Abstract: A surgical instrument for use with a robotic system is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a mounting portion, an elongate shaft, an articulation joint, an end effector, and a firing member. The end effector comprises an anvil and an elongate channel configured to receive a cartridge including staples. The anvil comprises a proximal end connected to the elongate channel, an outer surface, an under surface facing the elongate channel, a plurality of forming pockets defined in the undersurface, and a distal end extending below the under surface. The firing member is translatable from a starting position to an ending position to eject the staples from the cartridge during a firing stroke in response to an output motion from the robotic system. The firing member is viewable by a clinician through an opening at a proximal end of the end effector when the firing member is in the starting position.

Abstract: A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first elongate member having a distal portion that supports a plurality of staple-forming pockets, a second elongate member having a distal portion that supports a staple cartridge, and a clamp member movable from an open position to a closed position to releasably clamp the first and second elongate members together. A clamp lockout feature is supported by the first elongate member and is moveable between a lockout position in which the clamp lockout feature prevents closure of the clamp member, and a release position in which the clamp lockout feature permits closure of the clamp member. An actuating feature is supported by the second elongate member and is configured to actuate the clamp lockout feature from the lockout position to the release position in response to approximation of the distal portions of the first and second elongate members.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stapling tissue during surgery are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical stapling system is provided that includes a staple shaft assembly having a staple advancing and forming assembly and a shaft with a plurality of staples, a drive system operably coupled to the staple shaft assembly and operably coupled to at least one motor, and a control system. The drive system can have a plurality of stages of operation that drive the staple advancing and forming assembly to form a staple around tissue. The control system can be configured to actuate the at least one motor to drive the drive system and thereby control movement of the staple advancing and forming assembly and to modify a force applied to the drive system by the at least one motor during at least one stage of operation based on at least one predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, an anvil, an anvil adjustment assembly, a trigger, and a lockout assembly. The stapling head assembly is operable to drive an annular array of staples. The anvil is configured to couple with the stapling head assembly. The anvil adjustment assembly includes a translating member, which translates relative to the body to thereby adjust the longitudinal position of the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. The trigger is operable to actuate the stapling head assembly to thereby drive the annular array of staples through a distal surface of the stapling head assembly toward the anvil. The lockout assembly includes an electrically powered braking feature. In a first state, the lockout assembly is configured to permit translation of the translating member. In a second state, the lockout assembly is configured to prevent translation of the translating member.

Abstract: A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge can comprise a cartridge body comprising a deck and a bottom surface opposite the deck. The staple cartridge can comprise a plurality of staple cavities, wherein each staple cavity extends into the cartridge body from the deck to the bottom surface. Additionally, a plurality of wells can be defined into the staple cartridge from the deck to a lowermost surface of the well. A plurality of staples can be removably positioned in the staple cavities. The staple cartridge can comprise a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured to the cartridge body, wherein the tissue thickness compensator comprises a compensator body and a plurality of extensions extending from the compensator body into the wells, wherein at least one extension is compressed within one of the wells. Each well can surround at least one staple cavity and/or can extend between at least two staple cavities.

Abstract: A buttress applier cartridge assembly includes buttress assemblies and a buttress applier cartridge for use with an end effector of a surgical stapler. The buttress assemblies each include a buttress to support a staple formed therein as well an adhesive for adhering to the end effector. The buttress applier cartridge includes a housing, a platform that extends longitudinally and supports the buttress assemblies, and an opening to accommodate a curved tip of the end effector when clamping the end effector onto the platform to transfer the buttress assemblies to the end effector. A proximal alignment feature of the buttress applier cartridge contacts the end effector to align the end effector with the buttress assemblies prior to attaching the buttress assemblies to the end effector.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member, and a clamp member operable to releasably clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member. A distal portion of the first elongate member supports an anvil surface having a plurality of staple forming pockets. A distal portion of the second elongate member is configured to receive a staple cartridge. A firing assembly of the surgical stapler is translatable from a first longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position to fire the staple cartridge when the first elongate member is clamped against the second elongate member. A retaining assembly of the surgical stapler includes a first retaining member configured to releasably couple a proximal end of the first elongate member with a proximal end of the second elongate member, and a second retaining member configured to releasably retain the firing assembly in the first longitudinal position.

