Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and a staple cartridge assembly positioned in the first jaw is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a plurality of staples, a plurality of staple drivers, and a cartridge body. The cartridge body comprises a deck surface configured to support patient tissue, a longitudinal slot defined in the cartridge body, a plurality of staple cavities, and a longitudinal wall extending vertically below the deck surface. The longitudinal wall comprises a first zone comprising a first wall height and a second zone comprising a second wall height. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises a sled movable longitudinally through the cartridge body, wherein the sled is sized and configured resist deflection of the cartridge body during the firing stroke within the second zone.

Abstract: A surgical stapling system is disclosed. The stapling system comprises a motor, a drive assembly comprising a drive train coupled to the motor to actuate a function of a surgical end effector, wherein the drive train is actuatable by the motor through a drive stroke, and a control circuit coupled to the drive assembly. The control circuit is configured to monitor a first parameter of the drive assembly during the drive stroke, determine a stored kinetic energy of the drive assembly based on the first parameter, monitor a second parameter of the drive assembly during the drive stroke, wherein the first parameter and the second parameter are different, compare the monitored second parameter to a parameter threshold indicative of a motor stall condition, and determine a motor setting of the motor based on the determined stored kinetic energy and the comparison of the monitored second parameter to the parameter threshold.

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 stapling system is disclosed. The stapling system comprises a motor, a drive assembly comprising a drive train coupled to the motor to actuate a function of a surgical end effector, wherein the drive train is actuatable by the motor through a drive stroke, and a control circuit coupled to the drive assembly. The control circuit is configured to monitor a first parameter of the drive assembly during the drive stroke, determine a stored kinetic energy of the drive assembly based on the first parameter, monitor a second parameter of the drive assembly during the drive stroke, wherein the first parameter and the second parameter are different, compare the monitored second parameter to a parameter threshold indicative of a motor stall condition, and determine a motor setting of the motor based on the determined stored kinetic energy and the comparison of the monitored second parameter to the parameter threshold.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw and a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises a translatable closure driver configured to engage the second jaw and move the second jaw into a closed position. The second jaw comprises control surfaces which interface with the closure drive to control and/or limit the movement of the second jaw relative to the first jaw.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a staple cartridge including a cartridge body, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, and staple drivers movable within the cartridge body to eject, or deploy, the staples from the cartridge body is disclosed herein. The staple drivers and the cartridge body comprise control surfaces that promote the efficient deployment of the staples from the cartridge body.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector comprising first and second jaws, and a longitudinal channel; an articulation joint assembly. The end effector extends along a central longitudinal axis in an unarticulated position, and wherein the end effector is articulatable about an articulation joint toward a fully articulated position on a first side of the unarticulated position. A flex circuit is to transmit at least one of data or power through the articulation joint. The flex circuit is offset from the central longitudinal axis, and comprises a proximal flex-circuit portion positioned in the shaft, a distal flex-circuit portion positioned in the end effector, and an intermediate flex-circuit portion positioned in a cavity defined by the articulation joint assembly. The intermediate flex-circuit portion maintains a relaxed curved state with an unchanged effective length as the end effector is articulated toward the fully articulated position.

Abstract: Surgical staple cartridges with sled configurations configured to be coupled to a firing driver of a compatible surgical stapling instrument such that the sled is retractable from a fired position within the staple cartridge to a released position wherein the firing driver decouples from the sled at a location that is distal to an unfired position of the sled.

Abstract: A method for sequential firings of staple cartridges is disclosed. The sequential firings including a first firing that deploys first staples into a first tissue portion from a first staple cartridge and a second firing that deploys second staples into a second tissue portion from a second staple cartridge. The method comprises monitoring a parameter indicative of a tissue response associated with the first firing, assessing the tissue response based on the parameter, and adjusting an operational parameter associated with the second firing based on the tissue response during the first firing.

Abstract: A stapling assembly comprising a cartridge body, staple drivers, staples, and a sled assembly is disclosed. The cartridge body comprises a deck, a longitudinal slot, and staple cavities defined in the deck. The sled assembly is configurable in a first configuration and a second configuration. The sled assembly is movable distally in the first configuration during a staple firing stroke. The sled assembly is movable proximally in the second configuration during a retraction stroke. The sled assembly comprises a first component and a second component. The first component comprises a base and at least one rail extending from the base. The rail comprises a distal-facing ramp configured to engage the staple drivers to eject the staples from the staple cavities during the staple firing stroke. The rail is comprised of metal. The second component is movable within the longitudinal slot. The first component is movable relative to the second component.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, and a staple cartridge assembly positioned in the first jaw is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a plurality of staples, a plurality of staple drivers, and a cartridge body. The cartridge body comprises a deck surface configured to support patient tissue, a longitudinal slot defined in the cartridge body, a plurality of staple cavities, and a longitudinal wall extending vertically below the deck surface. The longitudinal wall comprises a first zone comprising a first wall height and a second zone comprising a second wall height. The staple cartridge assembly further comprises a sled movable longitudinally through the cartridge body, wherein the sled is sized and configured resist deflection of the cartridge body during the firing stroke within the second zone.

Abstract: A method of assembling a staple cartridge is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method comprises attaching a pan to a cartridge body, the cartridge body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a deck, longitudinal rows of staple cavities extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a longitudinal slot extending from the proximal end toward the distal end. The method further comprises positioning staples in the staple cavities, positioning a support in the longitudinal slot such that an end of the support extends above the deck, and positioning a sled in the cartridge body proximal to the support such that the sled is longitudinally aligned with the support.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly comprising a cartridge body, a plurality of staples, a plurality of staple drivers, a sled, and a support plane is disclosed. The cartridge body comprises a deck, a plurality of staple cavities defined in the deck, a longitudinal slot defined in the deck, and an outer cartridge wall. The support plane extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, wherein the sled is positioned under an inner cartridge wall in the support plane, wherein the inner cartridge wall comprises a first lateral pillar width and a first pillar height in the support plane, wherein the outer cartridge wall comprises a second lateral pillar width and a second pillar height in the support plane, and wherein the first lateral pillar width is wider than the second lateral pillar width.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument comprises a shaft, a multi-axis articulation joint assembly defining a cavity therein, and a wiring assembly disposed within the shaft and the multi-axis articulation joint assembly. The multi-axis articulation joint assembly comprises a first articulation joint and a second articulation joint. The wiring assembly comprises a wiring harness having a thickness and a width greater than the thickness, and a preset twist. An articulation joint assembly is also provided.

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 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 stapling instrument includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The end effector includes a first jaw having an anvil, and a second jaw. The instrument also includes a stapling assembly supported by the second jaw and including a plurality of staples, a staple actuator, and a driver assembly. The driver assembly includes a laterally-opposed pair of distal drivers that receive respective staples, a proximal driver that receives a respective staple, and a cam surface. The staple actuator is configured to engage the cam surface during distal translation of the staple actuator to drive the respective staples into contact with the anvil. The staple actuator and the cam surface are configured such that, when the respective staples contact the anvil, the engagement between the staple actuator and the cam surface is centered at a location along the cam surface distal of a centroid of the first driver assembly.

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: 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.