Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, a firing system, and a firing lockout assembly. The end effector is operatively coupled with the shaft assembly. The end effector includes first and second jaws. The first jaw includes an anvil. The second jaw is configured to removably receive an unspent staple cartridge. The firing system extends through at least a portion of the shaft assembly and the end effector. The firing lockout assembly is selectively coupled with the firing system. The firing lockout assembly is disposed proximal to the end effector. The firing lockout assembly is configured to allow actuation of the firing system in an unlocked configuration in response to the unspent staple cartridge being coupled with the second jaw; and inhibit actuation of the firing system in a locked configuration in response to the unspent staple cartridge being absent from the second jaw.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an end effector configured to perform a plurality of end effector functions is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises a drive shaft which is both rotatable and translatable to drive the end effector functions.

Abstract: A surgical device having at least one rotary input screw in the end effector is provided. A rotary input screw can extend through a central longitudinal portion of the end effector. The end effector can include an improved closure system, firing systems, leveraging and alignment features between the staple cartridge and the surgical device, staple cartridges having multi-staple drivers, single-firing knifes and lockout/safety features for the same, and/or modified staple patterns, for example. Certain components can be 3D-printed components.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component.

Abstract: A surgical device having at least one rotary input screw in the end effector is provided. A rotary input screw can extend through a central longitudinal portion of the end effector. The end effector can include an improved closure system, firing systems, leveraging and alignment features between the staple cartridge and the surgical device, staple cartridges having multi-staple drivers, single-firing knifes and lockout/safety features for the same, and/or modified staple patterns, for example. Certain components can be 3D-printed components.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system is disclosed which comprises a distal end and a staple cartridge assembly comprising staples removably stored therein. The instrument system further comprises a firing drive including an electric motor and a firing member operably couplable with the electric motor. The electric motor is operable to advance the firing member toward the distal end during a staple firing stroke to eject the staples from the staple cartridge. The electric motor is operable to retract the firing member away from the distal end during a retraction stroke. The surgical instrument system further comprises a manually-operated bailout mechanism operable to perform the retraction stroke in lieu of the electric motor, a controller, and a display in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to display the progress of the retraction stroke when the firing member is being manually retracted by the bailout mechanism.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component. The surgical stapling assembly can be configured to form different staple shapes, such as non-planar staples and planar staples, can include an eccentrically-driven firing assembly, and/or can include a floatable component. The surgical stapling assembly can include a staple cartridge including a longitudinal support beam.

Abstract: Methods for resetting a fuse in a surgical instrument are disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component.

Abstract: Articulation joint arrangements for facilitating multi-axis articulation of a surgical end effector relative to a shaft assembly of a surgical instrument.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component. The 3D-printed component can include a plastic body and one or more metal substrates with interlocking features embedded in the plastic body. The surgical stapling assembly can include a firing member having a flexible portion configured to flex more readily that adjacent portions of the firing member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system is disclosed which comprises a distal end and a staple cartridge assembly comprising staples removably stored therein. The instrument system further comprises a firing drive including an electric motor and a firing member operably couplable with the electric motor. The electric motor is operable to advance the firing member toward the distal end during a staple firing stroke to eject the staples from the staple cartridge. The electric motor is operable to retract the firing member away from the distal end during a retraction stroke. The surgical instrument system further comprises a manually-operated bailout mechanism operable to perform the retraction stroke in lieu of the electric motor, a controller, and a display in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to display the progress of the retraction stroke when the firing member is being manually retracted by the bailout mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an end effector and a drive system. The drive system is configured to drive a jaw closure assembly to provide the end effector in a first closed position. The drive system is further configured to operatively disengage the jaw closure assembly and operatively engage a firing assembly, then distally advance a firing member to actuate the end effector. The drive system is further configured to detect an initiation condition; and in response to detecting the initiation condition, operatively disengage the firing assembly and operatively re-engage the jaw closure assembly. The drive system is further configured to drive the jaw closure assembly to provide the end effector in a second closed position, then operatively disengage the jaw closure assembly and operatively re-engage the firing assembly. The drive system is further configured to distally advance the firing member further within the end effector to further actuate the end effector.

