Abstract: A robotic surgical system, including: a robotic arm including a distal end; a tool driver operatively coupled with the distal end of the robotic arm; a control unit; a surgical instrument including: an end effector configured to transmit therapeutic energy to tissue via a therapeutic energy cycle based on instructions from the control unit; and an tissue sensor configured to determine at least one tissue characteristic and transmit the at least one tissue characteristic to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to modify the therapeutic energy cycle based on the at least one tissue characteristic; and a control console including: an activation switch configured to activate the therapeutic energy cycle, and a hover sensor configured to sense an object within a hover zone, wherein the hover sensor is configured to activate the tissue sensor to determine the at least one tissue characteristic.

Abstract: A method of operating an articulatable surgical instrument. The method includes providing a rotary drive motion to a rotary drive member of a surgical end effector and converting the rotary drive motion to an upper axial motion and a lower axial motion at locations that are distal to the articulation joint. The method further includes applying the upper axial motion to an upper portion of a firing member and applying the lower axial motion to a lower portion of the firing member such that the upper axial motion and lower axial motion drives the firing member distally through the surgical end effector from a starting position to an ending position.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system, including: a robotic arm including a distal end; a tool driver operatively coupled with the distal end of the robotic arm; a control unit; a surgical instrument including: an end effector configured to transmit therapeutic energy to tissue via a therapeutic energy cycle based on instructions from the control unit; and an tissue sensor configured to determine at least one tissue characteristic and transmit the at least one tissue characteristic to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to modify the therapeutic energy cycle based on the at least one tissue characteristic; and a control console including: an activation switch configured to activate the therapeutic energy cycle, and a hover sensor configured to sense an object within a hover zone, wherein the hover sensor is configured to activate the tissue sensor to determine the at least one tissue characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an end effector, a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector, an instrument base, and a knife driving assembly. The end effector includes jaws and a knife member capable of actuating between a proximal and distal position. The knife driving assembly actuates the knife member between the proximal and distal position. The knife driving assembly includes a cable and a knife drive input assembly coupled to a first drive input and is capable of rotating in first and second angular directions. The cable terminates into a first end and a second end, which are both attached to the knife drive input assembly. A portion of the cable is attached to the knife member. Rotation of the knife drive input assembly in the first angular direction drives the knife member distally, whereas rotation in the second angular direction drives the knife member proximally.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an inner tube, an outer tube, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp member pivotably moveable relative to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic blade is acoustically coupled to an ultrasonic transducer. The clamp member pivotably movable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open configuration and an approximated configuration with respect to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp member is pivotably coupled to the inner tube, wherein the clamp member is pivotably coupled to the outer tube, and wherein movement of the outer tube relative to the inner tube between the first position and the second position transitions the clamp member between the open configuration and the approximate configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an end effector, a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector, an instrument base, and a knife driving assembly. The end effector includes a pair of jaws and a knife member capable of actuating between a proximal and distal position. The knife driving assembly can actuate the knife member between the proximal and distal position. The knife driving assembly includes a cable and a knife drive input assembly coupled only to a first drive input. The knife driven assembly is capable of rotating in first and second angular directions. The cable terminates into a first end and a second end, which are both attached to the knife drive input assembly. A portion of the cable is attached to the knife member. Rotation of the knife drive input assembly in the first angular direction drives the knife member distally. Rotation of the knife drive input assembly in the second angular direction drives the knife member proximally.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer. The articulation section includes a collar that is located distal to a nodal portion of the waveguide and is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section. The articulation drive assembly comprises at least one translating articulation driver coupled with the collar. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue even when the articulation section is in an articulated state.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a handle providing a drive input, a shaft extendable through the handle and having an end effector arranged at an end of the shaft, and an accumulator system housed within the handle. The accumulator system includes a lead screw extending from the drive input, a nut threadably mounted to the lead screw, a first pulley operatively coupled to the nut such that axial movement of the nut correspondingly moves the first pulley, and a second pulley rotatably coupled to the handle and vertically offset from the first pulley. The surgical tool further includes first and second drive cables threaded through the first and second pulleys and extending distally along the shaft. Operation of the accumulator system alters at least one of a length or a force in the first and second drive cables to affect end effector operation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an inner tube, an outer tube, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp member pivotably moveable relative to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic blade is acoustically coupled to an ultrasonic transducer. The clamp member pivotably movable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open configuration and an approximated configuration with respect to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp member is pivotably coupled to the inner tube, wherein the clamp member is pivotably coupled to the outer tube, and wherein movement of the outer tube relative to the inner tube between the first position and the second position transitions the clamp member between the open configuration and the approximate configuration.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer. The articulation section includes a collar that is located distal to a nodal portion of the waveguide and is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section. The articulation drive assembly comprises at least one translating articulation driver coupled with the collar. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue even when the articulation section is in an articulated state.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly and an articulation control assembly. The shaft assembly includes an articulation section that is configured to deflect a distal end portion from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly includes an articulation control member and a transmission assembly. The articulation control member is rotatably mounted relative to the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is operatively connected between the articulation control member and the articulation section of the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is configured to transmit selective manipulation of the articulation control member to the articulation section and selectively actuate the articulation section.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a handle, an elongate shaft extended through the handle, and an actuation system housed within the handle and including a drive belt extending along a portion of the shaft and having a distal end anchored to the shaft distal to the handle and a proximal end anchored to the shaft proximal to the handle, and a drive gear mounted to the handle to receive the drive belt. Operating the actuation system rotates the drive gear to drive the drive belt and thereby cause z-axis translation of the shaft through the handle.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a handle providing a drive input, an elongate shaft extendable through the handle and having an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft, and an accumulator system housed within the handle and operatively coupled to the drive input such that actuation of the drive input operates the accumulator system. At least one drive cable is threaded through the accumulator system and extends distally along the shaft, wherein operation of the accumulator system acts on the at least one drive cable to operate the end effector.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly and an articulation control assembly. The shaft assembly includes an articulation section that is configured to deflect a distal end portion from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly includes an articulation control member and a transmission assembly. The articulation control member is rotatably mounted relative to the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is operatively connected between the articulation control member and the articulation section of the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is configured to transmit selective manipulation of the articulation control member to the articulation section and selectively actuate the articulation section.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, an articulation drive assembly, and a locking feature. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly. The waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The articulation drive assembly comprises an actuator. The actuator is movable relative to the body assembly to drive articulation of the articulation section. The locking feature is in communication with the actuator. The locking feature is movable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The locking feature is configured to permit movement of the actuator relative to the body assembly in the unlocked state. The locking feature is configured to prevent movement of the actuator relative to the body assembly in the locked state.

