Abstract: A surgical staple cartridge is disclosed comprising a plurality of staples removably stored within the surgical staple cartridge. The staples comprise staple legs which extend from a staple base portion. The staple legs comprise staple tips configured to pierce tissue and contact a corresponding forming pocket of an anvil of surgical stapling instrument. The staples further comprise zones having different hardnesses.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first stapler half including an anvil surface having a plurality of staple forming pockets, and a second stapler half configured to releasably couple with the first stapler half. The second stapler half is operable to deploy staples toward the anvil surface. The stapler also includes a projection positioned on one of the stapler halves and extending laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the stapler. The stapler halves are configured to pivot relative to each other about the projection. The stapler further includes a locking member positioned on the other of the stapler halves. The locking member is configured to translate along the longitudinal axis of the stapler between a locked state in which the locking member selectively captures the projection and an unlocked state in which the locking member selectively releases the projection. The locking member is biased proximally toward the locked state.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed herein. The surgical instrument can include an end effector that includes jaws configured to transition between an opened condition and a closed condition, a plurality of electrodes positioned within the jaws of the end effector, a control circuit, and a memory configured to store an algorithm configured to cause the control circuit to determine an impedance signal based on signals received from the plurality of electrodes, detect a media positioned between the jaws of the end effector based on the determined impedance signal, determine a position of the detected media based on the received signals, and generate an alert associated with the detected media and the determined position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, a first endoscopic portion, a motor, and a first end effector is disclosed. The first endoscopic portion is selectively connectable to a distal portion of the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The first endoscopic portion includes a housing adjacent its proximal portion and includes an actuation member. The motor is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the housing of the first endoscopic portion and is operatively connected to the actuation member for moving the actuation member substantially along the longitudinal axis. The first end effector is selectively connectable to a distal portion of the first endoscopic portion and is configured to perform a first stapling function.

Abstract: A pile driver driven foundation bracket system includes a foundation bracket drive unit and a foundation bracket unit. The foundation bracket drive unit includes a pile driving unit interface configured to engage with a pile driving unit, a hollow sleeve, and a foundation bracket drive interface. The pile driving unit interface is connected to a first end of the hollow sleeve, and the foundation bracket drive interface is connected to a second end of the hollow sleeve. The foundation bracket drive interface is removably connected to the foundation bracket unit. The foundation bracket unit includes a horizontal foundation bracket support arm, a foundation bracket brace having an opening, the opening being configured to allow soil to flow therethrough when the foundation bracket unit is rotated, and a foundation bracket hollow sleeve.

Abstract: Implantable materials for use with end effectors like surgical stapling devices, and methods for using the same, are generally provided. In some embodiments, adjunct materials for use with surgical staplers are provided. For example, a kit for stapling tissue is provided that can include a surgical stapler having an end effector. The end effector can have first and second jaws. The kit can include an adjunct material having hydrophobic surface regions and hydrophilic surface regions and the adjunct material can be configured to mate to at least one of the jaws of the end effector. Other implants, devices, and methods for surgical stapling are also provided.

Abstract: A surgical end effector comprising a cartridge jaw is disclosed. The cartridge jaw comprises a proximal channel portion extending along a longitudinal axis, and a distal portion movable relative to the proximal channel portion between an open position and a closed position. The surgical end effector further comprising a staple cartridge removably seated in the cartridge jaw, wherein the staple cartridge is configured to slide along the longitudinal axis into the proximal channel portion of the cartridge jaw when the distal portion is in the open position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, a motor, a firing assembly, an end effector, and a control circuit. The motor is activatable to actuate the firing assembly through a firing stroke to staple and sever tissue with the end effector. The control circuit is configured to monitor one or more use metrics of the surgical instrument. Responsive to at least one of the one or more use metrics exceeding a predetermined threshold, the control circuit is further configured to initiate at least one of providing a notification to a user or disabling the firing assembly.

Abstract: A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge can comprise a cartridge body comprising a deck and a bottom surface opposite the deck. The staple cartridge can comprise a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface. Additionally, a plurality of wells can be defined into the staple cartridge from the deck to a lowermost surface of the well. A plurality of staples can be removably positioned in the staple cavities. The staple cartridge can comprise a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises a compensator body and a plurality of extensions extending from the compensator body into the wells, wherein at least one extension is compressed within one of the wells. Each well can surround at least one staple cavity and/or can extend between at least two staple cavities.

