Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The elongated shaft has a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end spaced from the proximal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft. Surgical fasteners are disposed in the elongated shaft. The surgical fasteners are stacked at an angle relative to the first axis of the elongated shaft. A distal end cap having a surgical fastener dispensing window is secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed in the housing, and an actuator coupled with the firing system for activating the firing system to dispense the surgical fasteners through the surgical fastener dispensing window.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The elongated shaft has a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end spaced from the proximal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft. Surgical fasteners are disposed in the elongated shaft. The surgical fasteners are stacked at an angle relative to the first axis of the elongated shaft. A distal end cap having a surgical fastener dispensing window is secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed in the housing, and an actuator coupled with the firing system for activating the firing system to dispense the surgical fasteners through the surgical fastener dispensing window.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The elongated shaft has a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end spaced from the proximal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft. Surgical fasteners are disposed in the elongated shaft. The surgical fasteners are stacked at an angle relative to the first axis of the elongated shaft. A distal end cap having a surgical fastener dispensing window is secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed in the housing, and an actuator coupled with the firing system for activating the firing system to dispense the surgical fasteners through the surgical fastener dispensing window.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, and an elongated shaft extending from the housing. The elongated shaft has a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end spaced from the proximal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends of the elongated shaft. Surgical fasteners are disposed in the elongated shaft. The surgical fasteners are stacked at an angle relative to the first axis of the elongated shaft. A distal end cap having a surgical fastener dispensing window is secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The applicator instrument has a firing system disposed in the housing, and an actuator coupled with the firing system for activating the firing system to dispense the surgical fasteners through the surgical fastener dispensing window.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, a firing system disposed in the housing, an actuator coupled with the housing for activating the firing system, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, the elongated shaft having a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, one or more surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, and a distal end cap secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The distal end cap has a surgical fastener dispensing window for dispensing the one or more surgical fasteners from the distal end cap. The firing system includes a firing rod that extends through the elongated shaft for dispensing the one or more surgical fasteners from the distal end cap. The firing rod has a proximal section that moves along the first axis of the elongated shaft and a distal section that moves along a second axis that defines an angle with the first axis.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that has a cartridge receiving assembly, a shaft assembly, and a needle driving cartridge. The cartridge receiving assembly in connected to the shaft assembly. The needle driving cartridge is capable of being inserted into the cartridge receiving assembly. The needle driving cartridge is capable of driving a needle along an orbital path in a single angular direction. The needle driving cartridge includes a body, a curved needle, a needle drive assembly, and a needle guide assembly capable of guiding a needle along the orbital path. The needle guide assembly includes a cleat. The cleat has two needle engagement features. The two needle engagement features are configured to simultaneously engage two separate regions of the outer surface of the needle at the same portion of the length of the needle.

Abstract: A surgical suturing system comprises a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal ends, and receiver on the distal end with a rotary drive. A cartridge is selectively attachable to and detachable from the receiver. The cartridge has a surgical needle, a length of suture connected to the needle, a needle driver operative to engage and move the needle relative the cartridge, a transmission operatively connected to the needle driver, and a torsional interface rotationally coupling the rotary drive to the transmission.

Abstract: A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft and an end effector. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of grasping arms. Each grasping arm comprises a respective pair of jaws. Each pair of jaws is operable to cooperate to grasp and release a suture needle. Each jaw has a needle grasping member operable to align a suture needle along a predetermined arc path. The end effector is further operable to pass the needle from one arm to the other arm during a suturing procedure. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, a firing system disposed in the housing, an actuator coupled with the housing for activating the firing system, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, the elongated shaft having a proximal end secured to the housing, a distal end, and a first axis extending between the proximal and distal ends, one or more surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, and a distal end cap secured to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The distal end cap has a surgical fastener dispensing window for dispensing the one or more surgical fasteners from the distal end cap. The firing system includes a firing rod that extends through the elongated shaft for dispensing the one or more surgical fasteners from the distal end cap. The firing rod has a proximal section that moves along the first axis of the elongated shaft and a distal section that moves along a second axis that defines an angle with the first axis.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector assembly, and a drive assembly. The body may include a handpiece with an integral motor. The shaft assembly may include two pairs of concentric shafts. The end effector assembly may include arms that selectively grasp and release a suturing needle. The drive assembly is operable to drive the end effector assembly via the shaft assembly. The drive assembly is operable to convert a single rotary input into at least two rotary outputs. In some versions, the drive assembly comprises a plurality of shaft assemblies that include an input shaft, a first output shaft, a second output shaft, and a third output shaft. The drive assembly is operable to selectively rotate and hold the shaft assemblies in accordance with a predetermined sequence, such as to perform tissue suturing through a trocar in a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an articulating portion. An end effector is on the distal end and an actuator is on the proximal end. A rod is in the shaft having a proximal end with a cam follower, a distal end operably connected to the articulation portion, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends. A disk is in the actuator rotatable in response to user input in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The disk has a cam slot receiving the cam follower such that rotation of the disk moves the rod longitudinally to articulate the elongate shaft at the articulation portion.

