Abstract: A stapling instrument for use with a robotic surgical system is disclosed. The stapling instrument comprises a housing, a shaft, a loading unit, a firing drive, an articulation drive, and a rotation drive. The housing comprises a first, second, and third rotatable members. The loading unit comprises a staple cartridge and a firing drive. The firing drive is operably coupled to the first rotatable member and configured to convert rotary motion of the first rotatable member to linear motion to eject staples from the staple cartridge. The articulation drive is operably coupled to the second rotatable member and configured to convert rotary motion of the second rotatable member to linear motion to articulate a first jaw and a second jaw of the loading unit. The rotation drive is configured to rotate the shaft about a longitudinal axis and is operably coupled to the third rotatable member.

Abstract: A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member, a motor coupled to the displacement member, a display, and a control circuit coupled to the motor and the display. The control circuit is configured to measure distance traveled by the displacement member over a predetermined period of time, cause the display to present a selection menu indicia that is indicative of a velocity mode, receive a user input corresponding to the velocity mode, and set the motor velocity of the displacement member based on the measured distance traveled by the displacement member over the predetermined period of time and the user input.

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 surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an electrical contact assembly. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector includes a channel assembly and a cartridge assembly configured to selectively couple with the channel assembly. The channel assembly includes an electrically activated component. The electrical contact assembly is configured to electrically couple a power source with the electrically activated component of the cartridge assembly. The electrical contact assembly includes a first conductive plate associated with the channel assembly, a second conductive plate associated with the cartridge assembly, and a dielectric cover. The dielectric cover is associated with either the first conductive plate or the second conductive plate. The dielectric cover is positioned between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate when the cartridge assembly is coupled with the channel assembly.

Abstract: An end effector for a surgical clip applier includes a housing, and jaws that extend past a distal end of the housing and include opposed first and second jaw members each comprising an independent structure movable relative to the other. The first jaw member defines a first inner surface and the second jaw member defines a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface. An actuation mechanism is operatively coupled to the jaw members and operable to move the jaws between an open position and a closed position. The first and second inner surfaces remain substantially parallel to each other as the jaws move between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: Anvils for surgical devices designed to cut and staple tissue. The anvils include tissue stop arrangements for positioning the tissue to be cut and stapled in the device so that the tissue is stapled prior to being cut. The anvils are moved between open and closed positions by a corresponding closure member. The tissue stops and/or closure members are configured to avoid adjacent tissue from being pinched between the closure member and tissue stops when the anvil is in a closed position.

Abstract: Various embodiments are direct to a surgical instrument comprising and end effector, an articulating shaft and an ultrasonic transducer assembly. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade. The articulating shaft may extend proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis and may comprise a proximal shaft member and a distal shaft member pivotably coupled at an articulation joint. The ultrasonic transducer assembly may comprise an ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic transducer assembly may be positioned distally from the articulation joint.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system for providing an electrosurgical signal to a patient is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes a control circuit, wherein the control circuit is programmed to: provide the electrosurgical signal to a first electrode and a second electrode, receive a plurality of input variables, wherein the plurality of input variables are indicative of a short being either present or absent between the first electrode and the second electrode, and apply a short detection algorithm to the plurality of input variables to indicate either a short circuit or no short circuit between the first electrode and the second electrode during the provision of the electrosurgical signal. The plurality of input variables may include at least one impedance level between the first electrode and the second electrodes during the provision of the electrosurgical signal. The short detection algorithm applied may include a fuzzy logic algorithm, a neural network algorithm, or neuro-fuzzy algorithm.

Abstract: A barbed suture including a body with barbs on the periphery, a pointed end, and an anchor at one end to resist movement of the suture in the direction of the pointed end is provided. One or more limbs on the anchor may be provided, which may be arcuate, of varying lengths, and of varying distribution about the periphery of the suture body. Other anchor designs are provided. Methods of placing single-directional and bi-directional barbed sutures to approximate the tissue on each side of a wound and to position and support tissue in the absence of a wound, as in cosmetic surgery, are provided, and may include terminal J-stitches or S-stitches. Methods of placement may be made with sharp, pointed ends, which may be needles, or insertion devices. Sinusoidal patterns of sutures that have amplitudes generally perpendicular to the resultant holding force of the suture are provided.

Abstract: An ultrasonic medical instrument is disclosed including a single medical ultrasonic blade having a proximal blade portion and a distal blade portion. The proximal blade portion has a first transverse area and the distal blade portion has a second transverse area. The second transverse area is smaller than the first transverse area. The distal blade portion includes at least two longitudinal vibration nodes and is more bendable than the proximal blade portion. A user-actuated articulated sheath surrounding at least a portion of the single medical ultrasonic blade comprises a plurality of support members, each of the support members extending inwardly from the user-actuated articulated sheath and contacting the distal blade portion at one of the at least two longitudinal vibration nodes such that articulation of the user-actuated articulated sheath causes the distal blade portion to articulate at the at least two longitudinal vibration nodes.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a shaft, an end effector rotatable relative to said shaft about an articulation joint, an articulation system configured to rotate the end effector, and an articulation lock. The articulation lock is configured to selectively couple the articulation system to a frame of the shaft. In various embodiments, the surgical instrument further comprises a lock plate movable within the shaft frame. In such embodiments, the articulation lock is configured to lock the articulation system to the lock plate.

