Abstract: Surgical instruments with articulatable surgical end effectors and rotary driven flexible drive members.

Abstract: A surgical instrument insertable through a trocar comprising a shaft including a frame, an end effector, and an articulation joint, wherein the end effector is rotatable about the articulation joint. The shaft further comprises an outer housing slidable relative to the shaft frame including a distal non-round housing portion adjacent the articulation joint and a longitudinal round housing portion extending proximally from the distal housing portion, wherein the longitudinal round housing portion comprises a first diameter, and wherein the distal housing portion comprises a second diameter which is less than the first diameter. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation lock configured to prevent the rotation of the end effector, wherein the articulation lock is positioned within the distal non-round housing portion.

Abstract: A method for controlling an output of an energy module of a modular energy system. The energy module can comprise a plurality of amplifiers configured to generate a drive signal at a frequency range and a plurality of ports coupled to the plurality of amplifiers. The method includes determining to which port of the plurality of ports the surgical instrument is connected, selectively coupling an amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers to the port of the plurality of ports to which the surgical instrument is connected, and controlling the amplifier to deliver the drive signal for driving the energy modality to the surgical instrument through the port.

Abstract: A cloud based analytics medical system comprises a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, an input/output interface to access data from medical hub communication devices, each coupled to a surgical instrument, and a database to store the data. The processor aggregates medical resource usage data from the medical hubs. The medical resource usage data comprises data pertaining to medical products and indication of efficiency based on usage, disposal records, and location data describing which medical facility the medical product was allocated to and patient outcome data pertaining to a procedure that utilized the medical product. The processor can determine a correlation between positive outcomes from the outcome data and location data of the medical product, generate a medical recommendation to change a medical resource usage practice based on the correlation, and display the medical recommendation to a medical hub at the local facility.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a sled and an end effector. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw, an anvil, and a cartridge channel. The staple cartridge includes a proximal end, a distal end, a cartridge body, and staples supported in the cartridge body, wherein the sled is movable to deploy the staples from the cartridge body against tissue captured between the staple cartridge and the anvil. The cartridge channel is configured to removably retain the staple cartridge, wherein a load is required to remove the staple cartridge from the cartridge channel, and wherein the sled is configured to reduce the cartridge removal load.

Abstract: A method for constructing a modular surgical system is disclosed. The method comprises providing a header module comprising a first power backplane segment, providing a surgical module comprising a second power backplane segment, assembling the header module and the surgical module to electrically couple the first power backplane segment and the second power backplane segment to each other to form a power backplane, and applying power to the surgical module through the power backplane.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets and a stapling head assembly configured to drive a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The stapling head assembly comprises a coupling member configured to actuate the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly, a firing assembly configured to drive the plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil, and a deck member. The deck member includes a deck surface extending radially between an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and a plurality of staple openings extending through the deck surface. The plurality of staple openings define at least one cross shape.

Abstract: A method is provided for applying an adjunct element to a surgical stapler end effector having first and second stapling surfaces using an applicator. The method includes providing the end effector in an open state in which the first and second stapling surfaces are spaced apart. With the end effector in the open state, at least a portion of the applicator is positioned between the first and second stapling surfaces. Without engaging a closure system input feature of the surgical stapler, a portion of the end effector is compressively engaged by the applicator to thereby secure the adjunct element to one of the first or second stapling surfaces. The applicator and the end effector are withdrawn relatively away from one another so that the adjunct element remains attached to the one of the first or second stapling surfaces of the end effector.

