Abstract: A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body including staple formation features is disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed for aggregating patient, procedure, surgeon, and/or facility pre-surgical data and population and adaptation of a starting procedure plan template. Pre-surgical data may be used to populate a patient specific surgical procedure plan. A surgical system (e.g., surgical hub) may be configured to obtain patient specific pre-surgical data for a patient specific surgical procedure. The surgical system may obtain a surgical procedure template comprising surgical procedure steps. The surgical system may determine surgical task options for the surgical procedure steps, for example, based on the patient specific pre-surgical data. The surgical system may determine characterizations (e.g., predicted outcomes, risk levels, efficiency) for the surgical task options. A populated patient specific procedure plan may be generated, for example, which may include the determined surgical procedure steps and the respective characterizations.

Abstract: Examples described herein may include a surgical computing system that determines an autonomous operation parameter and generates a control signal for an autonomous operation based on the autonomous operation parameter. The surgical computing system may obtain surgical data and determine the autonomous operation parameter based on the surgical data. The surgical computing system may obtain surgical data and determine the autonomous operation parameter based on the surgical data. The surgical computing system may send the control signal for the autonomous operation, for example, to one or more smart surgical devices.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instrumentalities may be described herein for automating a surgical task. The device may receive an indication of a surgical task to be performed with a surgical instrument. Capabilities of the surgical instrument may be associated with levels of automation. The device may monitor a performance of the surgical task with the surgical instrument operating at a first level of automation associated with the levels of automation. The device may detect a trigger event associated with the performance of the surgical task and switch operation of the surgical instrument from the first level of automation to a second level of automation associated with levels of automation, for example, based on the trigger event.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are described herein for autonomous operation of a surgical device within a predefined boundary. A discrete signal associated with clamping control (e.g., closure of a clamping jaw) may be received by the surgical device. The discrete signal may be triggered by a healthcare professional or autonomously activated. The surgical device, in response to the discrete signal and based on an algorithm, may generate a continuous signal to cause a continuous application of force or deployment of an operation. The surgical device, based at least on a measurement associated with one of tissue, inrush current, or the distance between the smart energy device and the smart grasper may determine a safety adjustment associated with the operation of the surgical device.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a power management circuit is disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a wireless transmission system for transmitting at least one of power and a data signal through between an end effector and an instrument housing of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes the sensor monitoring and processing circuit.

Abstract: A tissue thickness compensator can comprise a compensator body and at least one vessel contained in the compensator body. The vessel can define an inner cavity which can comprise an inner atmosphere having a pressure which is lower than the atmospheric pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the tissue thickness compensator. In at least one embodiment, the vessel and the compensator body can be maintained in a collapsed state until staples are fired through the vessel. At such point, the vessel can re-expand and apply a biasing force to tissue captured within the staples.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a sensor array is disclosed. In various instances, the sensor array comprises a conductive trace embedded in a cartridge body of the staple cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a housing, a shaft assembly, a processor, and a memory is disclosed. The shaft assembly is replaceably connected to the housing. The shaft assembly comprises an end effector. The memory is configured to store program instructions which, when executed from the memory cause the processor to send an electrical interrogation signal to the attached shaft assembly, receive a response signal from the attached shaft assembly, cause a default function to be performed when a response signal is not received by the attached shaft assembly, determine an identifying characteristic of the attached shaft assembly as a result of the performance of the default function, and modify a control program based on the identifying characteristic of the attached shaft assembly.

Abstract: A method for adaptive control of surgical network control and interaction is disclosed. The surgical network includes a surgical feedback system. The surgical feedback system includes a surgical instrument, a data source, and a surgical hub configured to communicably couple to the data source and the surgical instrument. The surgical hub includes a control circuit. The method includes receiving, by the control circuit, information related to devices communicatively coupled to the surgical network; and adaptively controlling, by the control circuit, the surgical network based on the received information.

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

Abstract: An analysis system trains a machine learning model to detect stapling events from a video of a surgical procedure. The machine learning model detects times when stapling events occur as well as one or more characteristics of each stapling event such as length of staples, clamping time, or other characteristics. The machine learning model is trained on videos of surgical procedures identifying when stapling events occurred through a learning process. The machine learning model may be applied to an input video to detect a sequence of stapler events. Stapler event sequences may furthermore be analyzed and/or aggregated to generate various analytical data relating to the surgical procedures for applications such as inventor management, performance evaluation, or predicting patient outcomes.

Abstract: A staple cartridge including a cartridge body and a first RFID feature. The cartridge body defines a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the cartridge body. The cartridge body is configured to be received within a jaw of a surgical stapler. The cartridge body also defines a plurality of staple apertures that are configured to house staples. The proximal portion of the cartridge body defines a pocket, and the pocket is proximal to a proximal most staple aperture of the plurality of staple apertures. The first RFID feature is fixed within the pocket. The first RFID feature is configured to communicate with a second RFID feature presented by the jaw of the surgical stapler.

Abstract: A surgical system comprising a surgical instrument, a generator configured to supply power to an end effector, and a processor configured to run a control program to operate the surgical system is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises the end effector which includes a first jaw and a second jaw. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is moved with respect to one another between an open position and a closed position. Tissue is configured to be positioned between the first jaw and the second jaw. The processor is configured to detect a first parameter of the surgical system, detect at least one user input, and modify the control program in response to the detected first parameter and the at least one user input.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a wireless transmission system for transmitting at least one of power and a data signal through between an end effector and an instrument housing of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument includes the sensor monitoring and processing circuit.

Abstract: A surgical instrument can include an anvil and, in addition, a staple cartridge support configured to support a staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the jaw can be moved toward the staple cartridge to deform staples contained within the staple cartridge. The anvil can be configured to be translated and/or rotated as the anvil is moved toward the staple cartridge. In certain embodiments, the anvil can be configured to float and adjust such that the anvil is moved downwardly in a level manner.

Abstract: A surgical end effector includes a cartridge. The cartridge includes first and second sensor arrays disposed in the cartridge. The first sensor array is configured to sense a function of a first component located within the cartridge and the second sensor array is configured to sense a function of a second component located within the cartridge. The first and second sensor arrays are electrically coupled to an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit includes a control circuit configured to receive signal samples from the first sensor array, receive signal samples from the second sensor array, and process the signals samples received from the first and second sensor arrays to determine a status of the cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that includes first and second jaws that are movably coupled together to move between an open and a closed position. The first jaw includes a first proximal end, a first distal tip, and a first jaw midpoint between the first proximal end and the first distal tip. The second jaw includes a second proximal end and a second distal tip. The first jaw includes a first alignment feature that is distal to the first jaw midpoint and is configured to engage a corresponding portion of the second jaw when the first and second jaws are moved to the closed position to align the first distal tip with the second distal tip.