Abstract: A software for driving a motor in a powered surgical stapler can include driving a firing assembly through an end effector during a firing stroke, detecting when the firing assembly enters a final distance of the firing stroke, decreasing a target speed of the firing assembly for the final distance, and impacting a distal portion of the firing assembly to the end effector. The firing assembly may be intentionally driven into the end effector. The software may cease driving the firing assembly in response to detection of the impact. The reduction in target speed can be accomplished by adjusting a motor drive signal to a motor driving the firing assembly.

Abstract: A method of driving a motor in a powered surgical stapler can include a pausing monitoring process that may be effective to improve staple form and/or increase localized compression of tissue. The pausing monitoring process monitors firing speed of a firing bar driving by the motor and pauses the motor when the firing speed passes a speed error threshold. Before pausing the motor, the pausing monitoring process may also require that a pulse width modulated (PWM) electrical signal driving the motor has a duty cycle over a duty cycle threshold while the firing speed is beyond the speed error. The pausing monitoring process may force the firing bar through a predetermined distance immediately after pausing. The pausing monitoring process may be limited in the number of pauses that can be taken during a firing stroke.

Abstract: A surgical stapling system comprising an actuator system operable to generate independent motions including end effector articulation motions, an end effector closing motion, and a staple firing motion. The actuator system comprises motor driven elements. The end effector articulation motions, the end effector closing motion, and the staple firing motion are transmitted through the motor driven elements. The surgical stapling system further comprises an elongate shaft extending from the housing, an articulation region comprising a first articulation joint and a second articulation joint, and a stapling end effector responsive to the independent motions generated by the actuator system. The stapling end effector comprises a staple cartridge jaw, an anvil jaw, and a firing member. The an anvil jaw comprises a longitudinal anvil slot and a longitudinal recess extending from the longitudinal anvil slot. The firing member comprises an anvil-engaging portion and a cartridge jaw-engaging portion.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a tool driver including a first inductive coil, a drive housing releasably mounted to the tool driver and including a second inductive coil, a shaft extending from the drive housing and terminating at an end effector operatively coupled to a distal end of the shaft, and a firing rod extending from the drive housing within the shaft and terminating at the end effector, the firing rod including a magnetically responsive material and being movable within the drive housing between a retracted position and an extended position. One of the inductive coils generates a magnetic field, and the other measures an intensity of the magnetic field and a field distortion caused by movement of the firing rod. A change in the field distortion provides an indication of movement of the firing rod between the retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: A method including detecting a modular surgical device within bounds of a surgical operating room; connecting the modular surgical device to a surgical hub; connecting the surgical hub to a cloud-based system; transmitting surgical data associated with a surgical procedure being performed in the surgical operating room from the modular surgical device to the surgical hub; and transmitting the surgical data from the surgical hub to the cloud-based system.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing various surgical sites from different or shared surgical approaches to achieve a common or cooperative surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and must operate differently, but in concert with, one another to effect a desired surgical treatment.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments with variable surgical site access trajectories are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing a common surgical site from different approach and/or separate body cavities to achieve a common surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and must operate differently, but in concert with one another, to effect a desired surgical treatment.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The end effector assembly comprises a staple cartridge jaw, a threaded rod, and a replaceable staple cartridge configured to be seated in the staple cartridge jaw. The replaceable staple cartridge comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal slot extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a driver configured to support a staple, wherein the driver comprises a surface facing the threaded rod, wherein the surface comprises a clearance, and wherein at least a portion of the threaded rod is configured to be received in the clearance when the replaceable staple cartridge is seated in the staple cartridge jaw.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for displaying a cooperative overlays based on interacting instruments are disclosed herein. In one aspect, a method for displaying cooperative overlays includes communicatively coupling a first augmented reality display device to a surgical hub; generating, by the first augmented reality display device, a first intraoperative display of a surgical field; displaying, by the first intraoperative display, a first data overlay based on operation of a first surgical instrument; interacting the first surgical instrument with a second surgical instrument; and displaying, by the first intraoperative display, an indicator of the interaction based on the interaction between the first and second surgical instruments.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a handle assembly, a trigger assembly, an input driving body, and a coupling body. The end effector includes a pair of jaws, a knife, and an RF electrode assembly. The input driving body drives the knife between the pre-fired position and the fired position when traveling between the first position and the second position. The engagement body of the trigger assembly drives the input driving body from the first position to the second position when the coupling body is in the engaged position. The input driving body returns to the first position when the coupling body is in the disengaged position. The coupling body moves from the engaged position to the disengaged position is response to the input driving body traveling from the second position to the third position such that the input driving body returns to the first position.

Abstract: A powered stapling device includes a circular stapling head assembly, an anvil, a trocar coupled to the anvil, and a motor also coupled to the trocar. The motor is configured to advance and retract the trocar. The device further includes a control circuit coupled to the motor, in which the control circuit is configured to determine a position of the trocar in one of a plurality of zones, and set an anvil closure rate based on the determined position of the trocar.

