Abstract: A surgical stapler including an anvil, a staple cartridge, and a buttress material removably retained to the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge can include at least one staple removably stored therein which can, when deployed, or fired, therefrom, contact the buttress material and remove the buttress material from the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the anvil can include at least one lip and/or groove configured to removably retain the buttress material to the anvil until deformable members extending from the surgical staple are bent by the anvil and are directed toward and contact the buttress material.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body assembly, an acoustic waveguide, an ultrasonic blade, and a liquid dispensing feature. The ultrasonic blade is positioned distally relative to the body assembly. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide. The liquid dispensing feature is positioned distally relative to the body assembly. The liquid dispensing feature is positioned adjacent to the ultrasonic blade. The liquid dispensing feature is configured to deliver a flow of cooling liquid to the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an indicator assembly. The end effector includes a stationary component and a movable component. The indicator assembly includes a translating member and an indicator member. The translating member translates relative to the body in response to movement of the movable component relative to the stationary component. The indicator member moves from a first position toward a second position. The indicator member includes an integral resilient feature configured to bias the indicator member toward the first position. The translating member drives the indicator member toward the second position in response to movement of the movable component relative to the stationary component in a first direction. The resilient feature drives the indicator member toward the first position in response to movement of the movable component relative to the stationary component in a second direction.

Abstract: A fastener cartridge comprising a cartridge body, a plurality of fasteners, a longitudinal knife slot defined in the cartridge body, and a circuit comprising a plurality of sub-circuits extending across the longitudinal knife slot is disclosed. The longitudinal knife slot is configured to receive a tissue cutting knife. The plurality of sub-circuits comprises a first sub-circuit and a second sub-circuit. The circuit produces a first voltage in response to an applied current when the first sub-circuit and the second sub-circuit are intact. The circuit produces a second voltage in response to the applied current as the tissue cutting knife is advanced distally through the longitudinal knife slot. The first voltage is different than the second voltage.

Abstract: A surgical tool assembly that has a first jaw and a second jaw that is movable relative to the first jaw. A firing member assembly is configured to move distally from a starting position. The firing member assembly includes a first firing element and a second firing element that is configured to move between a locked position wherein the second firing element is in locking engagement with a lockout portion of the first jaw to prevent the firing member assembly from moving distally from the starting position upon application of a firing motion thereto and an unlocked position. The firing member assembly is configured to prevent an unlocking load from being applied to an attachment portion of the second firing element upon application of the firing motion thereto when the second firing element is in the locked position.

Abstract: Various exemplary methods, systems, and devices for near field communication (NFC) between a surgical instrument and a robotic surgical system are provided. In general, a surgical tool is configured to move between different modes of communication with a robotic surgical system to which the tool is releasably and replaceably coupled. The different modes of communication are detectable by the robotic surgical system by the tool's frequency of NFC with the robotic surgical system. The tool includes a mechanism configured to be manipulated by a user of the tool to move the tool between the different modes of communication. The tool operating in a first mode of communication indicates to the robotic surgical system that the tool is operating in a normal state. The tool operating in each of one or more additional modes of communication indicates that the tool is operating in an error state.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument can include an end effector, comprising an anvil and a staple cartridge. The surgical instrument can further include a shaft defining a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can also include an articulation joint, wherein the end effector is rotatably connected to the shaft about the articulation joint between an unarticulated position and at least one articulated position. The surgical instrument can include means for adjusting the length of a firing stroke as a function of the degree in which the end effector is articulated relative to the longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument can include a sensor configured to defect shifting of lateral portions of a flexible firing bar that extends through the articulation joint. Additionally or alternatively, the surgical instrument can include a relief feature configured to accommodate shifting of lateral portions of a flexible firing bar.

Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical instrument includes an anvil with at least one staple pocket that defines a longitudinal axis. The staple pocket comprises a first cup and a second cup. The end effector also includes a staple cartridge.

