Abstract: A surgical instrument including a shaft including a distal portion and an articulatable portion is disclosed. The articulatable portion, positioned proximal to the distal portion, includes a plurality of joint members. A first articulation cable extends through each first channel of each of the plurality of joint members and a second articulation cable extends through each second channel of each of the plurality of joint members to the distal portion. The first and second articulation cables are transitionable between: (i) an unlocked state, where the first and second articulation cables are free to translate distally and proximally and the plurality of joint members are slidable relative to one another to pivot the distal portion away from a longitudinal axis, and (ii) a locked state, where translation of the first and second articulation cables is locked, causing a position of the distal portion relative to the longitudinal axis to be locked.

Abstract: Various surgical devices are provided having mechanisms for preventing premature actuation of a cutting mechanism. These devices generally include a handle having one or more actuators and an effector disposed at a distal end of the device and configured to grasp tissue. When the end effector is in an open position, a firing actuator can be positioned so that it cannot be actuated by a user. For example, the firing actuator can be obstructed by a shield or arm when the end effector is in the open position. In other embodiments, the firing actuator can be hidden in a recess formed in the closure actuator until the end effector is moved to the closed position. When the end effector is in the closed position, the firing actuator can be engaged to advance a cutting mechanism, thereby cutting the tissue grasped by the end effector.

Abstract: A surgical cutting and fastening system is disclosed including an end effector and an actuation console. The end effector includes an anvil and a firing member. The anvil moves in response to a closure motion from a first drive member. The firing member moves in response to a firing motion from a second drive member. A gear arrangement is configured to transmit the closure motion to the first drive member and the firing motion to the second drive member. The actuation console includes an input interface including a first input and a second input. The first input is configured to communicate the closure motion to the first drive member. The second input is configured to communicate the firing motion to the second drive member. The motor drive system cannot be operated to perform the firing motion until the closure motion has positioned the anvil in the closed position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector as well as a first drive member and a second drive member that are configured to apply actuation motions to the surgical end effector. A drive clutch assembly operably interfaces with the first and second drive members and is configured to move between an engaged position wherein the second drive member is linked to the first drive member and a second disengaged position wherein the first drive member is independently movable. A lock assembly is configured to move between a locked position wherein the second drive member is prevented from moving and an unlocked position wherein the second drive member is movable.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a modular battery powered handheld surgical instrument. The surgical instrument including a battery, a user input sensor, a controller, a radio frequency (RF) drive circuit, an ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic transducer drive circuit, and an end effector. The end effector including an electrode electrically coupled to RF drive circuit, an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, and a sensor to measure tissue parameters. The method includes applying an RF current drive signal to the electrode by the RF drive circuit; applying an ultrasonic drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer by the ultrasonic transducer drive circuit to acoustically excite the ultrasonic blade; controlling intensity, wave shape, and/or frequency of the RF current drive signal and the ultrasonic drive signal on a sensed measure of a tissue or user parameter.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly that releasably attaches to the body assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The body assembly includes a first support structure, a first electrical contact supported by the first support structure, and a first sealing surface. The shaft assembly includes a second support structure, a second electrical contact supported by the second support structure, and a second sealing surface. When the shaft assembly attaches to the body assembly, the first and second electrical contacts electrically couple to establish an electrical connection therebetween, and the first and second sealing surfaces sealingly engage to block fluid from reaching the electrical connection. At least one of the first or second sealing surfaces is movable relative to the respective support structure to facilitate the sealing engagement.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, a power source coupled with the handle assembly, and a control circuit coupled with the handle assembly and the power source. The handle assembly, the power source, and the control circuit are configured to drive an end effector of a shaft assembly coupled with the handle assembly to perform an operation on tissue. The control circuit is configured to receive life deduction event data. The control circuit is configured to determine an end of life for the power source based on the life deduction event data.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly comprising a firing member, an end effector, a closure member, and a shaft including an attachment interface is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly is configured to be attached to a surgical instrument interface by way of the attachment interface. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, and a staple cartridge comprising staples configured to be ejected by the firing member. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw between an open position, a fully-clamped position, and a collapsed position. The end effector further comprises an interconnection between the first jaw and the second jaw defining a rotational axis about which the second iaw is movable relative to the first iaw. The rotational axis is shiftable toward and away from the first iaw as the second iaw is moved between the open position, the fully-clamped position, and the collapsed position.

