Abstract: Various trocars and trocar supports are provided for allowing an insufflation port on the trocar to be coupled through the trocar support to an insufflation fluid. In one embodiment, the trocar includes a housing, a cannula extending through the housing, and an insufflation port projecting from the housing. A trocar support is provided having an opening that receives the insufflation port on the housing such that the insufflation port is unobtrusive during use and can be connected and disconnected rapidly.

Abstract: Various exemplary surgical adjuncts with medicants affected by activator materials are provided. In general, an adjunct is provided with at least one medicant that is configured to be activated by an activator material. The adjunct can be delivered to a tissue of a patient, where the adjunct can be implanted. Various activator materials can be configured to activate the at least one medicant retained by the adjunct, the activation causing any one or more of a variety of actions. For example, the at least one medicant can be activated so as to yield at least one of a signal and/or an effect on the adjunct.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm assembly, and a detent assembly. The clamp arm assembly includes a clamp arm pivotably coupled with the body at a pivot assembly. The clamp arm is operable to compress tissue against the ultrasonic blade. The detent assembly is configured to provide tactile resistance to pivotal movement of the clamp arm relative to the body beyond a predefined pivot angle. The detent assembly is configured to permit pivotal movement of the clamp arm relative to the body beyond a predefined pivot angle upon application of a force sufficient to overcome the tactile resistance.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly configured to be attached to and detached from a powered surgical interface is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly comprises an attachment interface, a first closure member, a second closure member, a firing member actuatable independently of the first and second closure members, a shaft, and an end effector. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open position, a fully-closed position defining a first gap height, and a collapsed position defining a second gap height. The first closure member is configured to move the second jaw into the fully-closed position and the second closure member is configured to move the second jaw into the collapsed position. The firing member comprises a first flange configured to engage the first jaw and a second flange configured to engage said second jaw.

Abstract: Electrosurgical instruments with passive articulation and thermal insulation are described herein. Such instruments can provide the advantages associated with passive articulation while protecting tissue and other structures from unintentional thermal damage when an end effector is pressed thereagainst to effect articulation while at an elevated temperature due to use. In one embodiment, such an instrument can include a distal end effector with jaws to clamp tissue, a proximal actuating portion, an energy delivery surface that contacts grasped tissue, and a passive articulating portion disposed between the end effector and the actuating portion. The articulating portion can be configured to selectively permit movement of the end effector relative to the actuating portion in response to external forces acting on the end effector. Further, an outward-facing surface of at least one of the first and second jaws can be covered in a thermally insulating material.

Abstract: A surgical tool configured to be interchangeably attached to a first controller interface and a second controller interface that is different from the first controller interface is disclosed.

Abstract: Various surgical devices and methods are provided for monitoring and regulating tissue compression and cutting to improve tissue effect. In general, these devices include a handle portion, an elongate shaft, and an effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft and configured to engage tissue. In one embodiment, one or more sensors can be positioned at various locations on the device and can determine a force applied to tissue engaged by the end effector. When the force exceeds a threshold, a notification signal can be issued to a user. In another embodiment, a sensor can determine an amount of current moving between jaws of the end effector and a controller can slow a speed of the cutting element when the sensed current exceeds a threshold amount.

Abstract: A surgical system comprising a housing assembly, a shaft extending from the housing assembly, a closure system, an end effector extending from the shaft, and a rotation system is disclosed. The housing assembly comprises a motor. The end effector is configurable in an unclamped configuration and a clamped configuration. The end effector is moved into the clamped configuration by the closure system. The end effector comprises a staple cartridge and a firing member. The staple cartridge comprises a plurality staples. The firing member is configured to move through the staple cartridge and deploy the plurality of staples. The rotation system is configured to rotate the end effector about a rotation axis when the end effector is in the unclamped configuration and prevent the end effector from rotating about the rotation axis when the end effector is in the clamped configuration.

