical instrument and / or the processor of the robotic surgical system. In such instances, the surgical instrument and / or the robotic surgical system transmit a wake-up trigger signal to a staple cartridge installed within the surgical instrument. In at least one embodiment, the robotic surgical system includes a vision system including one or more cameras configured to visually confirm the attachment of a stapling instrument to the arm of the robotic surgical system and / or the presence of a staple cartridge in the cartridge jaws, and then transmit a wake-up trigger signal to a staple cartridge installed in the surgical instrument. In at least one such embodiment, the arm and / or surgical instrument of the robotic surgical system includes a clip that releasably holds the surgical instrument to the arm, and the vision system is configured to verify that the clip is in a locked position before issuing a wake-up trigger signal. In various embodiments, the operating room or surgical suite includes a control system configured to transmit the wake-up signal directly to the staple cartridge and / or through the robotic surgical system and / or surgical instrument.

[0118] In various embodiments, the staple cartridge includes a circuit that communicates with the staple cartridge's processor. The circuit includes two contacts on the deck of the cartridge body and a gap between the contacts. When the staple cartridge is installed in the cartridge jaws and the end effector is in an open configuration, the circuit is in an open state. In such a case, the staple cartridge's memory device cannot be accessed. When the end effector is closed, the anvil jaws bridge the contacts and the circuit is in a closed state. In such a case, the staple cartridge's memory device can be accessed. In various embodiments, the circuit includes a wake-up circuit that, when closed, provides a potential to an input gate of the processor, causing the processor to switch from a sleep mode to a wake mode when the potential is received. In at least one such embodiment, closing the wake-up circuit when the end effector is closed causes a battery or power source within the staple cartridge to communicate with the staple cartridge's control system. In various other embodiments, closing the anvil opens the wake-up circuit, which communicates with the processor. In at least one such embodiment, the anvil includes a cutting element, such as a knife, that severs a circuit within the staple cartridge, leaving the circuit open. In such a case, the processor can interpret a loss of potential at the input gate as a wake-up signal.

[0119] In various cases, further to the above, the staple cartridge is stored in a sealed package. Before loading the staple cartridge into the surgical instrument, a clinician must open the package and remove the staple cartridge. In at least one case, removing the staple cartridge from the package activates a wake-up trigger, switching the staple cartridge from a sleep mode to a wake-up mode. In at least one embodiment, a sticker is attached to the package and the staple cartridge. In such cases, the sticker maintains a wake-up circuit within the staple cartridge in an open state. When the staple cartridge is removed from the package, the sticker is removed from the staple cartridge and the wake-up circuit is closed. In such cases, the processor receives a wake-up trigger signal at an input. In at least one such case, the staple cartridge includes an on-board power source, such as a battery and / or a charge accumulator, that delivers an electrical potential to a processor input when the sticker is removed from the staple cartridge, thereby providing a wake-up trigger signal to the processor. In at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge comprises a wake-up circuit including a battery and a spring-loaded battery contact that is held open by a tab when the staple cartridge is positioned within the package. In at least one instance, the package is constructed of a plastic material, such as TYVEK. The tab is attached to the package and, when the staple cartridge is removed from the package, the tab is removed from between the battery and the spring-loaded battery contact such that the battery contact engages the battery and closes the wake-up circuit. At such time, the staple cartridge's processor is powered and fully functional.

[0120] As described above, the staple cartridge may include a cover or retainer 11900 attached to the cartridge body, and when the cover 11900 is removed from the cartridge body, a wake-up circuit within the staple cartridge is closed and the processor enters a wake state. Similarly to the above, in at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge includes a wake-up circuit including a battery and spring-loaded battery contacts that are held open by tabs secured to the cover 11900 when the cover 11900 is attached to the staple cartridge. When the cover 11900 is removed from the staple cartridge, the tabs are removed from between the battery and the spring-loaded battery contacts such that the battery contacts engage the battery and close the wake-up circuit. At such time, the staple cartridge's processor is powered and fully functional. In other embodiments, the processor enters a first power mode when the cover 11900 is removed. In at least one such embodiment, the processor enters a second power mode, for example, as a result of a cartridge authentication process.

[0121] In various embodiments, further to the above, the staple cartridge includes a wake-up circuit including, for example, a Hall effect sensor mounted on a first lateral side of the cartridge body and a magnet mounted on a second or opposite lateral side of the cartridge body. When the staple cartridge cover 11900 is attached to the cartridge body, the cover 11900 is positioned between the Hall effect sensor and the magnet. When the cover 11900 is removed from the cartridge body, the magnetic field detected by the Hall effect sensor changes, resulting in a change in the voltage output of the Hall effect sensor, which is detected by the cartridge processor. Such a change in potential is interpreted by the processor as a wake-up trigger, and in response to this wake-up trigger and / or a combination of wake-up triggers including this wake-up trigger, the processor switches from a sleep mode to a wake mode. In various instances, the cover 11900 includes a fin, for example, constructed of ferrite, that is positioned between the magnet and the Hall effect sensor when the cover 11900 is attached to the cartridge body.

[0122] Additionally, when the staple cartridge is removed from the package, it is installed into the cartridge jaws of the surgical instrument. In various instances, a snap-fit ​​and / or press-fit configuration exists between the staple cartridge and the cartridge jaws. In such instances, when the staple cartridge is inserted into the cartridge jaws, a sudden acceleration of the staple cartridge to the installed position can occur when a clinician applies sufficient force to the staple cartridge to overcome the snap-fit ​​and / or press-fit mechanism. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge includes a power source, such as a battery and / or a charge accumulator, and a wake-up circuit including an accelerometer in communication with the staple cartridge's processor. The accelerometer is in communication with the power source and an input gate of the processor, and when the staple cartridge is installed in the surgical instrument and accelerated, the accelerometer's voltage output, which is supplied to the processor's input gate, increases above a wake voltage threshold, causing the staple cartridge to switch, for example, from a sleep mode to a wake mode. In other embodiments, the processor enters a first power supply mode when the staple cartridge is installed. In at least one such embodiment, the processor is configured to enter the second power mode as a result of, for example, a cartridge authentication process.

[0123] Once the staple cartridge is installed in the cartridge jaws, the end effector of the surgical instrument can be inserted into the patient. In various instances, the end effector of the surgical instrument is inserted into the patient through a large or open incision and then clamped to patient tissue. In other instances, the end effector of the surgical instrument is inserted into the patient through a cannula or trocar. In such instances, the end effector is closed, inserted through the trocar, and then reopened once the end effector is within the patient. At this point, the end effector is then clamped to patient tissue. In either case, the end effector may be opened and closed one or more times before use on the patient, and the clamp on the end effector can provide a wake-up trigger to the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge includes a processor, a power source, and a wake-up circuit in communication with the processor and the power source. The wake-up circuit includes an open switch that closes when the end effector of the surgical instrument is clamped. When the switch is closed, the processor enters a fully powered state. In at least one such embodiment, the movable anvil jaw physically contacts the staple cartridge, closing a wake-up circuit. In at least one embodiment, the wake-up circuit includes a Hall Effect sensor that detects the presence of a magnetic element attached to the anvil jaw when the anvil jaw is in its closed position. When the voltage output of the Hall Effect sensor changes as a result of the presence of the magnetic element, the processor interprets the voltage output change as a wake-up trigger. In at least one embodiment, the wake-up circuit includes an inductive sensor that detects the presence of a metal anvil jaw in the closed position. When the voltage output of the inductive sensor changes as a result of the anvil jaw being closed, the processor interprets the voltage output change as a wake-up trigger.

[0124] In various embodiments, further to the above, the trocar comprises a proximal end including a sealing port, a distal end including a sharpened tip configured to incise patient tissue, and a tube extending between the proximal and distal ends. The sealing port comprises an enlarged opening and a flexible seal configured to form a substantially airtight seal against an end effector and / or shaft of a surgical instrument when inserted therethrough. In various embodiments, the trocar comprises a data transmitter including an antenna configured to emit a wake-up signal to the staple cartridge when the staple cartridge passes through the trocar. In various cases, the wake-up signal from the trocar data transmitter is a trigger sufficient to switch the staple cartridge control system from a sleep mode to a wake mode, and in other cases, the wake-up signal from the trocar data transmitter is one of several triggers required to switch the staple cartridge control system from a sleep mode to a wake mode. In at least one embodiment, the trocar comprises a magnetic member, such as a permanent magnet, and the staple cartridge comprises a wake-up circuit including a sensor configured to detect the magnetic member. In at least one such embodiment, the staple cartridge includes a power source in communication with a sensor, including, for example, a Hall Effect sensor. When the staple cartridge is installed in the end effector and the end effector is inserted through the trocar, a field emitted by the Hall Effect sensor is distorted by a magnetic member within the trocar, which changes the voltage output of the Hall Effect sensor. This change in the sensor voltage output is detected by a processor in the staple cartridge, and when the change exceeds a predetermined threshold, the processor is configured to switch from its sleep mode to its wake mode. In various embodiments, the tube of the trocar includes an iron ring embedded therein and / or attached thereto, and the staple cartridge includes a wake-up circuit including an inductive sensor configured to detect the iron ring. In at least one embodiment, the inductive sensor includes, for example, a field sensor, an oscillator, a demodulator, a flip-flop, and an output.When the staple cartridge is installed in the end effector and the end effector is inserted through the trocar, the iron ring changes the voltage output of the inductive sensor. This change in the sensor voltage output is detected by a processor in the staple cartridge, and when the change exceeds a predetermined threshold, the processor is configured to switch from its sleep mode to its wake mode. In various instances, the inductive sensor outputs a voltage pulse for each iron ring that the inductive sensor passes. In such instances, the processor is configured to switch to the wake mode after receiving more than a predetermined number of pulses from the inductive sensor.

