A method for adjusting the operation of a surgical instrument using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed.

Techniques are disclosed relating to sensing an object using an inductive proximity sensor. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a transmission coil having turns formed on a first circuit board and including a first primary winding having a first winding direction. The apparatus further includes a first sensor coil having turns formed on a second circuit board and including a second primary winding having a second winding direction and a second sensor coil having turns formed on a third circuit board and including a third primary winding having a third winding direction opposite to the second winding direction. The coils are spaced apart from one another in a common axial direction and at least one of the coils includes a compensation winding having at least one turn, where the compensation winding is arranged radially outside of, and has a winding direction opposite to, the same coil's primary winding.

A method for adjusting the operation of a surgical instrument using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed.

A material-discerning sensing device includes an antenna, a capacitive proximity sensor, and a control circuit. The antenna includes multiple conductive loops and is configured to radiate a wireless signal. The antenna defines an interior region devoid of the conductive loops and an exterior region outside the conductive loops. The capacitive proximity sensor includes a conductive pattern provided within the interior region or within a projection of the interior region, as well as a conductive bar. The control circuit is configured to detect a change in a characteristic of an electrical signal from the capacitive sensor. The conductive pattern includes a longitudinal portion, a first plurality of parallel conductors extending away from the longitudinal portion in a first direction and orthogonal to the longitudinal portion, and a second plurality of parallel conductors extending away from the longitudinal portion in a second direction opposite the first direction.

An inductive sensor (10) has a substrate (20), on which multiple transmitter/receiver coils (31, 32, 33) are arranged side by side. It can be operated in such a way that the transmitter/receiver coils (31, 32, 33) are each stimulated independently of one another at a frequency of more than 100 MHz.

A method for adjusting the operation of a surgical instrument using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed.

A material-discerning sensing device includes an antenna, a capacitive proximity sensor, and a control circuit. The antenna includes multiple conductive loops and is configured to radiate a wireless signal. The antenna defines an interior region devoid of the conductive loops and an exterior region outside the conductive loops. The capacitive proximity sensor includes a conductive pattern provided within the interior region or within a projection of the interior region, as well as a conductive bar. The control circuit is configured to detect a change in a characteristic of an electrical signal from the capacitive sensor. The conductive pattern includes a longitudinal portion, a first plurality of parallel conductors extending away from the longitudinal portion in a first direction and orthogonal to the longitudinal portion, and a second plurality of parallel conductors extending away from the longitudinal portion in a second direction opposite the first direction.

An oscillating sensor device, particularly for a proximity sensor, for sensing a dynamic change of attenuation caused by a measurable physical effect includes an oscillator including a resonance circuit and an amplifier fed back to the resonance circuit and configured to maintain oscillation of the oscillator, and a control unit configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator. The amplifier comprises a non-linear gain characteristics defining an operating point at a preset amplitude of oscillation. The control unit is configured to control the open loop gain of the oscillator so that the operating point is set to a preset amplitude of the oscillation.

A material-discerning sensing device includes an antenna, a capacitive proximity sensor, and a control circuit. The antenna includes multiple conductive loops and is configured to radiate a wireless signal. The antenna defines an interior region devoid of the conductive loops and an exterior region outside the conductive loops. The capacitive proximity sensor includes a conductive pattern provided within the interior region or within a projection of the interior region, as well as a conductive bar. The control circuit is configured to detect a change in a characteristic of an electrical signal from the capacitive sensor. The conductive pattern includes a longitudinal portion, a first plurality of parallel conductors extending away from the longitudinal portion in a first direction and orthogonal to the longitudinal portion, and a second plurality of parallel conductors extending away from the longitudinal portion in a second direction opposite the first direction.

An inductive sensor (10) has a substrate (20), on which multiple transmitter/receiver coils (31, 32, 33) are arranged side by side. It can be operated in such a way that the transmitter/receiver coils (31, 32, 33) are each stimulated independently of one another at a frequency of more than 100 MHz.