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

Abstract: Various robotic surgical systems are disclosed. A robotic surgical system comprises a first motor; a second motor; and a robotic surgical tool. The robotic surgical tool comprises: a first rotary driver configured to receive a first rotary motion from the first motor; a second rotary driver configured to receive a second rotary motion from the second motor; an output drive; and a shifter configured to selectively couple the first rotary driver and the second rotary driver to the output drive. The first rotary driver and the second rotary driver are configured to concurrently supply torque to the output drive in a high-torque operating state.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, which comprises a first jaw and a second jaw transitionable between open and closed configurations. The first jaw comprises a first grasping surface that forms a first electrode configured to deliver radio frequency (RF) energy and the second jaw comprises a second grasping surface that forms a second electrode configured to receive the RF energy. Each jaw comprises grasping features that are configured to cooperate with the opposing grasping features. The surgical instrument further includes a tissue adhering portion disposed on an exterior of the end effector. The end effector is attached to the shaft by an articulation joint comprising a multi-axial range of movement.

Abstract: Adjuncts for use with surgical instruments, such as staplers, are provided. In one embodiment, an adjunct can include a plurality of suction members configured to attach the adjunct to an end effector jaw of a surgical stapler using a suction force. The suction members can be configured to generate the suction force when compressed. The suction members can be further configured to release the suction force to decouple the adjunct from the end effector jaw, permitting deployment of the adjunct at a treatment site. In certain embodiments, the suction members can include a plurality of air pockets formed in the bulk of the adjunct or within protrusions extending outward from a surface of the adjunct. The air pockets can be in communication with corresponding openings allowing air to escape the air pockets when compressed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a robotic surgical system that includes a control circuit configured to detect a condition at an end effector during a closure phase. The control circuit detects a condition at an end effector during a closure phase. The control sets command velocity of a motor coupled to a displacement member coupled to the end effector based on the detected condition at the end effector during the closure phase. The control circuit fires the displacement member at the set command velocity and detects a condition at the end effector during a firing phase. The control circuit sets command velocity of the motor based on the condition detected at the end effector during the firing phase.

Abstract: An end effector for use with an adapter for a surgical instrument. The end effector includes first and second jaws that are pivotally coupled to each other and are movable between open and closed positions by a dynamic clamping assembly that is selectively movable between a starting position and an ending position relative to the first and second jaws. A first positive jaw opening feature is provided on the first jaw and a second positive jaw opening feature is provided on the second jaw. The first and second positive jaw opening features are configured for contact by the dynamic clamping assembly as the dynamic clamping assembly is moved in an opening direction to apply opening motions to the first and second jaws. The first and second positive jaw opening features may be longitudinally offset from each other.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for hyperspectral imaging in a light deficient environment 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. The system includes a controller comprising a processor in electrical communication with the image sensor and the emitter, wherein the controller synchronizes timing of the pulses of electromagnetic radiation during a blanking period of the image sensor. 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 513 nm to about 545 nm, electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from about 565 nm to about 585 nm, or electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from about 900 nm to about 1000 nm.

Abstract: An ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus is disclosed including a housing including an actuator, an outer tube, an ultrasonic waveguide, an ultrasonically actuated blade, a clamp member pivotable with respect to the blade, and a force limiting mechanism including a first compression spring having a first spring constant, positioned between the actuator and the clamp arm, and a second compression spring having a second spring constant less than the first spring constant. The first compression spring transfers a force at a first rate as a function of a motion of the actuator to pivotably move the clamp member toward the blade. The second compression spring transfers a force as a function of the tissue thickness positioned between the clamp member and the blade. At least one of the first and second compression springs is pre-compressed to provide a preload less than the respective spring constant.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a control unit and a staple cartridge including a transponder. The control unit is configured to transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and to receive a second wireless signal from the transponder to determine one of a first electronic state and a second electronic state of the transponder based on the second wireless signal.

Abstract: Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. Three dimensional adjuncts for use with a surgical stapling assembly and methods for manufacturing the same are also provided.

Abstract: A drug-eluting self-retaining suture comprises a filament, a plurality of retainers, and a drug impregnated in or coated on the filament. The shape and distribution of retainers modifies the in vivo release kinetics of the drug. The drug release kinetics may be modified uniformly or region by region. The self-retaining suture may for example be used for reattaching severed nerves and release nerve growth factor or other regeneration accelerating agents into the region of the nerve injury.