Abstract: A method of manually operating a robotic surgical tool includes positioning the robotic surgical tool adjacent a patient, the robotic surgical tool including a drive housing having opposing first and second ends, a spline extending between the first and second ends, a carriage arranged within the drive housing and movable between the first and second ends, and a manual actuation mechanism arranged at the first or second end and including a frame, a spline coupling rotatably mounted to the frame to receive an end of the spline, and a ring gear rotatable about the frame and engageable with a pinion gear operatively coupled to the spline coupling. The method further including grasping the robotic surgical tool and manually rotating the ring gear, and driving the ring gear against the pinion gear and thereby rotating the spline to manually actuate a function of the robotic surgical tool.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, an articulation drive assembly, and a locking feature. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly. The waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The articulation drive assembly comprises an actuator. The actuator is movable relative to the body assembly to drive articulation of the articulation section. The locking feature is in communication with the actuator. The locking feature is movable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The locking feature is configured to permit movement of the actuator relative to the body assembly in the unlocked state. The locking feature is configured to prevent movement of the actuator relative to the body assembly in the locked state.

Abstract: An end effector includes a first jaw having a first electrode and a first insulator secured thereto, a second jaw having a second electrode and a second insulator secured thereto, the first and second jaws being pivotable between open and closed positions, and a knife slot cooperatively defined in the first and second jaws and defining a diamond-shape cross-section when the first and second jaws are in the closed position. Each electrode provides an inner lateral extent that cooperatively defines the diamond-shape cross-section, and a length of at least one of the inner lateral extents is greater than a thickness of a corresponding one of the first or second electrodes.

Abstract: An end effector for a surgical tool includes opposing first and second jaws rotatably coupled to each other at a jaw pivot axis, a knife slot defined in one or both of the first and second jaws, a knife coupled to a distal end of a drive rod and longitudinally extendable into the knife slot, and a knife housing pivotably coupled between the first and second jaws at the jaw pivot axis and defining a cavity sized to receive the knife. The drive rod is actuatable to move the knife between a stowed position, where the knife is received within the cavity, and an extended position, where the knife is extended out of the cavity and into the knife slot.

Abstract: A surgical tool includes a wrist including a proximal clevis and a distal clevis rotatably mountable to the proximal clevis at a first pivot axis, and an end effector rotatably coupled to the distal clevis at a second pivot axis, the end effector including opposing first and second jaws rotatably coupled to each other at a jaw pivot axis distinct from the second pivot axis. The jaw pivot axis is orthogonal to the first pivot axis, and an axial distance between the jaw pivot axis and the second pivot axis is shorter than an axial distance between the second pivot axis and the first pivot axis.