Abstract: Surgical instruments are disclosed which comprise a firing assembly configured to apply a firing force to an end effector. The surgical instruments further comprise a firing force lockout configured to stop and/or prevent a firing stroke of the firing assembly.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a motor for opening and closing the jaws, a sensor configured to detect a tissue compression parameter associated with a tissue between the jaws, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to determine a value of the tissue compression parameter via the sensor as the jaws transition from the open configuration to the closed configuration, cause the motor to increase a time to transition the jaws to the closed configuration according to whether the value of the tissue compression parameter is above a first threshold, and provide feedback according to whether the value of the tissue compression parameter is below a second threshold.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for cutting and fastening tissue comprising an end effector, a firing member, a housing, a motor, a power source, an opening in the housing, an access panel covering the opening and movable between a closed position and an open position, a bailout switch configured to prevent power from flowing from the power source to the motor when the access panel is moved to the open position, and a retraction lever accessible through the opening in the housing is disclosed. The retraction lever is movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position. The retraction lever is configured to manually retract the firing member in a proximal direction, operably couple the motor to the firing member when the retraction lever is in the unactuated position, and operably decouple the motor from the firing member when the retraction lever is in the actuated position.

Abstract: Staple cartridge assemblies for use with surgical stapling instruments and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. Scaffolds for use with a surgical staple cartridge and methods for manufacturing the same are also provided.

Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft, and an elongated conduit extending through the elongated shaft. A firing system is disposed within the housing. The firing system has an insertion tool having a top surface that extends proximal and distal ends thereof and a stripper ramp that projects above the top surface. An actuator activates the firing system to commence a firing cycle. During the firing cycle, the firing system drives the insertion tool toward the distal end of the elongated shaft. The elongated conduit has a top wall with a top notch formed therein. The stripper ramp slides through the top notch for guiding movement of the insertion tool as the firing system drives the insertion tool toward the distal end of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system that includes a housing and a rotatable drive shaft, a motor operably coupled to the drive shaft, and a plurality of replaceable end effectors that can be connected to the housing. Each replaceable end effector includes a drive screw that is turned a fixed number of revolutions by the motor-driven rotatable drive shaft when the end effector is connected to the housing. Each end effector further comprises a firing member operably coupled with the drive screw of the end effector. The drive screw is configured to displace the firing member over a firing length as a result of the fixed number of revolutions. In certain embodiments, each replaceable end effector can include a drive screw with a thread pitch set to the firing length divided by the fixed number of revolutions.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a surgical instrument that can supply mechanical energy and electrical energy to an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may be operated in a first operating mode in which a transducer of the surgical instrument produces mechanical energy, or vibrations, that are transmitted to the end effector and a second operating mode in which electrical energy, or current, can flow through the end effector to perform electrosurgery. In another general aspect, the surgical instrument may comprise a clamp, or jaw, which can be moved into a closed position to hold tissue against a waveguide, or blade, of the end effector. In the second operating mode of the surgical instrument, current can flow from a power source, through the waveguide, and return to the power source through a path comprising the jaw.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus, system, and method for managing radio frequency (RF) and ultrasonic signals output by a generator that includes a surgical instrument comprising an RF energy output and an ultrasonic energy output and a circuit configured to receive a combined RF and ultrasonic signal from the generator. The circuit may be configured to isolate a direct current (DC) voltage from the combined RF and ultrasonic signal. The DC voltage may then be used to power various electrical components of the surgical instrument while still providing RF energy and ultrasonic energy for surgical application.

Abstract: A surgical staple cartridge for use with a surgical end effector that includes a lock member that is movable between a locked configuration wherein a firing member is prevented from axial travel through the surgical end effector and an unlocked configuration wherein the firing member is axially advanceable. The staple cartridge includes a cartridge body that supports a cam assembly therein that is movable between a starting position and an ending position. The cam assembly defines a central axis and includes at least one unlocking feature that is laterally offset from the central axis and is configured to engage the lock member when the cartridge body is seated within the end effector and the cam assembly is in said starting position to thereby move the lock member to the unlocked configuration.