[0125] Referring again to FIG. 7 , the staple cartridge can include a power management system including a processor and a charge accumulator, such as, for example, charge accumulator 11800. The power management system further includes a charging circuit in communication with the charge accumulator 11800 and an antenna configured to receive power from the surgical instrument when the staple cartridge is installed within the surgical instrument. In various instances, the surgical instrument can provide power to the staple cartridge at a first charging rate or a maximum charging rate. However, during use of the staple cartridge, there can be situations where the staple cartridge uses power at a second rate that is higher than the maximum charging rate. To accommodate this higher power usage, the charge accumulator 11800 stores power when the staple cartridge's power usage is less than the maximum charging rate. The staple cartridge processor is configured to manage the power stored in the charge accumulator 11800, and when the charge accumulator 11800 reaches its maximum capacity, the processor transmits a signal to the surgical instrument to reduce the power being supplied to the staple cartridge by the surgical instrument. In at least one such instance, the signal includes data regarding the actual power usage of the staple cartridge. Upon receiving the signal, the surgical instrument processor reduces the power being supplied to the staple cartridge so that the charging rate matches the staple cartridge usage rate. In many instances, the staple cartridge power usage may increase beyond the charging rate, and the power management system is configured to draw power from the charge accumulator 11800 until the charge of the charge accumulator 11800 falls below a recharge threshold. When the processor detects that the charge in the charge accumulator 11800 has fallen below a recharge threshold, the staple cartridge processor transmits a signal to the surgical instrument to restore the charge rate to the maximum charge rate in order to recharge the charge accumulator 11800. In addition to or in place of the charge accumulator 11800, the staple cartridge may include any suitable power storage device such as, for example, a charge pump, a battery, and / or a supercapacitor.

[0126] In various instances, further to the above, the charge accumulator 11800 is not actively charged by the surgical instrument until at least one trigger event occurs. In at least one instance, the cartridge power management system charges the charge accumulator 11800 after receiving a signal from an NFC antenna of the surgical instrument. In at least one such instance, power transferred from the NFC antenna sufficiently charges the charge accumulator 11800 to place the staple cartridge in a charging mode before the staple cartridge enters a fully powered mode. In certain instances, the cartridge processor emits an identification beacon to the surgical instrument after the charge accumulator 11800 is at least partially charged by power transferred from the NFC antenna. When the instrument processor receives the identification beacon from the staple cartridge, the instrument processor supplies additional power to the staple cartridge via the NFC antenna and / or the power antenna such that the cartridge power management system fully charges the charge accumulator 11800. In various instances, the charge accumulator 11800 is charged at least in part by power transmitted from the operating room control system to the cartridge NFC antenna.

[0127] In various embodiments, the surgical instrument is configured to provide power to the staple cartridge as soon as the staple cartridge is installed within the surgical instrument. In at least one embodiment, the surgical instrument immediately provides power to the staple cartridge via a low-power data antenna pair, such as an NFC antenna coupling, when the staple cartridge is installed in the surgical instrument. In such a case, the cartridge power management system charges the charge accumulator 11800 as part of the charging mode. In at least one case, for example, less than 0.1 W is provided to the cartridge power management system during the charging mode. After the staple cartridge processor receives a wake trigger or combination of wake triggers required to switch the staple cartridge to the wake mode, the processor provides a wake signal to the surgical instrument that the staple cartridge is in the wake mode. When the surgical instrument processor receives the wake signal, the surgical instrument begins providing power to the staple cartridge via the high-power antenna pair. In such a case, the cartridge power management system can then complete charging of the charge accumulator 11800 if it is not already fully charged. In at least one instance, greater than 1.0 W of power is supplied to the cartridge power management system during the wake mode. In various alternative embodiments, there is only one antenna coupling between the staple cartridge and the surgical instrument. In such embodiments, the surgical instrument can control whether low or high power is supplied to the staple cartridge via the antenna based on whether the instrument processor receives a wake signal from the staple cartridge. In any event, if the cartridge power management system determines that the charge accumulator 11800 is fully charged and the cartridge processor has not received one or more wake triggers necessary to switch the staple cartridge to its wake mode, the cartridge power management system can open the charging circuit that supplies power to the charge accumulator 11800 to stop charging the charge accumulator 11800.In at least one embodiment, the cartridge processor can emit a charged but not woken signal to the instrument processor, which upon receiving this signal is configured to cease supplying power to the staple cartridge until the instrument processor receives a woken signal from the staple cartridge, and if the instrument processor receives the wake signal, in such a situation the instrument processor is configured to begin supplying power to the staple cartridge at a high power level.

[0128] In various embodiments, as described above, the staple cartridge processor is configured to switch from a low-power or sleep mode to a high-power or wake mode when the processor receives a combination of wake-up triggers. In various embodiments, the processor requires a specific combination of triggers to enter the wake mode. For example, the cartridge processor switches to the wake mode when a sufficient voltage potential is applied to a first input gate of the processor and a sufficient voltage potential is applied to a second input gate of the processor. In various embodiments, the processor is configured to switch from the sleep mode to the wake mode after a subset of triggers from a larger set of triggers is received by the processor. In at least one such embodiment, the processor is configured to receive three wake triggers, but is configured to switch to the wake mode after receiving any two of the wake triggers. While the voltage potentials do not need to be applied to the processor gates simultaneously, embodiments are envisioned in which the wake triggers must be applied to the processor simultaneously for the processor to switch to the wake mode. In at least one embodiment, the processor is configured to receive two specific wake triggers simultaneously to switch from the sleep mode to the wake mode. In at least one such embodiment, one of the wake triggers is the charge accumulator 11800 reaching a sufficient charge level, with the other trigger being, for example, an event. That said, the charge accumulator 11800 reaching a sufficient charge level can serve as a wake trigger in any of the embodiments disclosed herein that include the charge accumulator 11800 and / or any other suitable power storage device. Additionally, various alternative embodiments are contemplated in which the charge accumulator 11800 is not charged until the cartridge processor switches from sleep mode to wake mode.

[0129] In various embodiments, the staple cartridges disclosed herein comprise at least one memory device configured to store data regarding characteristics of the staple cartridge before, during, and / or after a staple firing stroke and / or tissue characteristics before, during, and / or after a staple firing stroke. The memory device is in communication with a processor, which is configured to read data from the memory device and communicate the data in a stored data signal transmitted to an antenna of the staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the processor is configured to emit the stored data signal only after receiving a key or key signal that unlocks this functionality of the processor. Each time the processor accesses the memory device to generate a stored data signal, an event is recorded in the memory device. In this manner, the memory device contains data regarding the number and time the memory device is accessed. Such access data can be included in the stored data signal. If the key signal provided to the cartridge processor does not match an expected key signal stored in the cartridge processor and / or memory device, the cartridge processor does not generate a stored data signal. Instead, a failed attempt is recorded in the memory device. In this manner, the memory device contains data regarding the number of times access to memory device data was denied. Such access denial data can be included in the stored data signal when an appropriate key signal is provided to the cartridge processor. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge processor enters a locked mode after a number of failed attempts to access the memory device exceed a threshold. In at least one instance, the threshold is, for example, five failed attempts. Once the cartridge processor is in the locked mode, the cartridge processor is configured to not generate the stored data signal even if an appropriate key signal is subsequently provided. In such an instance, the data stored on the memory device is no longer accessible.In at least one alternative embodiment, the processor is unlockable after entering the locked mode when a master key or master key signal is provided to the processor. The master key, unlike the key, may in various instances be held only by, for example, the original manufacturer of the staple cartridge. Providing the master key signal to the processor causes the processor to emit a stored data signal even when the processor is not in the locked mode.

[0130] In addition to the above, the data stored in the memory device can be encrypted or encoded according to any suitable protocol. After receiving the key and / or master key, the processor is configured to decrypt or decode the data stored on the memory device and transmit the decrypted or decoded data in a stored data signal. However, various alternative embodiments are contemplated in which the processor is configured to emit the encrypted or encoded data as part of the stored data signal. In at least one such embodiment, a decryption key or code stored in the memory device is included in the stored data signal. In such embodiments, the surgical instrument and / or any suitable system can decrypt or decrypt the data in the stored data system.

[0131] In various instances, the cartridge processor must receive a unique identification key to create the stored data signals described above. This unique identification key is predefined and static, allowing anyone who provides the cartridge processor with the unique identification key to access the data stored on the memory device. In other embodiments, the key required to access the data stored on the memory device is dynamic. In at least one embodiment, the dynamic key includes performance information about the staple cartridge. Such performance information can include data related to mechanical and / or electrical characteristics. For example, the dynamic key can include information regarding, for example, the final position of the sled within the staple cartridge after a staple firing stroke. Also, for example, the dynamic key can include information regarding, for example, the maximum current drawn by an electric motor of the staple firing system during a staple firing stroke. In such instances, performance information can be shared between the staple cartridge and the surgical instrument during and / or after the staple firing stroke. For example, the staple cartridge can include a sled position sensor that can communicate the final position of the sled after a staple firing stroke to the surgical instrument. Also, for example, the surgical instrument can include an electric motor current sensor that communicates the peak current drawn by the electric motor during the staple firing stroke to the staple cartridge. This performance information can also be shared with, for example, a robotic surgical system and / or an operating room control system. In either case, such shared performance data can include a dynamic key used to access data stored on a memory device of the staple cartridge.

[0132] Additionally or alternatively, the staple cartridge includes a security circuit that is closed when movable components of the staple cartridge are positioned in a specific configuration. The security circuit is in communication with the processor, and when the security circuit is in a closed state, the processor is in an unlocked state that allows the processor to generate a stored data signal in response to an interrogation signal and / or allows data stored in the memory device to be accessed, for example, by a surgical instrument, a robotic surgical system, and / or an operating room control system. When the security circuit is in an open state, the processor is in a locked state and is configured not to emit a stored data signal or allow access to data stored in the memory device. In at least one embodiment, the security circuit of the staple cartridge is in a closed state when the cover 11900 is not attached to the cartridge body and the sled is not in an unfired position. In various embodiments, the security circuit prevents the processor from being powered by a surgical instrument, for example, when the security circuit is in an open state. When the security circuit is in a closed state, the processor can be powered by a surgical instrument. When the processor is powered by the surgical instrument, in such embodiments, the processor can generate the stored data signal. In at least one such embodiment, a staple cartridge must be installed in the surgical instrument, for example, to complete the security circuit. In at least one embodiment, the security circuit includes electrical contacts that engage corresponding electrical contacts in the surgical instrument, for example, the electrical contacts close the security circuit when the staple cartridge is installed in the surgical instrument.

