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

Abstract: A staple cartridge is disclosed. The staple cartridge can have a longitudinal axis and a cartridge body having a deck, wherein a plurality of staple cavities can be defined in the cartridge body. The staple cavities can be arranged in a plurality of patterns, and the patterns can include a first pattern and a second pattern longitudinally offset from the first pattern. The second pattern can be different than the first pattern. The first pattern can consist of a longitudinally-repetitive pattern of angularly-oriented staple cavities and/or the second pattern can consist of parallel staple cavities.

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 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: 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: 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.

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: An apparatus includes a body assembly, an end effector, and a firing assembly. The body includes a handle portion and a shaft portion. The end effector includes a staple driver. The firing assembly includes a driver actuator and a trigger. The driver actuator is configured to actuate the staple driver. The driver actuator is slidably housed within the shaft portion. The trigger includes a lever and an integral spring member. The lever is pivotally coupled to the handle portion via a pivot boss of the handle portion. The trigger is configured to pivot between a first position and a second position to slide the driver actuator within the shaft portion, to thereby actuate the staple driver. The integral spring member is at least partially housed within a spring channel of the handle portion and is configured to resiliently bias the trigger toward the first position.

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: 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 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 instrument. The surgical instrument includes an elongated channel configured to support a staple cartridge, an anvil pivotably connected to the elongated channel, a knife mechanically coupled to the staple cartridge, an electric motor and a control circuit electrically connected to the electric motor. The control circuit is configured to change a firing motion a first way based on a first value of a projected peak firing force and a second way based on a second value of the projected peak firing force value.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes an outer sheath and a motorized driving mechanism. The body assembly is configured to actuate the driving mechanism. The end effector includes a staple deck, an anvil, a first staple driver, and a second staple driver. The first staple driver is configured to fire a first annular array of staples of the plurality of staples against the anvil to deform the first annular array of staples at a first compressed staple height. The second staple driver is configured to fire a second annular array of staples of the plurality of staples against the anvil to deform the second annular array of staples at a second compressed staple height independent of the first staple driver. The first compressed staple height and the second compressed staple height are different.

Abstract: End effectors with increased clip loading capacity include those configured to dispense arcuate surgical clips. Such end effectors may comprise: a housing; and first and second arcuate jaw members protruding distally from the housing. Each arcuate jaw member has a curved profile and is shaped to receive an arcuate surgical clip having a complementary curved profile therebetween. Surgical tools may comprise the end effectors operably coupled to the distal end of an elongate shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an auto-tensioning feature. The handle assembly includes a body and a plunger. The shaft assembly includes an external sheath that is fixed to the handle body and an interior shaft that is coupled to the plunger. The interior shaft is slidable relative to the external sheath. The end effector is configured to encompass a bodily lumen and includes a flexible member extending distally from the interior shaft. A first coupling element is fixed to the distal tip of the flexible member. A second coupling element is fixed to the external sheath. The first and second coupling elements are magnetically attracted to each other and are biased toward each other such that the flexible member defines an adjustable loop. The auto-tensioning feature is configured to bias the plunger portion proximally relative to the handle body.

Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing having an input shaft and a drive cable capstan arranged within the drive housing. The input shaft includes a drive gear and the drive cable capstan includes a driven gear intermeshed with the drive gear such that rotation of the input shaft rotates the drive cable capstan. An elongate shaft extends from the drive housing, and an end effector is operatively coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft. A drive cable is coupled to the drive cable capstan and extends to the end effector. A spring assembly includes a winder drum and a constant force spring extending between the winder drum and the input shaft. The constant force spring provides a constant torque force that resists rotation of the input shaft and thereby prevents the drive cable from slackening.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument further comprises an ultrasonic blade extending along the longitudinal axis. The ultrasonic blade is coupled to the transducer and comprises a body and a treatment region. The body comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a bottom surface. The distal end of the body is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer. The treatment region extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The surgical instrument further comprises a protective sheath disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the ultrasonic blade.