Abstract: A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes an elongated channel configured to support a staple cartridge, an anvil pivotably connected to the elongated channel, a knife mechanically coupled to the staple cartridge, an electric motor and a control circuit electrically connected to the electric motor. The control circuit is configured to change a firing motion of the surgical instrument based on a combination of events.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising an adaptive control system is disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical stapler including an anvil, a staple cartridge, and a buttress material removably retained to the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge can include at least one staple removably stored therein which can, when deployed, or fired, therefrom, contact the buttress material and remove the buttress material from the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the anvil can include at least one lip and/or groove configured to removably retain the buttress material to the anvil until deformable members extending from the surgical staple are bent by the anvil and are directed toward and contact the buttress material.

Abstract: A method of operating a surgical stapling device comprising a lockout for preventing the surgical stapling device from operating. The method comprises contacting a first authentication key protruding from a surgical staple cartridge in actuation contact with the lockout in the surgical stapling device to move the lockout into an intermediate position, contacting a second authentication key protruding from the surgical stapling cartridge distal to the first authentication key into other actuation contact with the lockout in the surgical stapling device to move the lockout from the intermediate position into an unlocked position, and operating the surgical stapling device.

Abstract: An adapter assembly includes an articulation nut, an articulation link, and a drive belt operably coupled to a distal portion of the articulation link. The articulation link has a proximal end portion operably coupled to the articulation nut, such that rotation of the articulation nut results in translation of the articulation link. The drive belt has a distal end portion configured to be operably coupled to a proximal end portion of a surgical loading unit, such that movement of the drive belt articulates the surgical loading unit relative to the adapter assembly.

Abstract: An adapter assembly includes a switch actuator, an actuation bar, and a latch. The switch actuator is movable between a proximal position, in which the switch actuator actuates a switch, and a distal position. The latch is movable between a first position, in which the latch permits proximal movement of the switch actuator, and a second position, in which the latch prevents proximal movement of the switch actuator. The latch is configured to move from the first position toward the second position in response to the actuation bar moving toward a proximal position.

Abstract: A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge can comprise a cartridge body comprising a deck and a bottom surface opposite the deck. The staple cartridge can comprise a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface. Additionally, a plurality of wells can be defined into the staple cartridge from the deck to a lowermost surface of the well. A plurality of staples can be removably positioned in the staple cavities. The staple cartridge can comprise a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises a compensator body and a plurality of extensions extending from the compensator body into the wells, wherein at least one extension is compressed within one of the wells. Each well can surround at least one staple cavity and/or can extend between at least two staple cavities.

Abstract: A surgical stapler, or fastening instrument, may generally comprise a layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator, for example, releasably attached to a fastener cartridge and/or anvil by a flowable attachment portion. The flowable attachment portion may be indefinitely flowable. The flowable attachment portion may be flowable from the time that layer is installed to the fastener cartridge to the time in which the layer is implanted to patient tissue. The flowable attachment portion may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive. The flowable attachment portion may comprise an adhesive laminate comprising a base layer comprising the tissue thickness compensator and an adhesive layer on at least a portion of a surface of the base layer comprising the pressure sensitive adhesive. Articles of manufacture comprising flowable attachment portion and methods of making and using the flowable attachment portion are also described.

Abstract: A surgical instrument controls communication capabilities between the surgical instrument and a removeable component. The surgical instrument may determine parameters associated with the surgical instrument and the removable component. Based on the parameters, the surgical instrument determines a level or tier of communication between the surgical instrument and the removable component. The surgical instrument may determine to configure one or more of the following levels: one-way static communication with the component; two-way communication with the component; real-time two-way communication with the component; and communication with a surgical hub.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector having first and second jaws that cooperate to clamp in vivo material of a patient, and a first electrode that delivers an electrical signal to the in vivo material. The instrument further includes a second electrode that receives the electrical signal from the first electrode, and an electrical circuit housed within the end effector. The electrical circuit includes a microcontroller that controls delivery of the electrical signal to the first electrode, where the electrical signal passes through the in vivo material to the second electrode. The electrical circuit also determines an electrical impedance of the in vivo material and determines at least one of a presence or absence of tissue in the in vivo material, or a characteristic of tissue in the in vivo material.

Abstract: Examples herein describes a powered surgical end-effector that may include a controllable jaw configured to operate on a tissue, an updatable memory having stored therein a default actuation algorithm, and and a processor. The processor may be configured to operate in a first mode at a first time, wherein in the first mode the processor may be configured to operate an aspect of the controllable jaw according to the default actuation algorithm. The processor may receive data at a second time, after the first time, that may cause the processor to operate in a second mode, wherein in the second mode the processor may be configured to operate an aspect of the controllable jaw according to an alternative actuation algorithm.