[0133] In various embodiments, the security circuit includes a security antenna that communicates with a corresponding security antenna within the surgical instrument, for example, when the staple cartridge is installed in the surgical instrument. In at least one such embodiment, a sled is positioned between the cartridge security antenna and the instrument security antenna when the sled is in the unfired position. In such a case, the sled blocks or prevents communication between the staple cartridge and the surgical instrument across the security antenna pair. After the sled is moved distally, the sled no longer blocks the transmission of data and / or power between the staple cartridge and the surgical instrument.

[0134] In various embodiments, as described above, the security circuit of the staple cartridge is configurable in an open state and a closed state. Various alternative embodiments are contemplated in which the security circuit is in a closed state but a detectable characteristic of the security circuit changes as a result of the movable components of the staple cartridge being in a particular configuration or range of configurations. In at least one embodiment, the potential across the security circuit is within a first voltage range when the cover 11900 is attached to the cartridge body and the sled is in the unfired position, within a second voltage range when the cover 11900 is removed from the cartridge body and the sled is in the unfired position, and within a third voltage range when the cover 11900 is removed from the cartridge body and the sled is in the fired position. When the potential across the security circuit is within the third voltage range, the processor is in an unlocked state. When the potential across the security circuit is within the first voltage range or the second voltage range, the processor is in a locked state, for example.

[0135] In various embodiments, the staple cartridge includes an access cover that is opened when the staple cartridge is installed in the cartridge jaws of a surgical instrument. When the access cover is opened, the data access circuit is closed, allowing the surgical instrument to access the staple cartridge's memory device. In at least one instance, the cartridge jaws include conductive contact elements that bridge openings in the data access circuit when the staple cartridge is installed in the cartridge jaws and the access cover is opened. In at least one embodiment, the access door includes, for example, a foil sheet. In at least one embodiment, the memory device includes, for example, an RFID tag. However, when the staple cartridge is not installed in the surgical instrument, the data access circuit is open, preventing access to the surgical instrument's memory device.

[0136] The entire disclosures of U.S. Patent No. 8,991,678, issued on March 31, 2015, entitled "SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH STOWING KNIFE BLADE," U.S. Patent No. 10,085,749, issued on October 2, 2018, entitled "SURGICAL APPARATUS WITH CONDUCTOR STRAIN RELIEF," and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0324317, published on November 12, 2015, entitled "AUTHENTICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR REUSABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS," are incorporated herein by reference.

[0137] In addition to the above, the memory device of the staple cartridge can store any suitable data. For example, the stored data can include the size of the staples stored within the staple cartridge, the unformed height of the staples stored within the staple cartridge (which may be reflected by the color of the cartridge body), the number of staples stored within the staple cartridge, the arrangement of the staples stored within the staple cartridge, and / or the staple pattern length of the staples stored within the staple cartridge (e.g., 30 mm, 45 mm, 60 mm, etc.). Also, for example, the stored data can include whether the staple cartridge was fired, when the staple cartridge was fired, the distance traveled by the sled during the staple firing stroke, the time elapsed during the staple firing stroke, the velocity of the staple firing stroke, the acceleration and deceleration of the staple firing system experienced during the staple firing stroke, the firing force experienced during the staple firing stroke, and / or whether a foreign object was encountered and / or transected during the staple firing stroke. Also, for example, the stored data can include the number of sensors within the staple cartridge, the type of sensors, and / or the location of the sensors within the cartridge body. Also, for example, the stored data can include data sensed by a sensor. Also, for example, the stored data can include the type of tissue being stapled, the thickness of the tissue being stapled, the characteristics of the tissue being stapled, and / or the location of the tissue between the jaws of the end effector. Also, for example, the stored data can include the manufacturing date of the staple cartridge, the lot to which the staple cartridge belongs, the manufacturing location of the staple cartridge, the manufacturer of the staple cartridge, the sterilization date of the staple cartridge, the type of sterilant used to sterilize the staple cartridge, the expiration date of the staple cartridge, and / or whether and how much of the staple cartridge was fired past its expiration date.

[0138] According to at least one method, the staple cartridge is removed from its packaging and placed in the cartridge jaws of a stapling instrument. The stapling instrument is then attached to an arm of a robotic surgical system, and the robotic surgical system is powered on and / or switched from sleep mode to wake mode. The control system of the robotic surgical system is configured to transmit power through the surgical instrument to evaluate whether the staple cartridge is placed in the cartridge jaws and then transmit mechanical force through the surgical instrument to evaluate whether the staple cartridge is in an unfired state. In at least one embodiment, further to the above, the robotic surgical system transmits power to a data antenna, such as an NFC antenna within the surgical instrument, to power the staple cartridge. As described above, the staple cartridge is configured to return an identification signal to the surgical instrument. In various instances, this identification signal is processed on the surgical instrument and / or within the robotic surgical system. In either case, the staple cartridge is verified if the authentication procedure is successful. If the authentication procedure is unsuccessful, the robotic surgical system is configured to notify the clinician operating the robotic surgical system. To verify whether the staple cartridge is unused, i.e., has not been previously fired, the staple firing member is advanced distally a small stroke by a motor drive of the surgical instrument and / or robotic surgical system. If the staple firing drive is blocked by a mechanical mechanism within the surgical instrument, the robotic surgical system is configured to determine that the staple cartridge has previously been used and prevent the staple cartridge from being fired. If the staple firing system is not blocked by the mechanical mechanism, the robotic surgical system is configured to stop the staple firing drive after the small stroke and determine that the staple cartridge has not been fired.In addition to the identification data transmitted from the staple cartridge to the surgical instrument and / or robotic surgical system, the staple cartridge may also transmit data stored on a cartridge memory device including the expiration date of the staple cartridge, the length of the pattern of staples stored within the staple cartridge, the unformed height of the staples stored within the staple cartridge, the color of the plastic cartridge body, the manufacturer of the staple cartridge, and / or whether the staple cartridge has been fired. If the received parameters of the staple cartridge do not match the required parameters of the staple cartridge, a notification is sent to the clinician operating the robotic surgical system.

[0139] In addition to the above, the staple cartridge, surgical instrument, and / or robotic surgical system are configured to mitigate errors in and / or missing data from the cartridge data provided by the staple cartridge. Data may be missing or erroneous due to, for example, shorts in sensors, corrosion, incompatible or incorrect staple cartridges being used, electronic interference from adjacent surgical instruments and / or surgical systems, software bugs, faulty hardware, and / or the sterilization process. Therefore, one or more forms of redundancy can be used to improve the likelihood that the surgical instrument and / or robotic surgical system will receive data from the staple cartridge. For example, in at least one embodiment, the same data is stored in different locations within a stored data signal. In such cases, some data may be lost or corrupted in one portion of the signal but can be retrieved from another portion of the signal. Also, the stored data may include data from two different sources that can be considered functionally equivalent. For example, data from a force or load sensor within the staple firing drive and data from a current sensor monitoring the current drawn by the staple firing drive's electric motor can both be part of the stored data. In such cases, if the force sensor data is lost or corrupted in signal, the processor can rely on, for example, current sensor data to assess the force experienced by the staple firing drive.

[0140] In at least one embodiment, a staple cartridge can include two or more memory devices having stored data. In at least one such embodiment, a staple cartridge processor generates a first stored data signal including data from a first memory device and then generates a second stored data signal including data from a second memory device as part of a staple cartridge authentication or interrogation process. If the data from the first and second memory devices is not corrupted, in at least one embodiment, the first stored data signal matches the second stored data signal. In at least one embodiment, the first stored data signal includes a first signal header at the beginning of the first stored data signal, and the second stored data signal includes a second signal header at the beginning of the second stored data signal that is different from the first signal header. In such cases, the surgical instrument processor and / or the control system of the robotic surgical system can distinguish between the first stored data signal and the second data signal. If the surgical instrument processor and / or the control system of the robotic surgical system determine that either of the signals is corrupted and / or missing data, they are configured to establish priority over the other signal. In various instances, the first memory device is located on a first lateral side of the staple cartridge and the second memory device is located on a second, or opposite, lateral side of the staple cartridge. Such a configuration can reduce the likelihood of electronic interference affecting both signals. In at least one embodiment, the staple cartridge includes a first data antenna for transmitting the first stored data signal and a second data antenna for transmitting the second data signal.

[0141] The staple cartridge, surgical instrument, and / or robotic surgical system can be configured to perform other mitigation efforts if data contained in the stored data signal is corrupted and / or missing. In various instances, the staple cartridge can increase the power of the stored data signal if data is missing from the signal received by the surgical instrument and / or robotic surgical system. In at least one instance, a processor in the surgical instrument and / or robotic surgical system can increase its noise threshold if data received from the staple cartridge is corrupted.

[0142] In various embodiments, data and / or power transmitted between the surgical instrument and the staple cartridge can be continuous or intermittent. In various embodiments, the transmitted data can include, for example, discrete digital data and / or continuous analog data. When transmitting digital data, RFID, NFC, Hitachi UHF, Bluetooth, Zigbee, mm-wave, WiFi 802.11, and / or any other suitable wireless system can be used. Also, when transmitting digital data, wired LAN communication, single-wire communication, EPROM IC, I 2 C, and / or any other suitable device may be used. Various types of digital data that may be transferred include, for example, current magnitude, current time rate of change, torque magnitude, torque time rate of change, position data from an encoder, torque constant, magnetic strength, number of wire turns, armature length, data regarding torque-current curves, motor feedback including motor tuning, EMF constant, dynamic resistance, back EMF, angular velocity, motor speed, and / or motor speed time rate of change. Other transferred data may include, for example, data regarding the instrument handle hardware configuration and / or physical contacts and / or switches.

[0143] In addition to the above, the transferred analog data can include electrically derived and mechanically derived data. Electrically derived data can include, for example, magnetic indicators, Hall effect sensor data, data regarding the state of a switch, diode data, opening or closing of a circuit, and / or breaking of a circuit, such as when the sled and / or tissue-cutting knife breaks the circuit during the staple firing stroke. Mechanically derived data can include, for example, data based on the magnitude of the force transmitted by the motor and / or motor current, etc., associated with specific events in the staple firing stroke, such as the firing member contacting the sled, the sled being removed from a proximal, unfired position, the formation of a staple, and / or the firing member contacting and / or breaking a detent mechanism of the staple cartridge. Mechanically derived data can also include, for example, time-based data comparing motor performance data to the time an event occurred and / or position-based data comparing motor performance data to the position of the staple firing drive. Mechanically derived data can also include mechanism-based data, such as, for example, when the staple firing drive opens and / or closes a gate and / or when a detent mechanism on the staple cartridge is broken by the staple firing drive.