Abstract: A fastener cartridge can include, one, a cartridge body comprising a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities and, two, a plurality of fasteners positioned in the fastener cavities. The cartridge body can further comprise extensions extending from the deck having different sizes and/or configurations. The extensions can control the flow of tissue relative to the deck and/or support the fasteners as they are ejected from the fastener cavities.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a surgical instrument including an end effector, a drive member movable to effectuate a motion in said end effector, a motor operable to move the drive member to effectuate the motion in the end effector and a bailout assembly operable to perform a mechanical bailout of the surgical instrument in response to a bailout error. The bailout assembly includes a bailout door, a bailout handle accessible through the bailout door. The bailout handle is operable to move the drive member to effectuate a bailout motion in the end effector. A controller includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to detect the bailout error. The processor is programed to stop the motor in response to the detection of the bailout error.

Abstract: An integral seal system includes a body that defines a central opening, and an asymmetric seal extending into the central opening and including a diaphragm and an annular flange that extends between the body and the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm has a cross-sectional thickness larger than a cross-sectional thickness of the annular flange. A duckbill seal extends distally from a bottom of the body and defines one or more parting lines that separate opposing seal flaps. The diaphragm complements insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the duckbill seal against a surgical tool shaft extended therethrough such that total insertion and extraction drag forces generated by the integral seal system are equalized.

Abstract: An end effector for a robotic surgical tool includes a first jaw providing a first jaw extension, a second jaw providing a second jaw extension, and an articulable wrist operatively coupled to the first and second jaws. The wrist includes a distal clevis, first and second pulleys rotatably mounted to the distal clevis at a pivot axis, the first jaw extension being pinned to the first pulley and the second jaw extension being pinned to the second pulley, and a linkage mounted to the first and second jaws and defining a slot. An alignment arm is rotatably mounted to the first pulley at the pivot axis and providing an alignment bar translatable within the slot.

Abstract: A staple cartridge for a surgical instrument includes a cartridge body extending along a longitudinal axis and having an upper deck. Pockets extend through the upper deck for receiving respective staples. The staple cartridge also includes a pan coupled to the cartridge body. The pan includes a laterally-opposed pair of sidewalls spaced apart from each other to define a trough sized and configured to receive the cartridge body. The pan also includes a retention tab extending laterally outwardly from a sidewall and longitudinally between proximal and distal ends. The retention tab defines a recess extending laterally outwardly from the trough. The recess opens through the sidewall at at least one of the proximal or distal ends. The pan further includes a relief slot extending through the sidewall adjacent to the at least one of the proximal or distal ends such that the relief slot opens directly into the recess.

Abstract: A surgical instrument having a shaft, an end effector, a firing system, and a control system is disclosed herein. The firing member is configured to translate an electric motor through a firing stroke. The control system includes a pulse width modulation circuit configured to adjust a duty cycle of voltage pulses to drive the firing system to a target speed. The control system includes a control circuit configured to evaluate the duty cycle of pulses at a predetermined adjustment point and set the target speed based at least in part on the comparison (maintain or new speed). The controls system may be configured to set the target speed at two or more adjustment points during the firing stroke and/or evaluate the duty cycle of pulses at an adjustment point more than half way through the firing stroke.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of assembling a backplane connector subassembly for a module of a modular energy system. The backplane connector subassembly physically and electrically connects at least two modules stacked on top of one another. The method includes providing a back panel defining an inner surface, attaching a first support member to the inner surface of the back panel, attaching a second support member to the inner surface of the back panel, attaching the upstream connector to the back panel by sliding a first mating hole defined in the upstream connector onto the first support member, and attaching the downstream connector to the back panel by a sliding a second mating hole defined in the downstream connector onto the second support member. The first support member is configured to support an upstream connector. The second support member is configured to support a downstream connector.

Abstract: An apparatus including a body, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, and an end effector configured to grasp and transmit RF energy to the tissue. The end effector includes a first jaw having a first tissue grasping feature and a second jaw. The second jaw is pivotably coupled to the first jaw between an open position, a partially closed position, and a closed position. The second jaw includes a proximal taper having a proximal electrode surface, a distal taper including a distal electrode surface, and a juncture between the proximal and distal electrode surface. The juncture is spaced further from the first tissue grasping feature compared to the proximal and distal end while the second jaw is in the partially closed position. The proximal and distal electrode surface deform to define a gap with the first tissue grasping feature while in the closed position.

Abstract: Systems for stereoscopic visualization with multispectral filter arrays configured for capturing color imaging data and spectral imaging data. A system includes an emitter comprising a plurality of sources of electromagnetic radiation, including a visible source, a first spectral source that emits electromagnetic radiation within a first spectral waveband, and a second spectral source that emits electromagnetic radiation within a second spectral waveband. The system includes a first image sensor comprising a first multispectral filter array, wherein at least a portion of the first multispectral filter array transmits reflected electromagnetic radiation within the first spectral waveband. The system includes a second image sensor comprising a second multispectral filter array, wherein at least a portion of the second multispectral filter array transmits reflected electromagnetic radiation within the second spectral waveband.