Abstract: A fastener cartridge comprising a cartridge body and unfired fasteners is disclosed. The cartridge body comprises fastener cavities and a deck comprising a variable height tissue compression surface. A longitudinal slot is defined through at least a portion of the variable height tissue compression surface. The fastener cavities comprise a first fastener cavity and a second fastener cavity. The first and second fastener cavities are defined in the variable height tissue compression surface on a first side of the longitudinal slot. The first fastener cavity is laterally offset from the second fastener cavity. The unfired fasteners comprise a first unfired fastener removable positioned in the first fastener cavity and a second unfired fastener removable positioned in the second fastener cavity. The first unfired fastener comprises a first height. The second unfired fastener comprises a second height that is different from the first height.

Abstract: A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement.

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 power system, for powering a surgical instrument including an end effector and a motor configured to generate at least one motion to effectuate the end effector, includes a primary power source configured to supply a first power to operate the surgical instrument, wherein the primary power source is detachable from the surgical instrument, a secondary power source configured to supply a second power to operate the surgical instrument when the primary power source is detached from the surgical instrument, wherein the secondary power source is rechargeable, and wherein the primary power source is configured to charge the secondary power system, and a power management circuit configured to selectively transmit the first power from the primary power source and the secondary power from the secondary power source to operate the surgical instrument.

Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The end effector comprises a shaft defining a longitudinal axis, a first jaw, a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw, a closure member configured to move the second jaw relative to the first jaw, a slot, a first pin, and a second pin. The first jaw comprises a tissue-contacting surface. The first pin is engaged between the first jaw and the second jaw. The closure member is configured to move the first pin to apply a closing force to the second jaw. The second pin extends into the slot. The second jaw is rotatable relative to the first jaw about the second pin. The first pin and the second pin comprise a clamped configuration where the first pin and the second pin are aligned along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A surgical evacuation system for communication between a smoke evacuation device and a filter device through a communication circuit is provided. The surgical evacuation system can include a smoke evacuation device, which can include a pump and a motor operably coupled to the pump. The surgical evacuation system also can include a communication circuit and a filter device in communication with the smoke evacuation device through the communication circuit. The filter device can include a plurality of filter components including filter elements and filter sensors. The filter elements can include a fluid filter, particulate filter, and/or a charcoal filter. The communication circuit is configured to authenticate the filter components, verify a remaining life of at least one of the filter components, update parameters output from the filter components, and record errors output from the filter components.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that includes a motion sensor configured to sense movement of the surgical instrument and a control circuit coupled to the motion sensor. The control circuit is configured to monitor the motion sensor to sense movement of the surgical instrument, transition the surgical instrument to a sleep mode when the surgical instrument has been stationary for a period above a predetermined threshold, and transition the surgical instrument to an operational mode when the surgical instrument has been moved. In the sleep mode the control circuit is configured to place a component of the surgical instrument in a low-power state. In the operational mode the control circuit is configured to activate the component of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A method for treating tissue includes applying an energy modality to tissue at an amplitude, measuring tissue impedance of the tissue, modulating application of the energy modality based on the measured tissue impedance, and ceasing application of the energy modality when a termination parameter is met.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes an anvil half having an anvil channel member and a cartridge half having a cartridge channel member. A latching lever is coupled to the cartridge channel member and is pivotable between a closed position in which the lever fixes the anvil channel member relative to the cartridge channel member, and an open position in which the lever permits relative movement between the channel members. A locking member coupled to a proximal portion of the cartridge half is movable between a locked position when the lever is in the closed position and an unlocked position when the lever is in the open position. In the locked position the locking member captures the projection and locks the anvil half proximal portion to the cartridge half proximal portion. In the unlocked position the locking member releases the projection and permits separation of the proximal portions.

Abstract: A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement.

Abstract: A surgical shaft assembly includes a slip ring assembly. The slip ring assembly has a first connector, a first conductor mounted on the first connector, and a first water-proof insulative layer on the first conductor. The slip ring assembly has a second connector rotatable relative to the first connector, a second conductor mounted on the second connector, and a second water-proof insulative layer on the second conductor. The slip ring assembly also has a dielectric layer located between the first water-proof insulative layer and the second water-proof insulative layer. The first conductor and the second conductor are configured to form a capacitive channel therebetween.

Abstract: Circular stapling instruments and anvil assemblies. The anvil assemblies may have collapsible anvil support members that may be inserted through an opening in a patient and then expanded to be attached to an anvil plate assembly that has a staple-forming surface thereon. The anvil support member is attachable to the anvil plate assembly in such a way that when the anvil assembly is coupled to the stapling head of a circular stapler, the staple-forming surface is in substantial registry with the staples supported in the stapling head. A variety of different anvil support members and anvil plate assemblies are disclosed.