Abstract: A surgical image acquisition system includes multiple illumination sources, each source emitting light at a specified wavelength, a light sensor to receive light reflected from a tissue sample illuminated by each of the illumination sources, and a computing system. The computing system may receive data from the light sensor when the tissue sample is illuminated by the illumination sources, and calculate structural data related to one or more characteristics of a structure within the tissue. The structural data may be a surface characteristic such as a surface roughness or a structure composition such as a collagen and elastin composition. The computer system may further transmit the structural data to a smart surgical device. The smart devices may include a smart stapler, a smart RF sealing device, or a smart ultrasonic cutting device. The system may include a controller and computer enabled instructions to accomplish the above.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a handle assembly, a knife drive assembly, and a lockout assembly. The end effector includes a pair of jaws, a knife, and an RF electrode. The handle assembly includes a housing associated with the first jaw, and an arm associated with the second jaw. The arm is pivotably coupled with the housing and pivots the second jaw between the open position and the closed position. The knife drive assembly includes a trigger slidably coupled with the housing, an actuating assembly, and a return assembly. The actuation assembly converts proximal translation of the trigger into distal actuation of the knife. The return assembly automatically actuates the knife from the fired position to the pre-fired position in response to the trigger reaching a predetermined proximal position. The lockout assembly prevents activation of the electrode and distal actuation of the knife while in the locked configuration.

Abstract: A surgical visualization system is disclosed that comprises a control circuit configured to receive pre-operative imaging data associated with an organ, receive first intraoperative imaging data indicative of a structured light pattern on a surface of the organ, generate a three-dimensional digital representation of the organ based on the pre-operative imaging data and the first intraoperative imaging data, display the three-dimensional digital representation of the organ on a display screen, receive second intraoperative imaging data indicative of a plurality of spectral light waves penetrating the organ, intraoperatively identify a structure below the surface of the organ based on the second intraoperative imaging data, generate a three-dimensional digital representation of the structure below the surface of the organ, and overlay the three-dimensional digital representation of the structure with the three-dimensional digital representation of the organ on the display screen.

Abstract: A surgical visualization system includes multiple light sources, at least one optical sensor, at least one display device, and a controller. The controller is configured to control at least one light source to illuminate surgical tissue in a first manner, and control the optical sensor to receive an image from the surgical tissue illuminated in the first manner. The controller calculates a three-dimensional image from the tissue illuminated in the first manner. The controller is configured to control at the least one light source to illuminate surgical tissue in a second manner, and control the optical sensor to receive an image from the surgical tissue illuminated in the second manner. The controller calculates one or more subsurface critical anatomic structures from the tissue illuminated in the second manner and combines the display of the three-dimensional image and the anatomic structures on the at least one display device.

Abstract: An interactive control unit is disclosed. The interactive control unit includes an interactive touchscreen display, an interface configured to couple the control unit to a surgical hub, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive input commands from the interactive touchscreen display located inside a sterile field and transmit the input commands to the surgical hub to control devices coupled to the surgical hub located outside the sterile field.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first half having a first elongate member and a surface with staple forming pockets. The stapler also includes a second half for releasably coupling with the first half and including a second elongate member having a distal portion for deploying staples. The elongate members are pivotable relative to each other about a pivot axis when the halves are releasably coupled. The stapler further includes a latching member for selectively clamping the halves in a clamped state. The stapler also includes a detent member extending laterally from one of the halves toward the other. The stapler further includes a shoulder member positioned on the other of the halves and configured to selectively engage the detent member in response to rotation of the first elongate member away from the second elongate member to an open state in which the elongate members assume a maximum angular orientation.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are operable to track usage of a surgical instrument and modify the performance of the surgical instrument based on the prior usage of the surgical instrument. Some surgical instruments are designed to have a limited service life beginning at their first use, or a limit to their overall usage in order to ensure safe use of the sensitive instruments. However, a lack of ability to track usage characteristics when the instrument is separated from an external power supply allows for user abuse and avoidance of such safety mechanisms. Adding a battery or capacitor to the instrument may allow for an ability to track usage when the instrument is separated from an external power supply. Implementing special user prompts, device use ratios, and device use half-life upon powering down of an instrument may additionally be used to prevent circumvention of safety features.

