Abstract: An anvil assembly suitable for trans-oral delivery includes an anvil head configured to receive a suture that secures the anvil head in a delivery position and is separable from the anvil head following delivery of the anvil assembly. An anvil delivery assembly includes the anvil assembly, a delivery assembly secured to the anvil assembly, and a suture selectively secured to the anvil assembly for securing the anvil assembly in a delivery position and retrieving the anvil assembly.

Abstract: A circular stapling device includes a reload and an elongate body or adaptor. The reload includes a staple pusher assembly, a knife carrier, and an annular knife supported on the knife carrier. The adaptor includes a pusher drive member and a knife carrier pusher having at least one resilient finger that is deformable inwardly towards the knife carrier into releasable engagement with the knife carrier to releasably couple the knife carrier to the knife carrier pusher. In a pre-fired state, the pusher is positioned to retain the resilient finger in the deformed state to prevent separation of the knife carrier pusher and the knife carrier. After the stapling device is fired and the knife carrier is advanced and subsequently retracted, the resilient finger of the knife carrier pusher is positioned to flex outwardly from the deformed state to automatically uncouple the knife carrier pusher from the knife carrier.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to force sensors and force sensor substrates for use with surgical devices. A force sensor includes a substrate, a plurality of sensing elements, a distal plate, and a pin block assembly. The substrate includes a proximal portion and a distal portion including a proximally-facing surface in fluid communication with a distal surface via an opening extending therebetween. The plurality of sensing elements are mounted on a sensing area of the distal surface of the substrate. The distal plate is welded to the distal surface of the substrate, hermetically sealing the plurality of sensing elements between the distal plate and the distal surface of the substrate. The pin block assembly is welded to the proximally-facing surface of the distal portion of the substrate, hermetically sealing distal ends of a plurality of conductive pins between the pin block assembly and the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to force sensors and force sensor substrates for use with surgical devices.

Abstract: A force sensor includes a substrate, a plurality of sensing elements, and a plate. The substrate includes a central aperture extending along a longitudinal axis of the substrate, and has a proximal surface, a distal surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface. A recess is defined in at least one of the distal surface, the first side surface, the second side surface, the top surface, or the bottom surface of the substrate. The plurality of sensing elements are disposed within the recess, and the plate is disposed over the recess and mounted to the substrate to hermetically seal the plurality of sensing elements within the substrate.

Abstract: A loading unit includes a shell assembly, a lock collar, and a release collar. The shell assembly has a coupling ring that defines a lock slot and a proximal opening configured to receive a distal end portion of a surgical instrument. The lock collar is disposed about the coupling ring and has a radially extending lock that is configured to be received within the lock slot. The lock collar is transitionable between a locked configuration in which the lock is positioned within the lock slot and an unlocked configuration in which the lock is lifted from within the lock slot. The release collar is disposed about the coupling ring proximal of the lock collar and is transitionable between an unactuated position and an actuated position. The release collar transitioning the lock collar to the unlocked configuration as the release collar is translated from the unactutated position towards the actuated position.

Abstract: A tool assembly for leak resistant dissection of tissue includes an anvil and a cartridge housing a plurality of staples. The anvil and cartridge have a linear longitudinal portion and a transverse portion positioned distally of the longitudinal portion. The linear longitudinal portion of the cartridge and anvil assemblies is substantially longer than the curved distal portion. In use, when a surgical procedure is performed that requires a plurality of cutting operations, e.g., a gastrectomy procedure, the first cutting operation is performed to form a substantially linear cut line having a curved distal portion that curves towards a specimen side of the organ, e.g., the stomach. In each subsequent cutting operation, the proximal portion of the tool assembly is positioned with the existing cut line such that a termination point of the existing cut line is positioned on the specimen side of the tissue or organ being partially removed.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for connecting an end effector to a handle assembly includes a trocar assembly having a flexible trocar member.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for a flexible circular stapler including a pusher assembly, a trocar assembly, a first drive assembly and a second drive assembly. The pusher assembly includes a pusher member, a puller member, and first and second pulley members. The trocar assembly includes a trocar member operably disposed relative to the pusher assembly. The first drive assembly includes a first cable for advancing and retracting the trocar member relative to the pusher assembly, and the second drive assembly includes a second cable for retracting the puller member to cause rotation of the first and second pulley members. Rotation of the first and second pulley members causes advancement of the pusher member.

