Surgical instruments including mems devices

Abstract

Surgical instruments are disclosed that are couplable to or have an end effector or a disposable loading unit with an end effector, and at least one micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device operatively connected to the surgical instrument for at least one of sensing a condition, measuring a parameter and controlling the condition and/or parameter.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of performing a surgical procedure, comprising:
 positioning tissue between a pair of jaw members of a surgical instrument, at least one jaw member of the pair of jaw members having a biosensor;   measuring a biological characteristic of the tissue using the biosensor; and   determining, using the measured biological characteristic of the tissue, whether the tissue is in condition for stapling.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the biological characteristic of the tissue is indicative of at least one of blood flow through the tissue, blood flow presence in the tissue, or blood pressure in the tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the tissue is determined to be in condition for stapling when the measured biological characteristic through the tissue meets a threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 firing staples from the surgical instrument into a portion of the tissue after determining that the tissue is in condition for stapling;   measuring the biological characteristic of the stapled portion of the tissue after the staples are fired; and   determining, using the biological characteristic of the tissue measured after the staples are fired, whether the stapled portion of the tissue is healthy or viable.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the biological characteristic of the tissue is indicative of at least one of blood flow through the tissue, blood flow presence in the tissue, or blood pressure in the tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the stapled portion of the tissue is determined to be healthy when a characteristic measured by the biosensor is above a threshold amount. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising providing feedback to an electronic system for tracking at least one of the effectiveness of the procedure or proper performance of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the surgical instrument is a surgical stapler. 
     
     
         10 . A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising:
 providing a surgical instrument having a pair of jaw members, at least one of the jaw members having a biosensor positioned on a tissue contacting surface thereof;   positioning tissue adjacent the biosensor;   measuring a physiologic parameter of the tissue using the biosensor;   determining, based on the measured physiologic parameter, whether the tissue is appropriate for a stapling procedure; and   conducting the stapling procedure if the determination is that the tissue is appropriate.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  further comprising measuring a physiologic parameter of the tissue after the stapling procedure has been completed. 
     
     
         12 . A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising:
 providing a surgical instrument having a pair of jaw members, at least one of the jaw members having a biosensor positioned on a tissue contacting surface thereof;   identifying tissue to be subjected to a stapling procedure;   applying staples to the identified tissue;   positioning tissue adjacent the staples in operative proximity to the biosensor of the surgical instrument;   measuring a biological characteristic of the tissue using the biosensor; and   determining, based on the measured biologic characteristic, whether the tissue is viable or healthy.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising measuring a biological characteristic of the identified tissue prior to applying staples. 
     
     
         14 . A method of performing a surgical procedure, comprising:
 positioning tissue between a pair of jaw members of a surgical instrument, at least one jaw member of the pair of jaw members having a biosensor;   applying at least one surgical fastener to the tissue;   measuring a biological characteristic of the tissue using the biosensor; and   determining, using the measured biological characteristic of the tissue, whether the tissue is healthy or viable.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the surgical fastener is a surgical staple. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the surgical instrument is a circular surgical stapler. 
     
     
         17 . A method of performing a surgical procedure, comprising:
 positioning tissue between a pair of jaw members of a surgical instrument, at least one jaw member of the pair of jaw members having a biosensor;   measuring a first biological characteristic of the tissue using the biosensor indicative of at least one of blood flow, blood presence, or blood pressure;   applying at least one surgical fastener to the tissue;   measuring a second biological characteristic of the tissue using the biosensor indicative of at least one of blood flow, blood presence, or blood pressure;   providing feedback to an electronic system for tracking at least one of the effectiveness of the procedure or proper performance of the surgical instrument.