Abstract: Surgical instruments that comprise an axially movable firing member that is configured to be driven between a starting position and an ending position within a surgical end effector of the surgical instrument by an upper an upper chain-drive assembly and a lower chain-drive assembly.

Abstract: Compressible adjuncts for use with a surgical cartridge are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a compressible adjunct includes a biocompatible adjunct material that is configured to be releasably retained on a staple cartridge and that is configured to be delivered to tissue by deployment of staples in the cartridge. The adjunct material includes a lattice main structure having at least one absorbable sub-structure formed in the lattice main structure, the at least one absorbable sub-structure configured to control fluid movement through the adjunct material such that the fluid movement impacts healing of tissue adjacent the adjunct material when the adjunct material is in a tissue deployed state. Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler are also provided.

Abstract: Surgical instruments that have articulation joints that include a distal joint member and a central joint member that is selectively articulatable relative to the central joint member about a distal articulation axis that is transverse to a shaft axis. The articulation joints may further include a proximal joint member that operably interfaces with the central joint member such that the central joint member is selectively articulatable relative to the proximal joint member about a proximal articulation axis that is transverse to the shaft axis and the distal articulation axis.

Abstract: A port module removably coupleable to an energy module of a module energy system is disclosed. The port module includes a light pipe and a receptacle defined by the light pipe. The receptacle is configured to receive a plug of an electrosurgical instrument therein. A seal is defined between the light pipe and the receptacle.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component. The 3D-printed component can include a plastic body and one or more metal substrates with interlocking features embedded in the plastic body. The surgical stapling assembly can include a firing member having a flexible portion configured to flex more readily that adjacent portions of the firing member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a rotatable and translatable firing member is disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including an end effector that has a selectively reciprocatable implement movably supported therein. The implement is selectively advanceable in a distal direction upon application of a rotary actuation motion thereto and retractable in a proximal direction upon application of a rotary retraction motion thereto. An elongate shaft assembly is coupled to the end effector and is configured to transmit the rotary actuation motion and rotary retraction motion to the reciprocatable implement from a robotic system that is configured to generate the rotary actuation motion and said rotary retraction motion.

Abstract: A surgical hub is disclosed. The surgical hub includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive first image data from a first image sensor, the first image data represents a first field of view, receive second image data from a second image sensor, wherein the second image data represents a second field of view, and display, on a display coupled to the processor, a first image rendered from the first image data corresponding to the first field of view and a second image rendered from the second image data corresponding to the second field of view.

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: A surgical instrument and method of operating same includes an end effector and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has proximal and distal shaft portions respectively extending along proximal and distal axes, a first elongate member, and an articulation section. The articulation section extends between the proximal and distal shaft portions and is configured to articulate about a first articulation axis and about a second articulation axis to thereby respectively deflect the end effector along a first plane and a second plane. The articulation section has a first lumen radially offset from the proximal and distal axes that longitudinally intersects the first and second articulation axes. The first lumen movably supports the first elongate member such that the radial spacing of the first elongate member is maintained relative to the proximal and distal axes at each of the first and second articulation axes during deflection of the end effector.

Abstract: An assembly includes an applicator, which includes a housing defining a gap configured to receive an end effector jaw of a surgical stapler. The applicator also includes a platform positioned within the gap. The assembly also includes a buttress assembly having a first length and positioned on the platform. The assembly further includes a trimming feature presented by the applicator or the buttress assembly, and configured to facilitate trimming of the buttress assembly from the first length to a predetermined second length.

Abstract: A tissue thickness compensator may generally comprise a first layer comprising a first biocompatible material sealingly enclosed in a water impermeable material and a second layer comprising a second biocompatible material comprising at least one encapsulation, wherein the first biocompatible material expands when contacted with a fluid. The tissue thickness compensator may comprise a haemostatic agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an antibiotic agent, anti-microbial agent, an anti-adhesion agent, an anti-coagulant agent, a medicament, and/or pharmaceutically active agent. The encapsulation may comprise a biodegradable material to degrade in vivo and/or in situ. The tissue thickness compensator may comprise a hydrogel. The reaction product may comprise a fluid-swellable composition. Articles of manufacture comprising the tissue thickness compensator and methods of making and using the tissue thickness compensator are also described.

Abstract: Surgical end effectors and fastener cartridges having firing lockout arrangements for preventing or limit a firing stroke when a cartridge has not been operably installed in the end effector or a spent cartridge has not been replaced.