Polarity of hall magnet to detect misloaded cartridge

Abstract

A surgical stapling system including a shaft assembly transmits actuation motions from an actuator and an end effector compresses and staples tissue. The end effector comprises an channel; an anvil having a staple forming surface is moveable relative to the channel between open and closed positions; the anvil having a magnet at the distal end; and a staple cartridge removably positionable within the channel. The staple cartridge comprises a body supported for a confronting relationship with the anvil in its closed position; a plurality of staple drivers located within the cartridge body support a staple; a Hall effect sensor located at the distal end of the body; and a microprocessor in communication with the Hall effect sensor. The Hall effect sensor and microprocessor receive power when the staple cartridge is positioned within the channel, and the system is operable to identify the staple cartridge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical stapling system comprising:
 an elongated shaft assembly configured to transmit actuation motions from an actuator; and   an end effector for compressing and stapling tissue, the end effector operably coupled to the elongated shaft, the end effector comprising:   an elongated channel;   an anvil having a staple forming surface thereon, the anvil moveable to relative to the elongated channel between an open position and a closed position; the anvil having a magnet located at the distal end; and   a staple cartridge removably positioned within the elongated channel, the staple cartridge comprising:   a cartridge body supported for a confronting relationship with the anvil when the anvil is in the closed position;   a plurality of staple drivers located within the cartridge body, wherein each one of the plurality of staple drivers supports a staple;   a Hall effect sensor located at the distal end of the cartridge body; and   a microprocessor in communication with the Hall effect sensor;   wherein the Hall effect sensor and microprocessor receive power when the staple cartridge is positioned within the elongated channel, and wherein the system is operable to identify the staple cartridge.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic polarity detected by the Hall sensor identifies the size of the staple cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , the actuator is operable to indicate that the staple cartridge is misloaded. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the strength of the magnetic field detected by the Hall sensor identifies the staple cartridge. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , the actuator is operable to indicate that the staple cartridge is misloaded. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is operable to indicate that the Hall effect sensor was not detected. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt the identity of the staple cartridge, and the system is further configured to decrypt the encrypted identity of the staple cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . A surgical stapling system comprising:
 an elongated shaft assembly configured to transmit actuation motions from an actuator; and   an end effector for compressing and stapling tissue, the end effector operably coupled to the elongated shaft, the end effector comprising:   an elongated channel;   an anvil having a staple forming surface thereon, the anvil moveable to relative to the elongated channel between an open position and a closed position; and   a staple cartridge removably positioned within the elongated channel, the staple cartridge comprising:   a cartridge body supported for a confronting relationship with the anvil when the anvil is in the closed position; and   a plurality of staple drivers within the cartridge body each supporting a staple;   a Hall effect sensor located at the distal end of the cartridge body;   a microprocessor in communication with the Hall effect sensor; and   a staple retainer removably positioned on the cartridge body, the staple retainer further comprising a magnet positioned in proximity to the Hall effect sensor, the magnet having a magnetic characteristic that identifies the staple cartridge;   wherein the Hall effect sensor and microprocessor receive power when the staple cartridge is positioned within the elongated channel, and wherein the system is operable to identify the staple cartridge.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the magnetic characteristic comprising a magnetic field strength. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator is operable to indicate that the staple cartridge is misloaded. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the location of the magnet relative to the Hall effect sensor identifies the staple cartridge. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the actuator is operable to indicate that the staple cartridge is misloaded. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured to encrypt the identity of the staple cartridge, and the system is further configured to decrypt the encrypted identity of the staple cartridge. 
     
     
         14 . A surgical stapling system comprising:
 an elongated shaft assembly configured to transmit actuation motions from an actuator; and   an end effector for compressing and stapling tissue, the end effector operably coupled to the elongated shaft, the end effector comprising:   an elongated channel;   an anvil having a staple forming surface thereon, the anvil moveable to relative to the elongated channel between an open position and a closed position; and   a staple cartridge removably positioned within the elongated channel, the staple cartridge comprising:   a cartridge body supported for a confronting relationship with the anvil when the anvil is in the closed position; and   a plurality of staple drivers within the cartridge body each supporting a staple; and   one or more sensors to interrogate the cartridge.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the sensors comprises an optical emitter and detector. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the one ore more optical emitter and detector are operable to detect information about the staple cartridge by interrogating the surface color of the staple cartridge, a barcode on the staple cartridge, or an emblem on the staple cartridge. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , the staple cartridge further comprising a magnet, wherein one or more of the sensors comprises a magnetic sensor oriented to be in proximity to the magnet, the one or more magnetic sensors operable to detect information about the staple cartridge by interrogating the magnetic field of the magnet. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , the staple cartridge further comprising a circuit, wherein one or more of the sensors comprises an electrical sensor, the one or more electrical sensors operable to detect information about the staple cartridge by interrogating the electrical signature of the circuit. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , the staple cartridge further comprising a circuit, wherein one or more of the sensors comprises an electromagnetic sensor, the one or more electromagnet sensors inducing a current in the circuit to create a coupled field harmonic, the sensor operable to detect information about the staple cartridge by interrogating the field harmonic.