Abstract: Surgical instruments with axially movable firing members that are driven by a series of drive components that are loosely linked to each other when traversing an articulation joint of the surgical instrument. The drive components are configured to serially engage a rotary drive member located distal to the articulation joint such that the rotary drive member causes the drive components to form an axially rigid series of said drive components configured to apply an axial drive motion to the firing member.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil and a stapling head assembly. The anvil defines staple forming pockets. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member, a firing assembly, and a staple deck. The coupling member is configured to actuate relative to the body to thereby acuate the anvil relative to the body. The firing assembly is configured to drive staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The staple deck is defined by an outer arched perimeter and an inner arched perimeter fixed to the body. The staple deck defines staple openings. At least one non-tangential staple opening in the of staple openings extends along a longitudinal axis in a non-tangential relationship with a closest tangent line of the inner arched perimeter or the outer arched perimeter.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the operation of a surgical suturing instrument using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed. The method comprises gathering data during surgical procedures, wherein the surgical procedures include the use of a surgical suturing instrument comprising a suturing needle configured to be mechanically advanced through a suturing stroke, analyzing the gathered data to determine an appropriate operational adjustment of the surgical suturing instrument, and adjusting the operation of the surgical suturing instrument to improve the operation of the surgical suturing instrument.

Abstract: A method for operating a surgical instrument is disclosed.

Abstract: Surgical instruments with articulatable surgical end effectors and rotary driven flexible drive members.

Abstract: A method of operating a modular surgical system including a control module, a first surgical module, and a second surgical module is disclosed. The method includes detachably connecting the first surgical module to the control module by stacking the first surgical module with the control module in a stack configuration, detachably connecting the second surgical module to the first surgical module by stacking the second surgical module with the control module and the first surgical module in the stack configuration, powering up the modular surgical system, and monitoring distribution of power from a power supply of the control module to the first surgical module and the second surgical module.

Abstract: A battery pack for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The battery pack comprises a battery housing, batteries positioned in the battery housing, and an interruption member. The battery housing includes electrical contacts configured to electrically couple the battery pack to the surgical instrument when the battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument. The interruption member is movable from a first position where the interruption member electrically disconnects at least one battery from another battery and a second position. The batteries are electrically connected to the surgical instrument when the interruption member is moved from the first position to the second position and the battery pack is attached to the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector and a shaft. The end effector includes a first jaw movable relative to the second jaw. The shaft extends proximally from the end effector. The shaft includes a proximal coupler, a tube, and a distal coupler. The proximal coupler includes a distal coupling feature adjacent a distal end. The tube includes proximal and distal coupling features that are adjacent the respective proximal and distal ends of the tube. The proximal coupling feature is configured to engage the distal coupling feature of the proximal coupler to securably lock the tube and the proximal coupler together. The distal coupler includes a proximal coupling feature adjacent the proximal end of the distal coupler. The proximal coupling feature of the distal coupler is configured to engage the distal coupling feature of the tube to securably lock the distal coupler and the tube together.

Abstract: In general, adaptive responses from smart packaging of drug delivery absorbable adjuncts and methods of using smart packaging of drug delivery absorbable adjuncts are provided.

Abstract: A method for controlling a user interface of a modular energy system. The modular energy system comprises a header module and a display screen on which the user interface is displayed. The modular energy system can detect attachment of a first module thereto, control the user interface to display one or more first user interface elements corresponding to the first module, detect attachment of a second module to the modular energy system, control the user interface to resize the one or more first user interface elements to accommodate display of one or more second user interface elements corresponding to the second module, and control the user interface to display the one or more second user interface elements. The various UI elements can correspond to the particular module type that is being connected to the modular energy system.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powered surgical stapler that includes an end effector with jaws that are movable between an open and a closed position and a firing member that is movable between a starting position and an ending position within the end effector. The jaws and firing member are controlled by separate rotary systems and the end effector includes a firing member lockout system that prevents axial movement of the firing member unless the surgical staple cartridge is in ready to fire condition.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly along a shaft axis, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes an outer tube configured to rotate relative to the body assembly about the shaft axis. The surgical instrument further includes a slip ring assembly configured to enable electrical communication between the shaft assembly and the body assembly while permitting relative rotation therebetween. The slip ring assembly includes a first electrical contact supported by the outer tube, and a second electrical contact electrically coupled with the first electrical contact and positioned radially outward of the outer tube. The first electrical contact is configured to rotate with the outer tube about the shaft axis relative to the second electrical contact while the first and second electrical contacts remain electrically coupled.