[0144] In various embodiments, a surgical system, such as a robotic surgical system, can include a visualization system including at least one camera configured to observe parameters of the staple cartridge and modify the operation of the robotic surgical system, the surgical instrument, and / or the staple cartridge based on the observations. For example, the visualization system can be configured to detect and evaluate physical features or markers on the staple cartridge and cartridge jaws to assess whether the staple cartridge is fully installed within the cartridge jaws. If the markers on the staple cartridge and cartridge jaws are not properly aligned, the visualization system can instruct the robotic surgical system to, for example, lock out the jaw clamping and / or staple firing functions of the robotic surgical system. In various embodiments, the visualization system can instruct the robotic surgical system to warn an operator that the staple cartridge may not be properly installed within the cartridge jaws. Also, for example, the visualization system can be configured to detect whether an implantable appendage is attached to the deck of the staple cartridge and / or whether the implantable appendage is aligned with the deck of the staple cartridge. As above, the implantable appendage and staple cartridge include markers that the visualization system can detect and compare to assess whether the implantable appendage is sufficiently aligned and, if not, instruct the robotic surgical system to alert the operator.

[0145] In various embodiments, further to the above, the visualization system is configured to observe the color of the cartridge body and provide this data to the robotic surgical system, which can display this data to the operator. In various instances, the color of the cartridge body indicates the size and / or unformed height of the staples contained therein. The robotic surgical system is configured to evaluate whether the staples contained in the staple cartridge are suitable for the surgical procedure being performed and, if not, to alert the operator. In various instances, the visualization system is configured to read, for example, a barcode and / or a QR code on the staple cartridge and provide this data to the robotic surgical system, which can display this data to the operator. As above, this data can include the size and / or unformed height of the staples contained therein. The robotic surgical system is configured to evaluate whether the staples contained in the staple cartridge are suitable for the surgical procedure being performed and, if not, to alert the operator. The QR code can include, for example, data identifying the staple cartridge serial number, manufacturing date, and / or the staple cartridge manufacturer. In various embodiments, the QR code includes a decryption key or a portion of a decryption key for accessing a memory device within the staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the QR code is, for example, molded into the cartridge body, laser etched into the cartridge body and / or pan, and / or printed on the cartridge body and / or pan.

[0146] As noted above, with reference to FIG. 1 , surgical instrument 10000 comprises a shaft 10200 and an end effector 10400 rotatably connected to shaft 10200 about an articulation joint 10500. Surgical instrument 10000″, with reference to FIGS. 8-8D , is similar to surgical instrument 10000 in many respects, most of which will not be discussed herein for the sake of brevity. Like surgical instrument 10000, surgical instrument 10000″ comprises a staple firing drive operable to perform a staple firing stroke to eject staples from staple cartridge 11000″. The staple firing drive includes an electric motor, a tissue-severing knife 10630, and a firing bar 10640 driven distally by the electric motor to push the tissue-severing knife 10630 through staple cartridge 11000″ during the staple firing stroke. In such a case, the tissue-cutting knife 10630 contacts the sled 11400 of the staple cartridge 11000" and pushes the sled 11400 distally, firing the staples as the tissue-cutting knife 10630 advances distally through the staple firing stroke. The tissue-cutting knife 10630 further comprises a first cam 10610 configured to engage the first jaw 10410 and a second cam 10620 configured to engage the second jaw 10420 during the staple firing stroke. The first cam 10610 and the second cam 10620 are configured to cooperatively hold the jaws 10410 and 10420 in a predetermined position relative to one another when a staple is being deformed against the second jaw 10420.

[0147] In various embodiments, the staple firing drive can also be used to close the end effector 10400. In at least one such embodiment, the tissue-cutting knife 10630 is advanced distally during the closing stroke such that the second cam 10620 contacts the second jaw 10420, moving the second jaw 10420 from the open position to the closed position. After the closing stroke, the staple firing drive can be re-activated to perform the staple firing stroke described above. In an alternative embodiment, the surgical instrument includes separate and distinct closure and staple firing drives. In at least one such embodiment, the closure drive is activated to close the second jaw 10420, and then the staple firing drive is separately activated to perform the staple firing drive. In either case, the cams 10610 and 10620 can cooperate to hold the jaws 10410 and 10420 together during the staple firing stroke. However, other embodiments are envisioned that do not involve one or both of the cams 10610 and 10620.

[0148] In addition to the above, surgical instrument 10000″, like surgical instrument 10000, includes a lockout 10700 that prevents a staple firing stroke from being performed when the first jaw 10410 is empty, i.e., missing a staple cartridge, when a staple cartridge is positioned in the first jaw 10410 but not fully installed in the first jaw 10410, and / or when a staple cartridge is installed in the first jaw 10410 but has already been fired. In any of these cases, Nevertheless, the tissue-cutting knife 10630 is urged downwardly by a spring (within the shaft 10200) into a recess 10710 defined in the first jaw 10410 when the staple firing stroke is initiated such that the tissue-cutting knife 10630 contacts the locking shoulder 10720 and the tissue-cutting knife 10630 is prevented from advancing further distally. At such point, the surgical instrument 10000" is locked out and the staple firing stroke cannot be performed until an unused staple cartridge is fully installed in the first jaw 10410. Once an unused staple cartridge is fully installed in the first jaw 10410 and the staple firing stroke is resumed, the tissue-cutting knife 10630 passes the locking shoulder 10720 of the lockout 10700 and the staple firing stroke can be completed. More specifically, the sled 11400 of the staple cartridge 11000" supports the tissue-severing knife 10630 above the locking shoulder 10720 when the sled 11400 is in the proximal, unfired position at the start of the staple firing stroke. Although noted above, any suitable frequency may be used.

[0149] U.S. Patent No. 7,143,923, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A FIRING LOCKOUT FOR AN UNCLOSED ANVIL" (issued December 5, 2006); U.S. Patent No. 7,044,352, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A SINGLE LOCKOUT MECHANISM FOR PREVENTION OF FIRING" (issued May 16, 2006); U.S. Patent No. 7,000,818, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING SEPARATE DISTINCT CLOSING AND FIRING SYSTEMS" (issued February 21, 2006); U.S. Patent No. 6,988,649, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT HAVING A SPENT CARTRIDGE" (issued February 21, 2006); No. 6,978,921, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING AN E-BEAM FIRING MECHANISM," issued on January 24, 2006, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,978,921, entitled "SURGICAL STAPLING INSTRUMENT INCORPORATING AN E-BEAM FIRING MECHANISM," issued on December 27, 2005, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0150] Further to the above, the cartridge body 11100 includes a longitudinal slot 11150 defined therein that is configured to receive the tissue-severing knife 10630 during the staple firing stroke. The longitudinal slot 11150 includes a widened proximal end 11152 that leads to a longitudinal portion 11156. The longitudinal slot 11150 further includes a ridge or protrusion 11154 that extends inwardly into the longitudinal portion 11156. The ridge 11154 releasably holds the sled 11400 in its proximal, unfired position until the sled 11400 is pushed distally by the tissue-severing knife 10630 during the staple firing stroke. Such a configuration prevents or reduces the likelihood of the sled 11400 being inadvertently pushed distally, for example, when the staple cartridge 11000" is installed in the first jaw 10410. The ridges 11154 can also contact the tissue-cutting knife 10630 during the staple firing stroke. In such an instance, the tissue-cutting knife 10630 can cause one or both of the ridges 11154 to yield, plastically deform, and / or break. Such an event is detected by a control system that operates the staple firing drive, as discussed further below. The ridges 11154 may generate a momentary pulse or increase in force required to distally move the tissue-cutting knife 10630. Notably, the ridges 11154 are positioned distal to the lockout 11700, such that the tissue-cutting knife 10630 passes through the lockout 11700 and then the ridges 11154 at the start of the staple firing stroke. As mentioned above, alternative embodiments are contemplated having two sets of ridges: one set of ridges 11154 to hold the sled 11400 in place and a second set of ridges to generate a detectable force pulse.

[0151] Sensors in the end effector of a surgical instrument measure various tissue and instrument parameters that enable the surgical instrument to perform several tasks. While faster sensor sampling rates are generally associated with more accurate sensor data, indiscriminately maximizing the sampling rates of all sensors in the end effector while the surgical instrument is active would be very taxing on power consumption, data transmission, and / or data processing.

[0152] Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to circuits and / or algorithms for optimizing sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing based on real-time constraints of data bandwidth or capacity, power transfer or discharge rate, and / or remaining power capacity.

[0153] Additionally or alternatively, various aspects of the present disclosure relate to circuitry and / or algorithms that optimize sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing based on one or more detected aspects of the surgical instrument, and the surgical task being performed by the surgical instrument and / or signal(s) from the situation-aware surgical hub, which may indicate a priority level for the sensor data, as described in more detail below.

[0154] In various aspects, a surgical instrument may require different sensor configurations for different tasks. Also, sensor data resolution requirements may vary between different tasks, and in certain cases, within the duration of a single task. Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to circuits and / or algorithms that optimize sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing based on various contextual information derived from various data sources, as described in more detail below.

[0155] Optimization of sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing can be achieved by adjusting, adapting, or tuning one or more sensor parameters associated with data collection, transmission, and / or processing, such as, for example, sensor sampling rate, sampling drive current and / or voltage, collection rate, sensor data resolution, sensor data transmission rate, duration of actuation, and / or frequency of actuation, etc. In at least one embodiment, a sensor or group of sensors can be switched into an inactive mode, an idler mode, or an active mode to optimize sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing.

