Adjunct sensing system for surgical instruments and methods of use

Abstract

A device and method in accordance with the invention for generating a signal indicative of a property of a subject tissue in contact with the working surface of a surgical instrument. The invention describes a sensing adjunct to surgical staplers. The adjunct can take the form of an optionally coupled accessory to a surgical stapler, or a stand-alone substitutive component acting to serve as a replacement for a component of the surgical stapler such as an anvil, housing or cartridge. Embodiments include a sensing anvil serving to act in place of a non-sensing surgical stapler anvil to monitor tissue properties of an anastomosis for the purpose of avoiding anastomotic failure.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A self-contained adjunct sensing system configured to be coupled to a surgical instrument, the adjunct sensing system comprising:
 at least one sensor;   a processor configured to receive and process signals from said least one sensor; and   a communications interface configured to transfer information at least one of to and from the processor,   wherein the adjunct sensing system is configured to sense oxygen content by measuring oxygen dependent quenching of optical radiation.   
     
     
         22 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 21 , wherein oxygen content is assessed utilizing time-resolved techniques for evaluating oxygen dependent quenching of optical radiation. 
     
     
         23 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 22 , wherein the adjunct sensing system takes the form of a surgical stapler anvil. 
     
     
         24 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 23 , wherein the sensing anvil is configured to replace a non-sensing surgical stapler anvil. 
     
     
         25 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 22 , wherein the adjunct sensing system takes the form of a member that is detachably coupleable to an anvil or a body of a surgical stapler. 
     
     
         26 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 21 , wherein readings of said at least one sensor are configured to provide information for maintaining consistency of procedure by one of tissue interaction force, tissue compression force, and tension acting on tissue. 
     
     
         27 . A sensor associated with a surgical stapler or component thereof that assesses oxygen content by measuring oxygen dependent quenching of optical radiation. 
     
     
         28 . The sensor of  claim 27 , wherein oxygen content is assessed utilizing time-resolved techniques for evaluating oxygen dependent quenching of optical radiation. 
     
     
         29 . The sensor of  claim 28 , wherein the component is at least one of an. anvil, a housing, and a cartridge of a surgical stapler. 
     
     
         30 . A method for sensing tissue properties at an anastomosis, the method comprising:
 incorporating a sensor into an anvil of a surgical stapler to create a sensing anvil; and   operating the sensing anvil independent of the surgical stapler.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising coupling the sensing anvil to the surgical stapler. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising resolving tissue properties for both layers of the apposed tissues with the sensor by varying at least one of intensity, wavelength and light emitter to receiver spacing. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising assessing oxygen content in the tissue by measuring the relative absorption of a plethora of wavelengths of light with the sensor. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising assessing oxygen content in the tissue by measuring oxygen dependent quenching of optical radiation with the sensor. 
     
     
         35 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 30 , wherein readings of said at least one sensor are configured to provide information for maintaining consistency of procedure by one of tissue interaction force, tissue compression force, and tension acting on tissue. 
     
     
         36 . A method of maintaining consistency of procedure, the method comprising:
 using at least one sensor reading maintained by a surgical instrument to maintain consistency of procedure by one of tissue interaction force, tissue compression force, and tension acting on tissue.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising automatically adjusting staple height via an actuator responsive to the at least one sensor reading. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising utilizing the at least one sensor to maintain consistency among procedures. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising utilizing the at least one sensor to maintain consistency during another sensor acquisition. 
     
     
         40 . A self-contained adjunct sensing system configured to be detachably coupled to a surgical instrument, the adjunct sensing system comprising:
 an adjunct housing configured to be detachably coupled to the surgical instrument; wherein the adjunct housing maintains   at least one sensor configured to sense at least one property of tissue and an interaction with tissue;   a processor configured to receive and process signals from said at least one sensor; and   a communications interface configured to transfer information at least one of to and from the processor.   
     
     
         41 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 40 , wherein said at least one sensor comprises at least one of a chemical sensor, a mechanical sensor, an electrical sensor, an optical sensor, and an acoustic sensor; wherein the sensor is configured to measure at least one of a property of tissue and an interaction with a living tissue. 
     
     
         42 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 41 , wherein said at least one sensor includes a plurality of optical sensors directed to the tissue contacting surface of the surgical instrument; wherein optical sensor elements of said optical sensors are mechanically coupled to a substrate; wherein the optical sensor elements are optically coupled to the working surface via optical fiber or other light transmission conduit. 
     
     
         43 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 41 , wherein oxygen content of said tissue is assessed utilizing time-resolved techniques for evaluating oxygen dependent quenching of optical radiation. 
     
     
         44 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 41 , wherein said at least one sensor is configured to measure at least one of tissue interaction force, tissue compression force, and tissue tension acting on tissue. 
     
     
         45 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 41 , wherein the adjunct sensing system is configured to act independently, or is communicatively coupled via a wireless connection to at least one of an indicator, another sensing device, and a base station, 
     
     
         46 . The adjunct sensing system of  claim 40 , wherein readings of said at least one sensor are configured to provide information for maintaining consistency of procedure.