Abstract: Methods for operating a surgical end effector that includes first and second jaws that are pivotally coupled together and are selectively movable between a fully open position and fully closed position. At least one method includes moving a dynamic clamping assembly through a closure stroke to apply a closure motion to the first and second jaws to move the first and second jaws from the fully open position to the fully closed position. A method also includes moving the dynamic clamping assembly through a firing stroke to perform a surgical function until the dynamic clamping assembly reaches an ending position within the closed first and second jaws. A method also includes moving the dynamic clamping assembly in direction configured to contact at least one positive jaw opening feature on at least one of the first and second jaws with to move the first and second jaws to the fully open position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing member is disclosed. The firing member comprises one or more cams configured to position the first jaw relative to the second jaw. In various instances, one of the cams is oriented at a non-parallel angle relative to another cam in order to reduce strain within the cams. In certain instances, at least one of the cams comprises a leading projection and a trailing projection positioned behind the leading projection which are configured to engage the same jaw. The ends of the leading projection and the trailing projection are not attached to one another and can move relative to one another. In some instances, one or more of the cams has a plastically deformable or wearable feature configured to facilitate multiple uses of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A surgical fastener applier having a handle and a fastener housing extending from the handle. The housing contains at least one anvil movable within the staple housing, the anvil has a proximal position and a distal position. When in the distal position a distal end of the anvil extends distal to the distal end of the staple housing. The housing contains a plurality of surgical fasteners each of which in the shape of a loop. At least one of the fasteners is placed around a portion of the anvil when in the distal position. The applier has a first mechanism for moving the anvil distally after a fastener has been deployed, and a second mechanism for moving the anvil distally after a fastener has been deployed. The second means is independent of the first means.

Abstract: An electrical ablation apparatus including first, second, and third electrodes is disclosed. Each of the first and second electrode is configured to be selectively extended outside and selectively retracted inside a distal end of its respective lumen and is configured to diverge from its respective longitudinal axis when extended outside the distal end of its respective lumen. The third electrode is non-rotatable and is configured to be selectively extended outside and selectively retracted inside a distal end of its respective lumen. The first, second and third electrodes are extendable into a tissue treatment region to create a first necrotic zone having a first shape. At least one of the first electrode or the second electrode is selectively rotatable within its respective lumen to create a second necrotic zone having a second shape. The third electrode is configured to positionally secure the electrical ablation apparatus at the tissue treatment region.

Abstract: An adapter for use with an electromechanical surgical instrument. The adapter includes a shaft assembly and a surgical end effector that is selectively articulatable and rotatable relative to the shaft assembly through a range of articulated and rotated positions. The adapter includes sensing and control arrangements for monitoring and maintaining the end effector in articulated and/or rotated positions.

Abstract: A medical instrument is disclosed. The medical instrument includes at least one electrical contact element, a battery, a radio frequency (RF) generation circuit coupled to and operated by the battery and operable to generate an RF drive signal and to provide the RF drive signal to the at least one electrical contact, and a battery discharge circuit coupled to the battery. A processor is coupled to the battery discharge circuit and a memory is coupled to the processor. The memory stores machine executable instructions that when executed cause the processor to monitor activation of the RF generation circuit and disable the RF generation circuit when the RF drive signal is fired a predetermined number of times. The medical instrument may include an activation switch and/or a disposal switch supported by the housing.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include various ultrasonic surgical instruments. At least one disclosed surgical instrument includes a waveguide including a blade and a transducer base plate. The transducer base plate may be coupled to the waveguide to define a tapered joint at an interface between the waveguide and the transducer base plate. The transducer base plate may include first and second sides defining corresponding first and second flat faces configured to receive first and second piezoelectric elements. The first and second piezoelectric elements are configured to operate in a D31 mode.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for stapling tissue. The apparatus includes an anvil and a trocar selectively coupled with the anvil. The anvil may have an inner opening and a plurality of staple pockets aligned around a surface of the anvil. The anvil may be inserted trans-orally through an esophagus prior to being coupled with the trocar. The trocar may include a shaft and a locking assembly. The locking assembly may secure the anvil in position relative to the trocar when the locking assembly is in the expanded position. The apparatus may also include an alignment assembly to align the staple pockets of the anvil relative to the apparatus. The apparatus may also include an introduction assembly to guide the anvil through the esophagus.