Abstract: A surgical suturing system comprises a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal ends, and receiver on the distal end with a rotary drive. A cartridge is selectively attachable to and detachable from the receiver. The cartridge has a surgical needle, a length of suture connected to the needle, a needle driver operative to engage and move the needle relative the cartridge, a transmission operatively connected to the needle driver, and a torsional interface rotationally coupling the rotary drive to the transmission.

Abstract: A surgical suturing system comprises a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal ends, and receiver on the distal end with a rotary drive. A cartridge is selectively attachable to and detachable from the receiver. The cartridge has a surgical needle, a length of suture connected to the needle, a needle driver operative to engage and move the needle relative the cartridge, a transmission operatively connected to the needle driver, and a torsional interface rotationally coupling the rotary drive to the transmission.

Abstract: A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a grasping actuation assembly. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a pair of grasping arms. Each grasping arm comprises a respective pair of jaws. Each pair of jaws is operable to cooperate to grasp and release a suture needle. The grasping actuation assembly is operable to drive one jaw of each pair in one direction while simultaneously driving the other jaw of the pair in an opposite direction, to selectively grasp or release the suture needle. The shaft assembly includes two pairs of parallel concentric shafts, which form part of the actuation assembly. Each shaft pair is operable to drive a respective internal drive shaft having separate threaded regions with opposing pitch. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an articulating portion. An end effector is on the distal end and an actuator is on the proximal end. A rod is in the shaft having a proximal end with a cam follower, a distal end operably connected to the articulation portion, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends. A disk is in the actuator rotatable in response to user input in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The disk has a cam slot receiving the cam follower such that rotation of the disk moves the rod longitudinally to articulate the elongate shaft at the articulation portion.

Abstract: A surgical suturing system comprises a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal ends, and receiver on the distal end with a rotary drive. A cartridge is selectively attachable to and detachable from the receiver. The cartridge has a surgical needle, a length of suture connected to the needle, a needle driver operative to engage and move the needle relative the cartridge, a transmission operatively connected to the needle driver, and a torsional interface rotationally coupling the rotary drive to the transmission.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector assembly, and a drive assembly. The body may include a handpiece with an integral motor. The shaft assembly may include two pairs of concentric shafts. The end effector assembly may include arms that selectively grasp and release a suturing needle. The drive assembly is operable to drive the end effector assembly via the shaft assembly. The drive assembly is operable to convert a single rotary input into at least two rotary outputs. In some versions, the drive assembly comprises a plurality of shaft assemblies that include an input shaft, a first output shaft, a second output shaft, and a third output shaft. The drive assembly is operable to selectively rotate and hold the shaft assemblies in accordance with a predetermined sequence, such as to perform tissue suturing through a trocar in a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

Abstract: A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a grasping actuation assembly. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a pair of grasping arms. Each grasping arm comprises a respective pair of jaws. Each pair of jaws is operable to cooperate to grasp and release a suture needle. The grasping actuation assembly is operable to drive one jaw of each pair in one direction while simultaneously driving the other jaw of the pair in an opposite direction, to selectively grasp or release the suture needle. The shaft assembly includes two pairs of parallel concentric shafts, which form part of the actuation assembly. Each shaft pair is operable to drive a respective internal drive shaft having separate threaded regions with opposing pitch. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.

Abstract: A suture needle driving instrument comprises a shaft and an end effector. The end effector is located at the distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of grasping arms. Each grasping arm comprises a respective pair of jaws. Each pair of jaws is operable to cooperate to grasp and release a suture needle. Each jaw has a needle grasping member operable to align a suture needle along a predetermined arc path. The end effector is further operable to pass the needle from one arm to the other arm during a suturing procedure. The instrument may be used through a trocar during minimally invasive surgery.