[0156] 13 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm 1000 illustrating a control program or logic configuration for optimizing sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing in connection with a sensor array configured to detect one or more conditions of an end effector of a surgical instrument. In the illustrated embodiment, the algorithm 1000 includes detecting 1002 a bandwidth or capacity (B) of data transmission between the sensor array and a remote processing unit, detecting 1004 a discharge rate (D) of a power source configured to provide power to the end effector, and adjusting 1008 sensor parameters of the sensors or a subset of sensors of the sensor array based on the detected bandwidth (B) and the detected discharge rate (D). In some instances, the algorithm 1000 further includes detecting 1006 a remaining capacity (R) of the power source and adjusting 1008 sensor parameters of the sensors or a subset of sensors of the sensor array further based on the detected remaining capacity (R) of the remote power source. In certain cases, as described in more detail below, sensor parameter adjustment can be achieved by adjusting the sensor parameter values ​​based on detected values ​​of bandwidth (B), discharge rate (D), and / or remaining capacity (R).

[0157] 14 is a logic flow diagram of another algorithm 1010 illustrating a control program or logic configuration for optimizing sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing in connection with a sensor array configured to detect one or more conditions of an end effector of a surgical instrument. The algorithm 1010 includes receiving 1012 one or more signals indicating a priority level of sensor data for a subset of sensors of the sensor array and adjusting 1014 sensor parameters for the subset of sensors based on the detected priority level of the sensor data. Additionally or alternatively, the algorithm 1010 may further include adjusting 1016 sensor parameters for another subset of sensors based on the priority level of the sensor data.

[0158] As described above, sensor parameter adjustments (e.g., 1014, 1016) can be made to one or more sensor parameters associated with data collection, transmission, and / or processing, such as, for example, sensor sampling rate, sampling drive current and / or voltage, collection rate, sensor data resolution, sensor data transmission rate, start-up period, and / or start-up frequency. In some cases, adjustments (e.g., 1014, 1016) of sensor parameters of a subset of sensors are further based on real-time constraints, for example, data bandwidth (B), power discharge rate (D), and / or power remaining capacity (C).

[0159] In certain cases, sensor parameter adjustments include adjusting the sampling waveform / signal content (i.e., light spectrum, vibration frequency, AC frequency, etc.) In other cases, sensor parameter adjustments include adjusting the sampling time of the signal analyzer, reducing the number of active sensors, multiplexing / combining individual sensors into a single sensor, and / or analyzing different combinations of sensors.

[0160] Further, the sensor parameter adjustment can include one or more incremental adjustments to the sensor parameters, which can be performed over one or more predetermined periods of time. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor parameter adjustment can include one or more incremental adjustments to the sampling parameters, which can be implemented over one or more predetermined periods of time.

[0161] In certain cases, the sensor parameter may be adjusted to a value equal to 0, or at least substantially equal to zero. Further, the sensor parameter adjustments may be separated by periods of no adjustment, for example. In various cases, the sensor parameter adjustments may be performed according to one or more pre-defined equations, tables, and / or databases, as described in more detail below.

[0162] Further to the above, the algorithm 1010 may include adjusting sensor parameters for a first subset of sensors of the sensor array based on a priority level of sensor data received from a second subset of sensors of the sensor array. For example, during articulation of the end effector, the algorithm 1010 may decrease sampling parameters for a first subset of sensors associated with closure and / or firing of the end effector and increase sampling parameters for a second subset of sensors associated with articulation. The adjustments improve the resolution of the articulation sensor data without overburdening data and / or power. In another example, during firing of the end effector, the algorithm 1010 may decrease sampling parameters for a second subset of sensors associated with closure of the end effector and increase sampling parameters for a first subset of sensors associated with firing. Additionally or alternatively, during closure, the algorithm 1010 may increase sampling parameters for a second subset of sensors associated with closure of the end effector and increase sampling parameters for a first subset of sensors associated with firing. In at least one embodiment, the articulation, firing, and / or closure durations can be ascertained based on situational awareness data, as described in more detail below.

[0163] 15 is a logic flow diagram of another algorithm 1080 illustrating a control program or logic configuration for optimizing sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing in connection with a sensor array configured to detect one or more conditions of an end effector of a surgical instrument. In the illustrated embodiment, the algorithm 1080 determines 1081 a priority level of one or more subsets of sensors of the sensor array. In certain cases, the priority level may be determined based on one or more signals indicating a priority level, such as, for example, a task being performed or about to be performed by the surgical instrument. In either case, if the priority level is determined to be a high priority level (1082), the one or more subsets of sensors are switched to, for example, an active mode (1083). However, if the priority level is determined to be a low priority level (1082), the one or more subsets of sensors are switched to, for example, an idler mode (1084).

[0164] In various aspects, the active mode 1083 is defined by higher values ​​of one or more sensor parameters associated with data collection, transmission, and / or processing, such as, for example, a sensor sampling rate, a sampling drive current and / or voltage, an acquisition rate, a sensor data resolution, a sensor data transmission rate, a duration of actuation, and / or a frequency of actuation. Conversely, the idler mode 1084 is defined by lower values ​​of such sensor parameters compared to the active mode 1083. Thus, the sensor data in the idler mode 1084 may be associated with high noise and low resolution. In some instances, the priority level of a subset of sensors is determined to be a high priority level, and a fluctuation or spike in the high noise / low resolution sensor data is detected to trigger a switch to the active mode 1082.

[0165] 16 illustrates various aspects of a surgical system 1020 configured to implement aspects of one or more algorithms for optimizing sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing, such as, for example, algorithms 1000, 1010, 1080. In the illustrated example, the surgical system 1020 includes a surgical instrument 1022 that includes control circuitry 1026. The surgical instrument 1022 may also include wired and / or wireless communication circuitry for communicating with a surgical hub 1024, a local server, and / or a cloud-based system. In certain instances, the surgical instrument 1022 is a handheld surgical instrument. In other instances, the surgical instrument 1022 is a robotic surgical tool.

[0166] In the illustrated embodiment, the control circuitry 1026 includes a microcontroller 1028 comprising one or more processors 1030 (e.g., microprocessors, microcontrollers) coupled to at least one memory circuit 1032. The memory circuitry 1032 stores machine-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor 1030, cause the processor 1030 to execute the machine instructions to implement various processes or algorithms described herein. The processor 1030 may be any one of a number of single-core or multi-core processors known in the art. The memory circuitry 1032 may comprise volatile and non-volatile storage media. The processor 1030 may include an instruction processing unit and an arithmetic unit. The instruction processing unit may be configured to receive instructions from the memory circuitry 1032 of the present disclosure. The control circuitry 1026 may comprise analog or digital circuitry, such as, for example, a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), discrete logic, or other hardware circuitry, software, and / or firmware, or other machine-executable instructions for performing the functions described herein.

[0167] In addition to the above, the control circuit 1026 is in signal communication with a motor driver 1034, a feedback system 1038, a power source 1043 (e.g., a battery, a supercapacitor, or any other suitable energy source), and a sensor array 1036 configured to detect one or more conditions of the end effector 1040 of the surgical instrument 1022. An electric motor 1042 driven by the motor driver 1034 is operably coupled to a longitudinally movable displacement member 1044 configured to drive firing, closure, and / or articulation of the end effector 1040, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. In certain cases, the surgical instrument 1022 may include dedicated motor drivers and / or motors for firing, closure, and / or articulation.

[0168] In certain cases, the control circuit 1026 can control the motor 1042 by generating a motor set point signal. The motor set point signal can be provided to the motor driver 1034. The motor driver 1034 can include one or more circuits configured to provide a motor drive signal to the motor 1042 to drive the motor 1042, as described herein. In some cases, the motor 1042 can be a brushed DC electric motor. For example, the speed of the motor 1042 can be proportional to the motor drive signal. In some cases, the motor 1042 can be a brushless DC electric motor, and the motor drive signal can include a PWM signal provided to one or more stator windings of the motor 1042. Also, in some examples, the motor driver 1034 can be omitted, and the control circuit 1026 can directly generate the motor drive signal.

[0169] In various embodiments, the sensor array 1036 may include sensors for detecting one or more conditions at the distal end of the end effector 1040, including, but not limited to, a Hall effect or reed switch sensor, an optical sensor, a magnetic induction sensor, a force sensor, a pressure sensor, a piezoresistive film sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an eddy current sensor, an accelerometer, a pulse oximetry sensor, a temperature sensor, a tissue thickness sensor such as a sensor configured to detect an electrical property of a tissue passage (such as capacitance or resistance), or any combination thereof. In certain cases, but not limited to, the sensor array 1036 may include one or more sensors located at or around an articulation joint of the surgical instrument 1022, such as, for example, a potentiometer, a capacitive sensor (slide potentiometer), a piezoresistive film sensor, a pressure sensor, or any other suitable sensor type. In some configurations, the sensor array 1036 may include multiple sensors at multiple locations within the end effector 1040.

[0170] 16 , the surgical instrument 1022 further includes a transmission system 1045 configured to transfer data / communication signals from the microcontroller 1028 to the end effector 1040. Additionally or alternatively, the transmission system 1045 may be further configured to transfer power from the power source 1040 to the end effector 1040. In at least one example, the data and / or power transfer is achieved via a wired connection. In another example, the data and / or power transfer is achieved via a wireless connection. In certain instances, the transmission system 1045 includes a wireless connection portion and a wired connection portion. The wireless connection portion facilitates reliable transmission of power and / or data through moving parts of the surgical instrument 1022, such as, for example, an articulation joint.

[0171] In various examples, the transmission system 1045 uses one or more wireless communication protocols, such as, for example, a low frequency RFID protocol, a high frequency RFID protocol, a near field communication (NFC) protocol, an ultra-high frequency RFID protocol, a Bluetooth® communication protocol, a Qi protocol, or a proprietary communication protocol, or any other suitable communication protocol. U.S. Patent No. 9,171,244, issued October 27, 2015, entitled "RFID TAG," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses a short-range wireless communication mechanism.

[0172] In at least one embodiment, the NFC protocol may utilize a total bit rate of 426 kbit / s. Other suitable total bit rates are also contemplated by this disclosure. In certain cases, the transmission system 1045 operates at a lower bit rate, for example, due to excessive noise. In certain cases, the NFC communication protocol utilizes half-duplex communication.

