Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a handle assembly, a knife drive assembly, an electrode activation assembly, and a lockout assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a knife, and an electrode assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing associated with the first jaw and an arm associated with the second jaw, where the arm is configured to pivot the second jaw between an open position and a closed position. The lockout assembly is may transition between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The lockout assembly may prevent activation of the electrode and prevent actuation of the knife drive assembly while in the locked configuration. The lockout assembly may allow activation of the electrode and allow actuation of the knife drive assembly while in the unlocked configuration.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a first control circuit configured to communicate with an energy module using at least a first protocol over a first communication line and a second control circuit configured to communicate with another surgical instrument coupled to the surgical instrument using at least a second protocol over a second communication line.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for systems and methods for identifying characteristics of a return pad in a monopolar electrosurgical system using contact quality monitoring (CQM) and near field communication (NFC) signals. In some aspects, resistance or impedance materials are sensed that may help identify what kind of return pad is being used, including what is the structure of the pad. In some aspects, NFC signals are used to identify characteristics of the return pad. In some aspects, the grounding or return pad may include two separate materials that form an interconnecting or interwoven mesh and both act as non-active electrodes when both contact the patient. A non-zero impedance may separate conductive lines connecting the two separate materials that may be analyzed to obtain a defining signature about that is linked to structural characteristics about the return pad.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising a cartridge jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge, an anvil jaw, and a firing member configured to eject the staples from the staple cartridge during a firing stroke is disclosed. The anvil jaw comprises a stop extending into the cartridge jaw which prevents the staple cartridge from contacting the firing member when the staple cartridge is inserted into the cartridge jaw.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of adapting energy modality due to a short circuit or tissue type grasped in the jaws of an end effector of a surgical instrument. The method includes selecting an electrode in an array of segmented electrodes during a pre-energy activation cycle. The method includes applying a sub-therapeutic electrical signal to the selected electrode to differentiate between a shorted electrode and low impedance tissue grasped in the jaws of the end effector. The method includes determining the selected electrode is shorted based on a measured electrical parameter received by the control circuit after applying the sub-therapeutic electrical signal and blending monopolar and bipolar RF energy. The method includes determining that the selected electrode is shorted and switching output energy of the RF generator between monopolar and bipolar RF energy.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a compensator can be attachable to an anvil of a fastening instrument. The compensator can comprise a support layer configured to be attached to the anvil and a scaffold attached to the support layer. In at least one embodiment, the scaffold can comprise a plurality of scaffold layers comprised of a biocompatible material and a plurality of cavities, wherein the layers and the cavities can define a matrix favorable to tissue and cellular ingrowth.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier is provided that includes first and second jaws on a distal end of an elongate shaft, a clip advancing assembly extending through the shaft and configured to advance a distal-most clip from a plurality of clips in the shaft into the first and second jaws. The jaws have opposed inward facing surfaces, and each inward facing surface has a clip track defined therein for receiving and guiding legs of a clip into the first and second jaws. The clip track of at least one of the jaws has at least one deflectable clip retention member disposed therein and configured to apply a biasing force to a leg of a clip disposed within the jaws to thereby retain the clip within the jaws and maintain alignment of the clip with respect to the jaws. The clip track of at least one of the jaws may also have at least one recess or protrusion designed to be complementary to and mate with a protrusion or recess in a clip.

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: A laparoscopic stapler for stapling tissue is provided for better anastomosis with less leakage. The laparoscopic stapler comprises a staple housing assembly operable to drive staples toward an anvil assembly to perform tissue stapling, wherein the staple housing assembly comprises a pocket for containing bio-glue so that upon tissue stapling, the bio-glue is released and delivered into tissue clamped between the staple housing assembly and the anvil assembly for tissue gluing.

Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing removably coupled to a tool driver of a robotic surgical system, a shaft extending from the drive housing, an end effector arranged at an end of the shaft, and a computer system. The computer system is programmed to send a command signal to a motor of the tool driver to drive rotation of a drive shaft mounted within the drive housing, monitor torque and rotational motion of the motor with a torque sensor and a rotary encoder, respectively, in communication with the computer system, measure an unexpected change in the torque or the rotational motion of the motor with the torque sensor or the rotary encoder when the surgical tool is manually bailed out by manually rotating the drive shaft and backdriving the motor, report the unexpected change as a bailout signal, and disable the surgical tool once the bailout signal is received.

