Abstract: A surgical staple. The staple can define a seamless unitary piece. In various instances, the staple can be formed and/or stamped from a sheet of material. The staple can include a base and staple legs. A staple drive surface can be integrally formed in the base, and a sled can directly contact the staple drive surface to directly drive the staple.

Abstract: A fastener cartridge can comprise a cartridge body including a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities, wherein each fastener cavity includes an opening in the deck. The fastener cartridge can further comprise a plurality of fasteners, wherein each fastener is at least partially stored within a fastener cavity and a firing member movable between a first position and a fired position to eject the fasteners from the fastener cavities. The firing member can comprise a ramp configured to directly engage the fasteners and lift each fastener between an unlifted position and a lifted position, and wherein the lifted position is located completely above the deck. The fastener cartridge can further comprise an anvil wherein the ramp is configured to overdrive the fasteners against the anvil.

Abstract: A fastener cartridge for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The fastener cartridge and/or surgical instrument can include an anvil. The fastener cartridge can comprise a cartridge body including a deck and a plurality of fastener cavities. The fastener cartridge can comprise fasteners at least partially stored within the fastener cavities, and a firing member configured to move the fasteners toward the anvil. The firing member can comprise a first ramp and a second ramp configured to lift the fasteners toward the anvil, and means for extending the first ramp relative to the second ramp. The fastener cartridge can further comprise means for retracting the first ramp relative to the second ramp. In various instances, the first ramp and/or the second ramp can directly lift the fasteners. In certain instances, the fastener cartridge can include fastener drivers which are directly lifted by the first ramp and/or the second ramp.

Abstract: A surgical staple and staple cartridge for removably storing the surgical staple. The staple can be formed and/or stamped from a sheet of material. The staple can include a base and staple legs extending from the base. The base can be non-linear and/or laterally contoured intermediate the staple legs.

Abstract: A surgical staple and staple cartridge for removably storing the surgical staple. The surgical staple can comprise a plurality of separate and discrete staple drive surfaces. The staple drive surfaces can be configured to move along parallel paths in the staple cartridge. Additionally, the staple cartridge can comprise a staple cavity, and a plurality of lift planes can extend through the staple cavity.

Abstract: Surgical instruments and end effectors therefor are disclosed. In various implementations, the surgical instrument includes a surgical end effector that comprises a lower jaw and an upper jaw that are supported for movable travel toward and away from each other. The instrument may further include a firing member that is operably supported for selective operable travel within the surgical end effector. The instrument may also include a first jaw closure system that operably interfaces with the lower jaw and is configured to selectively move the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw. A second jaw closure system operably interfaces with the upper jaw and is configured to selectively move the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw. A firing system operably interfaces with the firing member and is configured to apply firing motions to the firing member to move the firing member within the end effector.

Abstract: Surgical methods for cutting and fastening tissue are disclosed. The methods may include employing a surgical end effector that includes a pair of jaws wherein an upper jaw is movable relative to a lower jaw that supports a surgical fastener cartridge. The methods may include manipulating the end effector to a compact configuration to facilitate its insertion through a trocar port and then manipulating and actuating the end effector to treat target tissue.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that has an articulatable end effector that includes a second jaw that is selectively moveable in a first direction relative to a first jaw upon application of a closing motion to the second jaw from a closure system and is further movable in a second direction relative to the first jaw upon application of an opening motion to the second jaw from the closure system. An elongated shaft assembly is coupled to the end effector and defines a longitudinal tool axis. The end effector is selectively articulatable in the first and second directions relative to the longitudinal tool axis upon application of articulation motions to the end effector. The end effector may include a firing member that is operable in response to firing motions applied thereto from a firing system. The closing system and firing system may be selectively independently operable from each other.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that can comprise a surgical end effector that is configured to perform at least one surgical procedure upon application of at least one control motion thereto. The surgical instrument may further include an elongated shaft assembly that defines a longitudinal tool axis and is operably coupled to the surgical end effector. The elongated shaft assembly may operably support at least one control component and include a flexible articulation portion for facilitating articulation of the surgical end effector relative to the longitudinal tool axis. The flexible articulation portion may comprise a longitudinally-extending, elongated articulation spine that includes a plurality of ribs that extend from each lateral side of the articulation spine. Each rib may include at least one anti-twist feature for preventing the flexible articulation portion from twisting about the longitudinal tool axis during articulation of the surgical end effector.

Abstract: A surgical instrument equipped with a coupler arrangement for coupling end effectors to an elongated shaft assembly of the surgical instrument. The end effectors may include a pair of jaws in the form of a carrier supporting a surgical staple cartridge and an anvil. The anvil is movable relative to the carrier in opening and closing directions. The end effector may include an articulation joint that facilitates pivotal travel of the carrier and anvil as a unit relative to the elongated shaft assembly in the same directions in which the anvil is opened and closed relative to the carrier.

