SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONTROL UNIT AND REMOTE SENSOR

摘要

A surgical instrument (10) including an end effector (12) having at least one sensor (368). The instrument includes a distal stapling unit for performing at least one surgical task operatively connected to a remotely controllable user interface. The instrument further includes an electrically conductive shaft (8) having a distal end connected to the end effector, wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft. The instrument also includes a housing (6) at a proximate end of the shaft configured to receive mechanical or electrical inputs. In addition, the instrument has a receiver unit (300) electrically insulated from the shaft configured to receive and send wireless signals from and to the sensor.