[0173] The transmission system 1045 connects the end effector 1040 to a remote processing unit, such as, for example, the processor 1030, and / or a remote power source, such as, for example, the power source 1043. In certain instances, the remote processing unit and / or power source may be located proximally away from the end effector 1040, such as, for example, in the proximal housing or handle of the surgical instrument 1022. The transmission system 1045 ensures a reliable connection between the end effector 1040 and the remote processing unit and / or remote power source.

[0174] As described above, the end effector 1040 can include a sensor array 1036 configured to monitor one or more aspects of the surgical instrument 1022 and / or tissue grasped by the end effector 1040. In at least one example, the sensor array 1036 is incorporated into or partially incorporated into a staple cartridge 1046 that is releasably coupleable to a cartridge channel 1048 of the end effector 1040. At least one of the cartridge channel 1048 and the anvil 1031 is movable relative to the other to capture tissue between the anvil 1031 and the staple cartridge 1046. The transmission system 1045 can be configured to transfer power to the staple cartridge 1046 for operation of the sensor array 1036. Additionally or alternatively, the transmission system 1045 can transfer data / communication signals between the staple cartridge 1046 and the microcontroller 1028, for example.

[0175] As described in more detail below, the various components of the transmission system 1045 are arranged or positioned to facilitate wireless transmission of power and / or data signals within the end effector 1040, such as from a cartridge support channel of the end effector 1040 to a staple cartridge 1046 releasably insertable into the cartridge support channel. Additionally or alternatively, the transmission system 1045 can be arranged or positioned to facilitate wireless transmission of power and / or data signals from the shaft of the surgical instrument 1022 to the end effector 1040, for example, across an articulation joint connecting the shaft and the end effector 1040.

[0176] In various instances, the staple cartridge 1046 may house, or at least partially house, the sensor array 1036. The power source 1043 can be configured to power the sensor array 1036. The power provided by the power source 1043 can be transferred wirelessly to the staple cartridge 1046 through a transmission system 1045. Further, the microcontroller 1028 can be in signal communication with the sensor array 1036. Data / communication signals can be transferred wirelessly between the surgical instrument 1022 and the staple cartridge 1046 through the transmission system 1045. Further, the transmission system 1045 can be used to transfer various command signals to the sensor array 1036.

[0177] 16 and 17 , in certain instances, the staple cartridge 1046 includes a local control circuit 1049 in communication with the sensor array 1036. The local control circuit 1049 and / or the sensor array 1036 can be wirelessly powered by a power source 1043 via a transmission system 1045. FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary implementation of the local control circuit 1049. In the illustrated embodiment, the local control circuit 1049 includes a local microcontroller 1076 having a local processor 1041 and a local memory circuit 1047. The local memory circuit 1047 can store machine-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor 1041, can cause the processor 1041 to perform various processes or algorithms in accordance with the present disclosure. The processor 1041 can be any one of a number of single-core or multi-core processors known in the art. The memory circuit 1047 can include volatile and non-volatile storage media. The processor 1041 can include an instruction processing unit and an arithmetic unit. The instruction processing unit may be configured to receive instructions from the memory circuitry 1047 of the present disclosure. In particular cases, the control circuitry 1049 may comprise analog or digital circuitry, such as a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), discrete logic, or other hardware circuitry, software, and / or firmware, or other machine-executable instructions to implement the functions described in the following description.

[0178] In certain cases, the control circuitry 1049 comprises sensor circuitry. Signals (e.g., voltage, current, resistance, impedance, capacitance, inductance, frequency, phase, etc.) from the sensors of the sensor array 1036 can be conditioned by the sensor circuitry.

[0179] In addition to the above, the local microcontroller 1076 can be in wireless signal communication with the microcontroller 1028 via the transmission system 1045. Sensor data from the sensor array 1036 can be collected and prepared for transmission by the local control circuitry 1049. The local microcontroller 1076 can be configured to compress the sensor data before transmitting it to the control circuitry 1026 via the transmission system 1045.

[0180] Various aspects of one or more algorithms described by this disclosure may be performed cooperatively by control circuit 1026, control circuit 1049, or both. For simplicity, the following description focuses only on execution by control circuit 1049 or execution by control circuit 1026, but this should not be construed as limiting.

[0181] 6-8 illustrate different implementations 1051, 1052, 1053 of a transmission system 1045. The reader will understand that other implementations are contemplated by this disclosure. FIG. 8 illustrates an example implementation 1053 of a transmission system 1045 in which data and power are transmitted wirelessly separately using two independent paths. Alternatively, FIG. 7 illustrates an example implementation 1052 of a transmission system 1045 in which data and power are transmitted wirelessly sequentially using a single path. Alternatively, FIG. 6 illustrates an example implementation 1051 of a transmission system 1045 in which data and power are transmitted wirelessly simultaneously using a single path.

[0182] Through the transmission system 1045, the staple cartridge 1046 can be wirelessly powered by the power source 1043, as described in implementations 1051, 1052, 1053 of FIGS. 6-8 . The supplied power is utilized for sensor data collection and / or signal processing of the sensor array 1036. In certain cases, power is supplied directly to the sensor array 1036 by the power source 1043. Alternatively, a local power source, such as, for example, a charge accumulator 11800 ( FIG. 7 ), can power the sensor array 1036. The charge accumulator 11800 can include a storage capacitor that can be charged by power provided by the power source 1043. In various aspects, the discharge rate (D) and / or remaining charge capacity (C) can be detected or monitored by a charge meter.

[0183] In addition to the above, control circuitry 1049 can be configured or programmed to adjust 1008 sensor parameters of one or more subsets of sensors in sensor array 1036 to balance power draw and remaining power capacity, e.g., according to one or more formulas, tables, and / or databases stored in memory circuitry 1032 or memory circuitry 1047. As shown in FIG. 18 , a sampling rate (S) can be selected from table 1090 based on detected values ​​of bandwidth (B), discharge rate (D), and / or remaining capacity (R). For example, detected values ​​B1, D1, R1 cause control circuitry 1049 to select sampling rate (S1). The sampling rate (S) of one or more subsets of sensors in sensor array 1036 can then be adjusted to sampling rate (S1), for example. Thus, sensor data collection and / or signal processing of sensor array 1036 can be automatically adjusted by control circuitry 1026 or local control circuitry 1049 to balance power draw and remaining capacity.

[0184] 15 and 16 , the control circuitry 1026 can be configured to determine a priority level for sensor data received from a subset of sensors in the sensor array 1036 based on one or more signals indicative of the priority level. In certain cases, the signals are transmitted from the surgical hub 1024 to the control circuitry 1026. In other cases, the one or more signals are transmitted from one or more sensors to the control circuitry 1026. In other cases, the one or more signals are transmitted from the feedback system 1038 to the control circuitry 1026.

[0185] In certain instances, the one or more signals communicate contextual information derived from received data regarding the surgical procedure, the surgical instrument 1022, and / or the patient. The contextual information may be derived by the context-aware surgical hub 1024. In one example, the contextual information may be derived by control circuitry of the surgical hub 1024. In another example, the contextual information may be derived by a cloud computing system. In yet another example, the contextual information may be derived by, for example, the aforementioned cloud computing system and / or a distributed computing system including at least one of the control circuitry of the surgical hub 1024 in combination with the control circuitry 1026 of the surgical instrument 1022. For economy, the following description will focus on contextual information derived by the control circuitry of the surgical hub 1024. However, it should be understood that deriving the contextual information may be accomplished by any of the aforementioned examples.

[0186] In certain instances, the context information is derived from one or more data sources, such as, for example, a database, a patient monitoring device, and a modular device. In one example, the database may include a patient EMR database associated with the medical facility where the surgical procedure is being performed. The data received from the data source may include pre- and post-operative data, including pre-operative, intra-operative, and / or post-operative data associated with a given surgical procedure. The data received from the database may include the type of surgical procedure being performed or the patient's medical history (e.g., medical conditions that may or may not be the subject of the surgical procedure). In one example, the control circuitry of the surgical hub 1024 may receive the patient or surgical procedure data by querying a patient EMR database with a unique identifier associated with the patient. The surgical hub may receive the unique identifier, for example, from a scanner for scanning a patient's wristband that encodes a unique identifier associated with the patient as the patient enters the operating room.

[0187] In one example, the patient monitoring devices include BP monitors, EKG monitors, and other such devices configured to monitor one or more parameters associated with a patient. The patient monitoring devices can be paired with the surgical hub 2034 such that the surgical hub receives data therefrom. In one example, data received from modular devices paired (i.e., communicatively coupled) with the surgical hub 1024 includes, for example, operational data (i.e., whether the device is powered on or in use), internal state data of the modular device (e.g., firing or closing force of a surgical cutting and stapling device, pressure differential of an insufflator or smoke evacuation device, or energy level of an RF or ultrasonic surgical instrument), or patient data (e.g., tissue type, tissue thickness, tissue mechanical properties, respiration rate, or airway volume).

[0188] In certain cases, the contextual information may include, for example, the type of procedure being performed, the particular step being performed in the surgical procedure, the state of the patient (e.g., whether the patient is under anesthesia or in an operating room), or the type of tissue being operated on. In certain cases, the contextual information may be obtained from pre- and post-operative data, including, for example, data about the modular device itself (e.g., pressure differential, motor current, internal force, or motor torque), or data about the patient on whom the modular device is being utilized (e.g., tissue characteristics, respiratory rate, airway volume, or laparoscopic image data). Further details are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 209,395, filed December 4, 2018, entitled "METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION," now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0201136, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0189] In some instances, the contextual information is derived from imaging data received from one or more imaging devices. The imaging data can represent individual images or video streams. The medical imaging devices can include optical components and image sensors that generate the image data. The optical components include, for example, lenses or light sources. The image sensors include, for example, charge-coupled devices (CCDs) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensors. In various examples, the medical imaging devices include endoscopes, laparoscopes, thoracoscopes, and other such imaging devices. The image or video data from the medical imaging devices (or a data stream representing digital medical imaging device video) can be processed by a pattern recognition system or a machine learning system to recognize features (e.g., organ or tissue type) within the field of view (FOV) of the medical imaging device 5108. Contextual information that can be derived from the recognized features can include, for example, what type of surgical procedure (or which step thereof) is being performed, which organ is being operated on, or which body cavity is being operated on.