Abstract: A surgical instrument controls communication capabilities between the surgical instrument and a removeable component. The surgical instrument may determine parameters associated with the surgical instrument and the removable component. Based on the parameters, the surgical instrument determines a level or tier of communication between the surgical instrument and the removable component. The surgical instrument may determine to configure one or more of the following levels: one-way static communication with the component; two-way communication with the component; real-time two-way communication with the component; and communication with a surgical hub.

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: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, an articulation section, an end effector, an articulation connector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector is connected to the articulation section such that the end effector is configured to deflect relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The articulation connector is configured to translate relative to the shaft assembly to deflect the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis. The articulation drive assembly is configured to translate the articulation connector relative to the shaft assembly. The articulation drive assembly includes a rotatable housing and a first lead screw assembly. The first lead screw assembly includes a first half and a second half. The first lead screw assembly is slidably coupled with the shaft assembly and is configured to translate in response to rotation of the rotatable housing.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector having a clamp arm pivotable relative to an ultrasonic blade, an articulation section configured to deflect the end effector, an acoustic waveguide having a distal portion extending along an axis, a clamp arm closure assembly comprising a body configured to actuate in order to drive the pivoting of the clamp arm, and a clamp arm clocking assembly. The clamp arm clocking assembly is capable of driving rotation of the clamp arm about the axis relative to the ultrasonic blade between a first clocked position and a second clocked position. The clamp arm clocking assembly includes a rotating body pivotally coupled with the clamp arm, a translating drive extending through the articulation section, and a rotation driver assembly. The rotation driver is in communication with the translating driver in order to convert translational motion of the translating driver into rotational motion of the rotating body.

Abstract: Various exemplary methods and devices for auto return of articulated end effectors are provided. In general, a surgical device can include an end effector configured to articulate. The device can include an actuator configured to be actuated to move the end effector from an articulated position to an unarticulated position. In at least some embodiments, the actuator can also be configured to be actuated to move the end effector from the unarticulated position to the articulated position. In at least some embodiments, the device can include the actuator and include another actuator configured to rotate the end effector about a longitudinal axis of an elongate shaft having the end effector at a distal end thereof. In at least some embodiments, the device can include the actuator and include another actuator configured to articulate the end effector from the unarticulated position to the articulated position.

Abstract: Surgical methods involving cutting and sealing tissue include affixing a first adjunct material to tissue at a treatment site, such as by stapling the adjunct to tissue. A second adjunct material is applied to at least a portion of the first adjunct material such that the second adjunct material interacts with the first adjunct material to form a seal in an area of the tissue covered by at least one of the first and the second adjunct material. The resulting tissue sealing structure, which includes a combination of the two adjuncts, is believed to be superior to the sealing properties of either adjunct alone.

Abstract: A surgical stapler instrument includes a stapling head assembly that receives a plurality of staples. The staples are configured with features that allow the staples to expand after deployment so that an anastomosis created by the instrument can increase in size after forming. In some versions the staples expand automatically after deployment, and in other versions the staples expand in response to tissue forces imparted upon the staples after deployment. In some versions the staples are configured to be deployed in various patterns that promote expandability of the circular staple line.

Abstract: A surgical stapler, or fastening instrument, may generally comprise a layer, such as a tissue thickness compensator, for example, releasably attached to a fastener cartridge and/or anvil by a flowable attachment portion. The flowable attachment portion may be indefinitely flowable. The flowable attachment portion may be flowable from the time that layer is installed to the fastener cartridge to the time in which the layer is implanted to patient tissue. The flowable attachment portion may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive. The flowable attachment portion may comprise an adhesive laminate comprising a base layer comprising the tissue thickness compensator and an adhesive layer on at least a portion of a surface of the base layer comprising the pressure sensitive adhesive. Articles of manufacture comprising flowable attachment portion and methods of making and using the flowable attachment portion are also described.

Abstract: A replaceable staple cartridge is disclosed which is seatable in a jaw of a surgical stapling instrument. If the staple cartridge is not fully seated in the jaw, the closure of the surgical stapling instrument will fully seat the staple cartridge.