Abstract: An apparatus configured for use with an end effector of a surgical fastening instrument includes a first adjunct including a plurality of first resiliently compressible elements interconnected with each other. The apparatus also includes a second adjunct opposed from the first adjunct. The second adjunct includes a plurality of second resiliently compressible elements interconnected with each other. Each first resiliently compressible element of the plurality of first resiliently compressible elements is configured to align and thermally bond with a corresponding second resiliently compressible element of the plurality of second resiliently compressible elements to secure the first and second adjuncts to each other.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a first and second jaw actuatable between an open and closed position, a buttress assembly having a compressible material, and a fastener assembly associated with the second jaw. The fastener assembly and the buttress assembly may cooperatively grasp tissue while the first and second jaws are in the closed position. The fastener assembly includes a deck defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of fasteners each housed within a respective opening of the plurality of openings. Each fastener can actuate out of the respective opening and into the buttress assembly. Each fastener includes a first leg having a piercing tip, and an attachment feature associated with the first leg. The attachment feature can engage the buttress assembly to couple the first leg with the buttress assembly without bending a portion of the first leg associated with the piercing tip.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a first and second jaw, a firing assembly, a first buttress assembly, and a second buttress assembly. The first and second jaw actuate relative to each other between an open and closed position to grasp tissue. The second jaw includes a fastening assembly having a deck defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of fasteners housed within the openings. The firing assembly drives the plurality of fasteners out of the plurality of openings against a plurality of fastening forming features of the first jaw. The first buttress assembly and the second buttress assembly are associated with the first and second jaw, respectively. The first buttress assembly includes a first material and a first thickness. The second buttress assembly includes a second material and a second thickness. The first material and the second material differ in rigidity. The first thickness and the second thickness are different.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system is disclosed which comprises a distal end and a staple cartridge assembly comprising staples removably stored therein. The instrument system further comprises a firing drive including an electric motor and a firing member operably couplable with the electric motor. The electric motor is operable to advance the firing member toward the distal end during a staple firing stroke to eject the staples from the staple cartridge. The electric motor is operable to retract the firing member away from the distal end during a retraction stroke. The surgical instrument system further comprises a manually-operated bailout mechanism operable to perform the retraction stroke in lieu of the electric motor, a controller, and a display in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to display the progress of the retraction stroke when the firing member is being manually retracted by the bailout mechanism.

Abstract: Multi-axis pivot joints and surgical instrument drive shafts formed using additive manufacturing methods.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The assembly can include a cartridge body having cavities defined therein forming a pattern of openings in the deck of the cartridge body. The pattern can include longitudinally-repeating clusters of cavity ends. The assembly can also include fasteners removably positioned in the cavities. The pattern of openings can comprise openings on a first side of the cartridge body comprising inner openings each defining an inner proximal-to-distal axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis, outer openings each defining an outer proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an outer angle, and intermediate openings each defining an intermediate proximal-to-distal axis obliquely-oriented relative to the longitudinal axis at an intermediate angle, wherein the intermediate angle is different than the outer angle.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system is disclosed which comprises a distal end and a staple cartridge assembly comprising staples removably stored therein. The instrument system further comprises a firing drive including an electric motor and a firing member operably couplable with the electric motor. The electric motor is operable to advance the firing member toward the distal end during a staple firing stroke to eject the staples from the staple cartridge. The electric motor is operable to retract the firing member away from the distal end during a retraction stroke. The surgical instrument system further comprises a manually-operated bailout mechanism operable to perform the retraction stroke in lieu of the electric motor, a controller, and a display in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to display the progress of the retraction stroke when the firing member is being manually retracted by the bailout mechanism.