Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The body includes a motor, a first user input feature, and a second user input feature. The first user input feature is operable to activate the motor. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes an anvil coupling feature, at least one annular array of staples, and a staple driver. The second user input feature is operable to drive the anvil coupling feature longitudinally. The staple driver is operable to drive the at least one annular array of staples. The motor is operable to drive the staple driver. The anvil is configured to couple with the anvil coupling feature. The anvil is further configured to deform the staples driven by the staple driver.

Abstract: A method of treating a human subject which is effected by intermittent inhalation of gaseous nitric oxide at a concentration of at least 160 ppm is disclosed. The method can be utilized for treating a human subject suffering from, or prone to suffer from, a disease or disorder that is manifested in the respiratory tract, or from a disease or disorder that can be treated via the respiratory tract. The disclosed method can be effected while monitoring one or more of on-site and off-site parameters such as vital signs, methemoglobin levels, pulmonary function parameters, blood chemistry and hematological parameters, blood coagulation parameters, inflammatory marker levels, liver and kidney function parameters and vascular endothelial activation parameters, such that no substantial deviation from a baseline in seen in one or more of the monitored parameters.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument having one or more sensors at or a near an end effector and configured to aide in the detection of tissues and other materials and structures at a surgical site. The detections may then be used to aide in the placement of the end effector and to confirm which objects to operate on, or alternatively, to avoid. Examples of sensors include laser sensors used to employ Doppler shift principles to detect movement of objects at the surgical site, such as blood cells; resistance sensors to detect the presence of metal; monochromatic light sources that allow for different levels of absorption from different types of substances present at the surgical site, and near infrared spectrometers with small form factors.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil selectively coupleable to a stapling head assembly and a trigger operable to fire staples into tissue compressed between the anvil and the stapling head assembly. In some versions, a lockout member may engage a securing feature to prevent actuation of the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. For instance, a tab may engage a slot on an actuator, a screen door lock may provide frictional resistance or engage teeth on the actuator, a door may actuate into engagement with one or more recesses, geared teeth may mesh with teeth on the actuator, the lockout member may include a ratcheting assembly to engage actuator, and/or a push button may actuate into a recess while disengaging the lockout member. Alternatively, in some versions, the trigger actuation assembly may be disengaged prior to firing. An anvil position indicator may restrict engagement of the trigger actuation assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems for measuring nitric oxide released from a material. For example, a method of measuring nitric oxide release from a material can include introducing a continuous flow of a carrier gas into a sample holding chamber via a carrier gas inlet at an effective flow rate, introducing an amount of the nitric oxide releasing material into the sample holding chamber via a separate sample inlet to contact the continuous flow of the carrier gas, directing the carrier gas and released nitric oxide out of the sample holding chamber via a nitric oxide outlet toward a nitric oxide detector, and quantifying an amount of released nitric oxide using the nitric oxide detector.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an end effector including an anvil and lower jaw. The anvil is pivotable toward the lower jaw to capture tissue. The apparatus further includes a stapling and severing assembly configured to sever and staple tissue clamped between the anvil and the lower jaw. A staple cartridge is coupled with the lower jaw. The staple cartridge includes a deck facing the anvil, a plurality of staples positioned in a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck, and a cinching feature positioned on the deck. At least a portion of the cinching feature is configured to be captured by the staples as the staples are driven out of the staple openings in response to activation of the stapling and severing mechanism. The cinching feature is configured to cinch severed and stapled tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The stapling head assembly includes a deck member, a plurality of staples, and a driver. The deck member includes a first deck surface, a second deck surface, an outer annular array of staple openings formed through the deck surfaces, an inner annular array of staple openings formed through the deck surfaces, and a plurality of stand-off features extending distally from the second deck surface. The second deck surface is recessed relative to the first deck surface. The driver is operable to drive the staples through the staple openings. The anvil is operable to compress tissue against the deck surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods useful for immune activation that is effective for eliciting a non-antigen-specific immune response in a subject. An immunomodulator composition can include a therapeutically effective amount of a liquid nitric oxide releasing solution (NORS) for eliciting an immune response in a subject to treat an adverse health condition in the subject.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, an anvil, an anvil adjustment assembly, a trigger, and a lockout assembly. The stapling head assembly is operable to drive an annular array of staples. The anvil is configured to couple with the stapling head assembly. The anvil adjustment assembly includes a translating member, which translates relative to the body to thereby adjust the longitudinal position of the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. The trigger is operable to actuate the stapling head assembly. The lockout assembly includes an electrically powered braking feature. A method of operating the surgical instrument includes providing the lockout assembly in a first state to permit translation of the translating member. The translating member is then translated. The lockout assembly is then transitioned to a second state to prevent further translation of the translating member.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument having one or more sensors at or a near an end effector and configured to aide in the detection of tissues and other materials and structures at a surgical site. The detections may then be used to aide in the placement of the end effector and to confirm which objects to operate on, or alternatively, to avoid. Examples of sensors include laser sensors used to employ Doppler shift principles to detect movement of objects at the surgical site, such as blood cells; resistance sensors to detect the presence of metal; monochromatic light sources that allow for different levels of absorption from different types of substances present at the surgical site, and near infrared spectrometers with small form factors.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The stapling instrument comprises an end effector including a staple cartridge comprising a circular array of staple cavities and staples removably stored in the staple cavities and, in addition, an anvil configured to deform the staples which is movable toward the staple cartridge to clamp tissue therebetween. The anvil is movable away from the staple cartridge to release the tissue after the tissue has been stapled. The stapling instrument further comprises a lockout configured to prevent the anvil from being moved toward the staple cartridge once again until the staple cartridge has been replaced with an unfired staple cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The stapling instrument comprises a staple cartridge including a circular array of staple cavities defined therein and an anvil configured to deform the staples. The stapling instrument further comprises a closure drive configured to position the anvil relative to the staple cartridge and a firing drive configured to eject the staples from the staple cartridge. The closure drive includes a shaft which is extendable above the staple cartridge to permit the anvil to be attached to the shaft. In various instances, the stapling instrument is configured and arranged such that the anvil cannot be attached to the shaft unless the shaft is moved into a fully-extended position above the staple cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The stapling head assembly includes an annular deck member, a plurality of staples, and a driver. The deck member includes a deck surface that has a curved profile defined by a curve extending from the inner diameter of the deck member to the outer diameter of the deck member. The deck member further includes an outer array of staple openings and an inner array of staple openings. The driver is operable to drive the staples through the staple openings. The anvil is operable to compress tissue against the first deck surface.

Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) generating compositions can include a nitrite component, an acidifying component, and a support material configured to carry one of the nitrite component and the acidifying agent. In some examples, the support material can minimize NO generation prior to addition of an activating amount of a suitable solvent.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an end effector including an anvil and lower jaw. The anvil is pivotable toward the lower jaw to capture tissue. The apparatus further includes a stapling and severing assembly configured to sever and staple tissue clamped between the anvil and the lower jaw. A staple cartridge is coupled with the lower jaw. The staple cartridge includes a deck facing the anvil, a plurality of staples positioned in a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck, and a cinching feature positioned on the deck. At least a portion of the cinching feature is configured to be captured by the staples as the staples are driven out of the staple openings in response to activation of the stapling and severing mechanism. The cinching feature is configured to cinch severed and stapled tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a deck defining a plurality of openings. Each opening of the plurality of openings is associated with a corresponding staple of the plurality of staples, such that each staple is configured to pass through a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings. The apparatus further includes a deformable feature configured to be coupled to tissue in response to actuation of the staple cartridge. The deformable feature is configured to retain at least one outer portion of stapled tissue in an inwardly directed position relative to an inner portion of stapled tissue.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, an anvil, an anvil adjustment assembly, a trigger, and a lockout assembly. The stapling head assembly is operable to drive an annular array of staples. The anvil is configured to couple with the stapling head assembly. The anvil adjustment assembly includes a translating member, which translates relative to the body to thereby adjust the longitudinal position of the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. The trigger is operable to actuate the stapling head assembly. The lockout assembly includes an electrically powered braking feature. A method of operating the surgical instrument includes providing the lockout assembly in a first state to permit translation of the translating member. The translating member is then translated. The lockout assembly is then transitioned to a second state to prevent further translation of the translating member.

Abstract: A circular stapling instrument is disclosed which comprises a replaceable staple cartridge. The circular stapling instrument and/or staple cartridge comprises a lockout configured to prevent a previously-fired staple cartridge from being re-used.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The stapling instrument comprises a staple cartridge configured to staple the tissue of a patient and a cutting member configure to incise the tissue. The stapling instrument further comprises an anvil movable between an open position and a closed position to clamp tissue against the staple cartridge. The anvil is configured to deform the staples when the staples are ejected from the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the stapling instrument comprises a lockout configured to prevent the cutting member from incising the tissue until after the staples have been formed. In at least one embodiment, the stapling instrument comprises a lockout configured to prevent the anvil from being opened while the cutting member is exposed.

Abstract: A surgical circular stapler has a handle assembly, a shaft, a stapling assembly, and a firing assembly. The shaft extends distally from the handle assembly. The stapling assembly is secured to a distal end of the shaft. Longitudinal translation of the firing assembly causes the stapling assembly to drive a plurality of staples in a circular array to secure two lumens of tissue together. The stapling assembly may further drive a blade to sever any excess tissue interior of the circular array of staples. The stapler further includes a lockout assembly configured to control firing of the stapling assembly. The lockout assembly may include one or more switches, the actuation of which is configured to prevent or permit firing of the stapling assembly. The lockout assembly may additionally or alternatively include one or more mechanical lockout features configured to control firing of the stapling assembly.