Abstract: A fastener cartridge can comprise a cartridge body including a plurality of fastener cavities and a plurality of fasteners removably stored therein. The fastener cartridge can further comprise a firing member including a first ramp surface and a second ramp surface which can be configured to co-operatively lift and eject the fasteners from the fastener cavities. The first ramp surface can initially lift the fasteners. The second ramp surface can then complete the lift of the fasteners. In such circumstances, the fasteners can be transferred from the first ramp surface to the second ramp surface of the firing member. In various circumstances, the first ramp surface and/or the second ramp surface can directly engage the fasteners. In other circumstances, the fastener cartridge can include fastener drivers which are directly lifted by the first ramp surface and/or the second ramp surface. The fastener cartridge can further include an anvil.

Abstract: A surgical staple and staple cartridge for removably storing the surgical staple. The surgical staple can comprise staple legs positioned in a staple leg plane and a staple base. An intermediate portion of the staple base can be laterally offset from the staple leg plane, and/or the center of mass of the staple can be laterally offset from the staple leg plane. The surgical staple can be formed and/or stamped from a sheet of material.

Abstract: Surgical instruments and end effectors therefor are disclosed. In various implementations, the surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft assembly that defines a longitudinal tool axis. An elongated channel of an end effector is movably coupled to the elongated shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel about a pivot axis that is transverse to the longitudinal tool axis upon application of articulation motions thereto. The elongated channel may be configured to operably support a surgical staple cartridge. An anvil assembly is pivotally coupled to the elongated channel for selective pivotal travel relative thereto between open and closed positions about the pivot axis upon application of closing and opening motions thereto. In some implementations, the anvil assembly comprises a two part assembly.

Abstract: A method for determining motional branch current in an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic surgical device over multiple frequencies of a transducer drive signal. The method may comprise, at each of a plurality of frequencies of the transducer drive signal, oversampling a current and voltage of the transducer drive signal, receiving, by a processor, the current and voltage samples, and determining, by the processor, the motional branch current based on the current and voltage samples, a static capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer and the frequency of the transducer drive signal.

Abstract: A needle targeting apparatus comprises a sense head configured to locate an implanted device and a guide. The guide is associated with the sense head and comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, and a support member. The support member comprises a channel extending through the support member that provides access to an injection site. In some versions, a needle targeting apparatus comprises a locating feature, an alignment feature, and a support feature. The locating feature is configured to locate an implanted device. The alignment feature is configured to align a syringe needle with the implanted device. The support feature is configured to support a syringe upon insertion of the syringe needle into the implanted device. In some versions, a needle targeting apparatus comprises a sense head configured to locate an implanted device and a guide. The guide is configured to identify the center of the sense head.

Abstract: A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. Various embodiments are configured to be operably attached to a robotic system to receive actuation/control motions therefrom.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, methods for controlling electrical power provided to tissue via a surgical device may comprise providing a drive signal. A power of the drive signal may be proportional to a power provided to the tissue via the surgical device. The methods may also comprise periodically receiving indications of an impedance of the tissue and applying a first composite power curve to the tissue, wherein applying the first composite power curve to the tissue comprises. Applying the first composite power curve to the tissue may comprise modulating a first predetermined number of first composite power curve pulses on the drive signal; and for each of the first composite power curve pulses, determining a pulse power and a pulse width according to a first function of the impedance of the tissue The methods may also comprise applying a second composite power curve to the tissue.

Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapler can comprise a cartridge deck and a plurality of staples at least partially positioned within the cartridge deck. In use, the staples can be supported by a first jaw of the surgical stapler and deformed by a second jaw. As the staples are being deformed, the cartridge deck can be pushed, or slid, downwardly relative to the staples.

Abstract: A device for manipulating a magnetic coupling force across tissue in response to a monitored coupling force is described. The device includes a magnetic field source assembly, a positioning assembly operatively connected to the magnetic field force assembly, and a magnetic coupling force monitor. The magnetic field source assembly includes magnets that provide an external magnetic field source for providing a magnetic field across tissue. The positioning assembly adjusts the position of the magnetic field source. The magnetic field creates a magnetic coupling force between the external magnetic field source and an object positioned in use in a patient during a procedure, wherein the object has or is associated with an internal magnetic field.

Abstract: A surgical instrument having a transmission assembly, a transducer, and a handle assembly is configured for coupling the transmission assembly to the handle assembly using a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is operable to restrict the rotational movement of an actuator coupling member and the transducer relative to the handle assembly. The locking mechanism may also be operable to lock a trigger of the handle assembly in a first position. An inner tubular actuating member of the transmission assembly may be threadably attachable to the actuator coupling member or the actuator coupling member may include a latching mechanism to couple to a flared portion of the inner tubular actuating member. A waveguide of the transmission assembly may also be threadably attachable to the transducer. In one alternative, the trigger may be configured to operate the locking mechanism, either in the first position or when pivoted distally to a third position.