Abstract: A collar for a surgical access device includes an annular body laterally attachable to a cannula of the surgical access device. A spring is coupled to the annular body and movable between an uncompressed state and a compressed state. The spring is configured to manipulate the annular body between a first condition and a second condition to selectively fix the annular body at predetermined locations along the cannula or to laterally remove the annular body from the cannula while the cannula is supported within a patient's body.

Abstract: A circular stapler including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly is provided. The cartridge assembly includes a rotatable drive shaft and the anvil assembly includes first and second pull cables. When the anvil assembly engages the cartridge assembly, retraction of the first pull cable effects clamping of tissue between the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly, and retraction of the second pull cable effects stapling and cutting of the clamped tissue.

Abstract: A surgical staple includes a backspan and a pair of deformable legs extending from the backspan and terminating in a penetrating end. The backspan and deformable legs are formed from a wire having a curvilinear cross-section defining a major axis and a minor axis with a portion of the wire above the major axis defining a first curved surface and a portion of the wire below the major axis defining a second curved surface, and a portion of the wire to the left of the minor axis defining a third curved surface and a portion to the right of the minor axis defining a fourth curved surface being different than the first, second, and third curved surfaces. One or more of the curved surfaces is different than the remaining curved surfaces.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for connecting a loading unit to a handle assembly is provided. The adapter assembly includes a sleeve, a removable trocar assembly releasably securable with the sleeve, and a locking assembly configured to releasably secure the trocar assembly within the sleeve. The locking assembly includes first and second button members and corresponding first and second locking members for releasably securing the trocar assembly.

Abstract: A loading unit includes a shell assembly and a locking collar. The shell assembly has an annular ring that defines a locking slot and a proximal opening. The proximal opening configured to receive a distal end portion of the surgical instrument. The locking collar is rotatably disposed about the annular ring. The locking collar has a body including a flexible tab that has an inwardly extending lock. The locking collar is moveable about the annular ring between a locked and unlocked configuration. In the locked configuration, the lock passes through the locking slot and into the proximal opening of the annular ring. In the unlocked configuration, the body of the locking collar is rotated about the annular ring from the locked configuration to move the lock from within the proximal opening.

Abstract: An anvil assembly suitable for trans-oral delivery includes an anvil head configured to receive a suture that secures the anvil head in a delivery position and is separable from the anvil head following delivery of the anvil assembly. An anvil delivery assembly includes the anvil assembly, a delivery assembly secured to the anvil assembly, and a suture selectively secured to the anvil assembly for securing the anvil assembly in a delivery position and retrieving the anvil assembly.

Abstract: An anvil assembly is provided. The anvil assembly includes center rod assembly, a head assembly pivotal relative to the center rod assembly between an operative position and a tilted position, and a mechanism for selectively maintaining the head assembly in the operative position.

Abstract: A method of performing bariatric surgery includes inserting a gastrectomy device into a stomach of a patient, positioning the gastrectomy device in a selected location in the stomach, transecting a portion of the stomach thereby reducing a size of the stomach, and applying a reinforcement scaffold to an outer surface of the stomach. The reinforcement scaffold is configured to maintain the reduced size of the stomach.

Abstract: Fuel supplies including multiple valve components and fuel cell systems having increased operational resistance to the insertion and/or removal of fuel supplies are disclosed. The increased operational resistance is provided by increased insertion or removal forces, multiple relative motions for insertion and/or removal, latches, actuators, ON/OFF switches, cognitive ability of the user, visual alignment, audio feedback, size of the user's hand, inter alia.