[0190] In various aspects, the control circuit 1026 is configured to select a priority level for one or more subsets of sensors in the sensor array 1036 in accordance with the algorithm 1010 based on the context information. Furthermore, the control circuit 1026 may switch one or more subsets of sensors in the sensor array 1036 between an active mode 1083 and an idler mode 1084 in accordance with the algorithm 1080 based on the context information. In at least one embodiment, the control circuit 1026 may utilize context information derived from the operating room imaging / video feed to identify steps in a surgical procedure and further prioritize sensor data collection, transmission, and / or processing based on the step being performed. For example, the control circuit 1026 may identify a step in an anastomosis surgical procedure, such as an initial tissue engagement step, based on the context information. Identification of the initial tissue engagement step then causes the control circuit 1026 to switch one or more sensor subsets into the active mode 1083.

[0191] 13 and 16 , the control circuitry 1026 can be configured to determine a priority level for one or more subsets of sensors in the sensor array 1036 based on one or more signals indicative of a surgical condition of the surgical instrument 1022. The signals can include data regarding operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022. For example, the signals can include data regarding the function of a motor (e.g., motor 1042).

[0192] The motor data can indicate whether the end effector 1040 is articulating, closing, or firing. The control circuitry (e.g., control circuits 1026, 049) can be configured or programmed to prioritize one or more sensors of the surgical instrument 1022 based on the type of movement performed by the end effector 1040. For example, closure and firing typically occur after completion of articulation, when the user is fully satisfied with the articulated position of the end effector 1040. Thus, the control circuitry can be configured or programmed to assign lower priority to closure and / or firing sensor data than to articulation sensor data, for example, in response to detecting articulation. The control circuitry can adjust sensor parameters associated with a subset of sensors associated with articulation to increase the sampling rate of the subset, for example. Additionally, the control circuitry can also adjust sensor parameters associated with a subset of sensors related to closure and / or firing to decrease the sampling rate of the subset during articulation.

[0193] A similar configuration can be employed to prioritize closure sensor data over firing sensor data during closure of the end effector 1040 and / or to prioritize firing sensor data over closure sensor data during firing of the end effector 1040. As discussed above, this real-time balancing approach ensures that power resources and data transmission and / or data processing resources are not overly taxed.

[0194] 14, 15, and 16, the control circuit 1026 may be configured to determine 1081 a priority level of one or more sensor subsets of the sensor array 1036 based on one or more signals indicative of the overall movement of the surgical instrument 1022. The surgical instrument 1022 may include one or more sensors, such as, for example, an accelerometer, configured to measure the overall movement of the surgical instrument 1022. Detecting the overall movement of the surgical instrument 1022 can indicate a state of the end effector 1040. For example, the overall movement can indicate that the end effector 1040 is outside the patient's body cavity. Accordingly, the control circuit 1026 can be configured or programmed to deprioritize closure and / or firing sensor data in response to the signal indicative of the overall movement of the surgical instrument 1022. In at least one embodiment, deprioritizing the closure and / or firing sensor data includes switching sensors of the sensor array 1036 associated with closure and / or firing to an idler mode 1084. In at least one embodiment, deprioritizing the closure and / or firing sensor data includes adjusting one or more sensor parameters of sensors in the sensor array 1036 associated with the closure and / or firing, such as, for example, sensor parameters controlling sensor data collection, processing, and / or transmission.

[0195] In addition to the above, a similar approach can be taken in response to signals indicative of a loading procedure, signals containing initiation data and / or tool docking data, signals indicative of high end effector velocity, and / or any other signal indicating that cartridge sensing is not required at a particular stage. In response to detecting one or more of such conditions, the control circuitry 1026 can be configured or programmed to adjust one or more sensor parameters of the sensor array 1036 to minimize sensor power / data overload.

[0196] Determining 1081 the priority level of one or more sensor subsets according to one or more algorithms (e.g., algorithms 1010, 1080) can be accomplished in multiple ways. In one embodiment, the priority level can be a binary priority level, and the control circuitry 1026 is configured to select between, for example, a high priority level or a low priority level. In some cases, a high priority level is associated with an active mode 1083 and a low priority level is associated with an idler mode 1084. In other embodiments, the priority level comprises a value that can be determined based on, for example, one or more formulas, tables, and / or databases stored in the memory circuitry 1032. One or more conditions can contribute to the priority level according to preset values ​​stored in the form of a formula, table, and / or database.

[0197] Referring primarily to FIGS. 13 and 16 , as described above, algorithm 1000 includes detecting 1002 a data transmission bandwidth (B) or maximum data transmission rate through transmission system 1045. The data transmission bandwidth (B) can be detected 1002 in a number of ways. For example, data can be transferred through transmission system 1045 at a rate that is gradually or incrementally increased until an error is detected or until signal strength no longer permits a higher transfer rate. Each transfer can require a data receipt confirmation and / or a data integrity confirmation. If an confirmation is received, the transfer rate of the next transfer is increased. However, if an confirmation is not received, it can be concluded that the most recent transfer rate exceeded the bandwidth capability of transmission system 1045. In such a case, for example, the transfer rate preceding the most recent transfer rate can be determined as the data transmission bandwidth (B) of the transmission system. In certain cases, the initial transfer is performed using a default transfer rate. Subsequent transfers are then performed using a transfer rate that is stepped or gradually increased according to a predetermined value until the data transmission bandwidth (B) is detected, for example, by the absence of an acknowledgement.

[0198] Additionally or alternatively, the data transmission bandwidth (B) can be detected during an initial response or handshake (1002). Response and / or handshake signals can be transferred between the control circuit 1026 and the local control circuit 1049 through the transmission system 1045, for example, as part of a start-up, initialization, and / or wake-up sequence of the staple cartridge 1046 and / or surgical instrument 1022.

[0199] In certain cases, the transmission rates associated with successful transmissions during one or more previous uses of the surgical instrument 1022 are stored and then used in detecting 1002 the bandwidth (B) in subsequent uses of the surgical instrument 1022 or other similar surgical instruments 1022. In one embodiment, the successful transmission rates can be stored in the memory circuit 1032 for sharing during an initial response or handshake in future uses. The control circuit 1026 can be configured or programmed to monitor cartridge reloads used with the surgical instrument 1022, each attempting to maximize data throughput, and can then suggest to future cartridge reloads the maximum transfer rate that the previous cartridge reload was able to achieve.

[0200] In another example, the successful transmission rate can be transmitted to a surgical hub (e.g., surgical hub 1024) and / or a cloud-based system for data aggregation and analysis. The data transmission bandwidth (B) can be detected (1002), for example, based on a signal received from the surgical hub or cloud-based system indicating the data transmission bandwidth (B).

[0201] 19 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm 1100 illustrating a control program or logic configuration for monitoring and addressing signal interference in power and / or data signal transmission between the staple cartridge 1046 and the surgical instrument 1022. As described elsewhere herein, a reload of the staple cartridge 1046 is releasably coupled to the surgical instrument 1022 by being installed within the cartridge channel 1048 of the end effector 1040. Furthermore, when the staple cartridge 1046 is installed within the cartridge channel 1048, a wireless connection can be established between the staple cartridge 1046 and the surgical instrument 1022 to wirelessly transmit (1102) power and / or data signals. The power and / or data signals can be transferred through a wiring harness extending within the cartridge channel and then through wireless power and / or data transfer circuit(s) of the transmission system 1045. Power and / or data signal transmission is subject to a variety of internal and external interferences.

[0202] Various internal and external factors can cause signal interference, such as, for example, signal interference from environmental factors including the presence of tissue and / or fluid within the end effector 1040, other surgical tools, or even other components of the surgical instrument 1022. The wireless power and / or data transfer circuit(s) can be at least partially secured to the metal cartridge channel 1048. In certain cases, parasitic losses through the metal cartridge channel 1048, antenna mismatch in the wireless power and / or data transfer circuit(s), and / or secondary magnetic field generation can also contribute to signal interference.

[0203] To manage signal interference, the algorithm 1100 monitors 1104 interference in the transmission of power and / or data signals between the surgical instrument 1022 and the staple cartridge 1046. The algorithm 1100 further adjusts 1106 operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022 based on the interference. In at least one example, adjusting 1106 the operating parameters includes adjusting a data signal strength, a data transmission rate, and / or a power transmission rate based on the detected interference. In certain cases, adjusting 1106 the operating parameters includes adjusting one or more sensor parameters associated with data collection, transmission, and / or processing, such as, for example, a sensor sampling rate, a sampling drive current and / or voltage, an acquisition rate, a sensor data resolution, a sensor data transmission rate, a duration of actuation, and / or a frequency of actuation. In at least one example, a sensor or group of sensors can be switched into an inactive mode, an idler mode, or an active mode to mitigate the interference.

[0204] Further to the above, monitoring 1104 for interference can be accomplished by comparing expected and actual data transfers by the transmission system 1045 to account for losses due to interference. If the difference between the expected and actual data transfers is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold, the transmission system 1045 adjusts one or more operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022, such as, for example, data signal strength, to mitigate the interference. In various aspects, monitoring 1104 for interference includes monitoring signal stability, the number of lost data packets, and / or a discernible signal-to-random noise ratio. If the signal stability, the number of lost data packets, and / or a discernible signal-to-random noise ratio is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold, the transmission system 1045 adjusts one or more operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022, as described above.

[0205] Further, monitoring 1104 the interference may include determining the interference level based on one or more factors that contribute to the inferred level. The factors may include, for example, the ratio of expected data transfer to actual data transfer, signal stability, the number of lost data packets, and / or a discernible signal-to-random noise ratio. The contribution of each factor to the interference level may be ascertained from an interference equation, an interference table, and / or an interference database, which may be stored in a memory circuit (e.g., memory circuits 1032, 1047). The control circuit 1026 may be configured or programmed to calculate the interference level based on the individual contributions of each factor, for example. The control circuit 1026 may further compare the determined interference level to a predetermined threshold. If the determined interference level is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, the processor may adjust 1016 one or more operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022, for example, until the monitored interference level decreases to a value below the predetermined threshold, as described above.