Abstract: Provided is a system including a surgical instrument comprising a handle assembly comprising a handle; a shaft assembly coupled to the handle assembly; and a flexible circuit. The handle assembly comprises a proximal portion of the flexible circuit and the shaft assembly comprises a distal portion of the flexible circuit; the shaft assembly further comprising: an exterior shaft positioned around the distal portion of the flexible circuit and configured to change position while a sub-portion of the distal portion of the flexible circuit remains stationary; and shaft control electronics comprising a stationary portion and a non-stationary portion, the stationary portion coupled to the distal portion of the flexible circuit and the non-stationary portion coupled to the exterior shaft; wherein the stationary portion of the shaft control electronics is configured to measure a distance to the non-stationary portion of the shaft control electronics as the exterior shaft changes position.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of obtaining a shaft assembly comprising an end effector, attaching the shaft assembly to a handle of a surgical instrument, wherein the handle comprises a trigger operable to actuate a function of the end effector when the shaft assembly is attached to the handle, removing the shaft assembly from the handle, attaching the shaft assembly to an arm of a surgical robot and removing the shaft assembly from the arm is disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument assembly comprising a handle, a shaft, and an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first iaw comprising a tissue-supporting surface defining a plurality of staple cavities defined therein, a second iaw movable relative to the first jaw, a proximal pin coupling the first and second jaws, a first slot configured to receive the proximal pin, a distal pin coupling the jaw and second jaws, and a second slot configured to receive the distal pin. The proximal pin is movable vertically within the first slot. The distal pin is actuatable within the second slot between a first position where the second jaw is in an open position, a second position where the second jaw is in a clamped position, and a third position where the second jaw is in a fully closed position and the second iaw is in contact with the tissue-supporting surface.

Abstract: Surgical systems and methods are provided for controlling actuation and movement of various surgical devices.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a rotatable jaw of an attachment relative to a non-rotatable jaw is disclosed. The method comprises assembling the attachment to a surgical robot, rotating a first rotatable driver of the robot to align the first driver with a first rotatable drive of the attachment, and rotating a second rotatable driver of the robot to align the second driver with a second rotatable drive of the attachment. The method further comprises evaluating the amount of rotation required to align the first driver with the first drive and the amount of rotation required to align the second driver with the second drive, calculating a difference between the amount of rotation of the first driver and the amount of the rotation of the second driver, and determining the position of the rotatable jaw relative to the non-rotatable jaw based on the calculated difference.

Abstract: Surgical end effectors having an empty and missing cartridge lockout are disclosed. The surgical end effectors can comprise a first jaw, a second jaw rotatably coupled to the first jaw, and a multi-function firing member configured to translate during a firing stroke, wherein the firing member comprises a notch. The surgical end effectors can also include a lockout spring comprising a hook. The notch in the firing member can be aligned to receive the hook during the firing stroke unless an unfired staple cartridge is positioned in the first jaw. A sled assembly of the unfired staple cartridge can be positioned to deflect the hook out of alignment with the notch.

Abstract: A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge can include a cartridge body, a plurality of staples, and an implantable layer. The implantable layer can include an inner portion, an outer portion positioned at least partially around the inner portion, and a plurality of passages formed through the outer portion toward the inner portion. The implantable layer can be porous. An implantable layer can include an outer portion including a plurality of fibers. A method of forming an implantable layer for use with a surgical stapler is also disclosed. The method can include forming at least one passage through an outer surface toward an inner portion of the implantable layer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed. The ultrasonic surgical instrument may include: a housing, a motor assembly supported by the housing, a cutting blade, wherein a proximal end of the cutting blade is configured to be removably coupled to the motor assembly, an ultrasonic transducer assembly supported by the housing, an ultrasonic blade, wherein a proximal end of the ultrasonic blade is configured to be removably coupled to the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and an outer sheath configured to support the cutting blade and the ultrasonic blade, wherein a proximal end of the outer sheath is configured to be removably coupled to the housing.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a stapling head assembly and a first locking feature. The stapling head assembly has a cartridge housing, a staple deck, a plurality of staples, a staple driver, a cylindraceous knife, and a trocar. The cartridge housing extends along a longitudinal axis that is configured to removably couple with a portion of a shaft assembly. The staple driver is configured to translate distally from a proximal driver position toward a distal driver position to thereby drive each of the plurality of staples distally from an annular array of staple pockets, respectively, for forming the plurality of staples in a tissue of a patient. The first locking feature is operatively connected to the cartridge housing and configured to removably couple against the portion of the shaft assembly for selectively coupling and decoupling the stapling head assembly relative to the portion of the shaft assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring one or more cables of surgical tools are provided. The systems generally include a surgical tool with an end effector that has at least one function and a drive system that is operably coupled to the end effector and operably coupled to at least one motor. The drive system has at least one cable, and the drive system is configured to drive the at least one function on the end effector through actuation of the at least one cable. A control system is configured to actuate the at least one motor to drive the drive system and to preemptively detect failure of the at least one cable of the drive system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for fluorescence imaging with a minimal area image sensor are disclosed. A system includes an emitter for emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation and an image sensor comprising a pixel array for sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation, wherein the pixel array comprises active pixels and optical black pixels. The system includes a black clamp circuit providing offset control for data generated by the pixel array and a controller comprising a processor in electrical communication with the image sensor and the emitter. The system is such that at least a portion of the pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter comprises one or more of: electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from about 770 nm to about 790 nm; or electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from about 795 nm to about 815 nm.