[0206] 6-8 and 17, the staple cartridge 1046 can be configured to detect which of the implementations 1051, 1052, 1053 of the transmission system 1045 are available for wireless signal transmission between the staple cartridge 1046 and the surgical instrument 1022. The staple cartridge 1046 may further select from various protocols and / or algorithms associated with the available implementations. In one example, the control circuitry 1049 can detect the available implementation of the transmission system 1045 by detecting the presence of one or two local antenna arrays. As embodied by the implementation 1053 of FIG. 8, if two antenna arrays are detected, the control circuitry 1049 can adjust one or more operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022 and / or select one or more algorithms and / or communication protocols associated with separate power and data transfers. Alternatively, as embodied by implementations 1051, 1052 of Figures 6 and 7, if only a single antenna array is detected, the control circuit 1049 may adjust one or more operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022 and / or select one or more algorithms and / or communication protocols associated with simultaneous / sequential power and data transfer.

[0207] In various aspects, antenna array detection is performed, or at least partially performed, by the control circuitry 1049 during a wake-up or activation sequence or a handshake protocol. In at least one embodiment, antenna array detection is performed by the control circuitry 1049 using predetermined test signals. In some cases, the control circuitry 1049 detects and monitors short-range and / or long-range data transfer activity to determine connection characteristics and / or command hierarchy. In certain cases, the control circuitry 1049 performs selective pairing based on sensor array capabilities.

[0208] 20 is a logic flow diagram of an algorithm 1110 illustrating a control program or logic configuration for optimizing power transmission from the surgical instrument 1022 to the staple cartridge 1046. As described above, the transmission system 1045 can wirelessly electrically couple the surgical instrument 1022 and the staple cartridge 1046 while the staple cartridge 1046 is installed within the jaws of the end effector 1040. In at least one example, one or more aspects of the algorithm 1110 are executed by a power management circuit, which may be implemented at least in part by the control circuit 1026, the control circuit 1049, and / or a separate power management circuit. In the illustrated example, the algorithm 1110 includes wirelessly transmitting (1112) power from the surgical instrument 1022 to the staple cartridge 1046, monitoring (1114) the efficiency of the transfer of power from the surgical instrument 1022 to the staple cartridge 1046, and adjusting (1116) operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022 based on the transfer efficiency.

[0209] In various aspects, monitoring 1114 the efficiency of the power transfer includes comparing an expected power transfer to the actual power transfer. In certain cases, monitoring 1114 the efficiency of the power transfer includes comparing a transfer parameter, such as a transmission rate, to a predetermined threshold. The further efficiency of the power transfer can be affected by several environmental factors, including parasitic losses, interference, antenna mismatch, and / or secondary magnetic field generation. In certain cases, monitoring 1114 the efficiency of the power transfer includes monitoring one or more of such environmental factors.

[0210] 20 , the adjusted (1116) operating parameters of the surgical instrument may be transfer parameters of the transmission system 1045. In certain cases, adjusting (1116) the operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022 includes adjusting one or more aspects of the waveform of the power transfer, adjusting the rate of the power transfer, and / or adjusting the frequency of the power transfer. Additionally or alternatively, adjusting (1116) the operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022 may include adaptive voltage scaling. Additionally or alternatively, adjusting (1116) the operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022 may include real-time tuning of at least one component of the transmission system 1045, as described in more detail below.

[0211] One or more transfer parameters associated with a previous power transfer between the surgical instrument 1022 and one or more staple cartridges 1046 are stored, for example, by the memory circuit 1032. Additionally or alternatively, the transfer parameters associated with the previous power transfer can be uploaded to a local server and / or a cloud-based system, for example, for data aggregation and analysis. In certain cases, the power management circuit of the surgical instrument 1022 can determine transfer parameters for a future power transfer based at least in part on the stored transfer parameters associated with the previous power transfer. In at least one example, the power management circuit can determine the transfer parameters for the future power transfer and then compare the determined transfer parameters with the stored transfer parameters prior to execution of the determined transfer parameters to ensure the determined transfer parameters are within acceptable thresholds based on the stored transfer parameters.

[0212] In certain instances, adjusting 1116 the operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022 includes adjusting the power drive frequency of the transmission system 1045 based on the current operating conditions. Because restrictive regulations exist regarding the use of EM frequencies that may vary between different regions, the power management circuitry may implement one or more algorithms to select an optimal power drive frequency that also complies with such regulations. Stated another way, in selecting the optimal power drive frequency, the power management circuitry may be limited to regionally available unlicensed frequency bands.

[0213] In addition to the above, selecting the optimal power drive frequency may also depend on which implementations of the transmission system 1045 are available. For example, in the implementation 1053 of FIG. 8 , which shows separate data and power transmissions, the power transfer is not limited by the data transfer frequency standard. In such a particular case, the optimal power drive frequency is selected from a value different from the data transfer frequency. However, the implementations 1051 and 1052 of FIGS. 6 and 7 , which show simultaneous or sequential power and data transfers, are limited by the data transfer frequency standard. Therefore, the power management circuit may implement one or more algorithms to select the optimal power drive frequency based at least in part on the available implementations of the transmission system 1045. As described above, detecting the available implementations of the transmission system 1045 may be performed by detecting the presence of one or two local antenna arrays. Alternatively, the power management circuit may detect the available implementations of the transmission system 1045 through various test signals.

[0214] In certain instances, adjusting (1116) the operating parameters of the surgical instrument 1022 includes circuit tuning for resonance, frequency matching, and / or impedance matching. FIG. 21 shows an example implementation 1120 of a first antenna circuit 1121 and a second antenna circuit 1122 of a transmission system 1045 for power transfer between the surgical instrument 1022 and the staple cartridge 1046. Other implementations are also contemplated by the present disclosure. In the illustrated example, the first antenna circuit 1121 receives an input voltage V inIt is connected to the input voltage V in may be a power source 1043 that may be located proximally from the end effector 1040, for example, in the housing or handle of the surgical instrument 1022. The second antenna circuit 1122 is connected to a load resistor R that represents the sensor array 1036, the control circuit 1049, and / or other power consuming components of the staple cartridge 1046. L is connected to.

[0215] In the illustrated embodiment, the antenna circuits 1121, 1122 cooperate to wirelessly transmit power provided by the power source 1043 to the staple cartridge 1046. The first antenna circuit 1021 is connected to a voltage driver resistor R in The first antenna circuit 1122 further includes a primary inductor L1 and a primary coil resistance R1. The second antenna circuit 1122 further includes a secondary inductor L2 and a secondary coil resistance R2. Power is transferred from the first antenna implemented by the primary inductor L1 and the primary coil resistance R1 to the second antenna implemented by the secondary inductor L2 and the secondary coil resistance R2. The input voltage V in drives a current through the primary coil, inducing a voltage in the secondary coil, which in turn drives a load resistance R L When current flows through the secondary coil, it induces a voltage in the primary coil according to the coupling coefficient (k).

[0216] 21, the first antenna circuit 1121 further includes a first resonant capacitor C1 in parallel with the primary coil. The second antenna circuit 1122 also includes a second resonant capacitor C2 in series with the secondary coil. In various instances, the power management circuit utilizes the first resonant capacitor C1 and the second resonant capacitor C2 in tuning for resonance, frequency matching, and / or impedance matching. Resonance is a way to compensate for a low coupling coefficient (k) by increasing the power in the magnetic field around the primary coil. If the coupling coefficient does not change, the resultant power across the secondary coil increases. Thus, resonance minimizes the reactive power in the primary coil and reduces the load resistance R. L Maximize power over

[0217] To optimize power transfer through the transmission system 1045, the power management circuitry is configured to perform real-time electro-mechanical algorithm-driven adjustment and tuning of various components of the transmission system 1045, such as transmission capacitors, inductors, and resistors, to optimize the power transfer. In certain cases, the power management circuitry uses various adjustment / tuning mechanisms, such as potentiometers, resistor banks, capacitors, and / or inductors. Furthermore, the power management circuitry may employ variable capacitors and / or variable inductors. In certain cases, optimizing power transfer through the transmission system 1045 includes impedance matching. In certain cases, optimizing power transfer through the transmission system 1045 includes maximizing a coupling coefficient k.

[0218] 22 and 23 illustrate an adjustable series RLC (resistor, inductor, capacitor) circuit 1130 and an adjustable parallel RLC circuit 1135, respectively, that can be used by the power management circuit to tune the primary or drive coil of the transmission system 1045 to optimize wireless power transfer therethrough. The adjustable series RLC circuit 1130 and the adjustable parallel RLC circuit 1135 include adjustable components (e.g., resistor R, inductor L, capacitor C) that can be adjusted to tune the primary or drive coil to a frequency equal to, or at least substantially equal to, the frequency of the secondary or receiver coil of the transmission system 1045. In certain cases, the power management circuit is configured to use the adjustable series RLC circuit 1130 or the adjustable parallel RLC circuit 1135 to tune the drive frequency of the primary or drive coil to the most efficient resonant frequency of the secondary or receiver coil, or at least within the resonant band. The real-time frequency alignment of the transmission system 1045 optimizes power transfer by eliminating manufacturing variations, such as, for example, component, installation, and / or usage variations.

[0219] In various aspects, the tunable series ...

Claims

1. 1. A surgical instrument comprising: an end effector configured to grasp tissue, Joe and an end effector comprising a staple cartridge mountable to said jaw, said staple cartridge comprising a sensor array; a power source configured to provide power to the staple cartridge; a transmission system configured to wirelessly transmit at least one of the power and data signals between the staple cartridge and the surgical instrument; A control circuit comprising: Detecting a bandwidth of data transmission over the transmission system; Detecting a discharge rate of the power supply; and control circuitry configured to select a sensor sampling rate for the sensor array based on the detected bandwidth and the detected discharge rate to balance power draw of the sensor array and remaining capacity of the power source.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to detect the remaining capacity of the power source.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured to select the sensor sampling rate of the sensor array further based on the detected remaining capacity of the power source.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the sensor array comprises a sensor configured to detect a surgical condition of the surgical instrument.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the surgical condition comprises a closed condition of the end effector.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the sensor array comprises a sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the tissue grasped by the end effector.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the transmission system is configured to wirelessly transmit the at least one of the power and the data signal separately, sequentially, or simultaneously.

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