Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are operable to track usage of a surgical instrument and modify the performance of the surgical instrument based on the prior usage of the surgical instrument. Some surgical instruments are designed to have a limited service life beginning at their first use, or a limit to their overall usage in order to ensure safe use of the sensitive instruments. However, a lack of ability to track usage characteristics when the instrument is separated from an external power supply allows for user abuse and avoidance of such safety mechanisms. Adding a battery or capacitor to the instrument may allow for an ability to track usage when the instrument is separated from an external power supply. Implementing special user prompts, device use ratios, and device use half-life upon powering down of an instrument may additionally be used to prevent circumvention of safety features.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a shaft assembly and an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm, and a clamp pad. The clamp arm is pivotally coupled with the shaft assembly. The clamp pad is configured to removably couple with the clamp arm while the clamp arm is pivotally coupled to the shaft assembly. The clamp arm includes a mortise and a pair of support gussets. The clamp pad includes a tenon and a pair of resilient projections where the tenon engages the mortise of the clamp arm and the projections contact the support gussets of the clamp arm.

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, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a plurality of body portions aligned along the longitudinal axis and a flexible locking member. The flexible locking member is operable to secure the body portions in relation to each other and in relation to the shaft. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An end effector includes a first jaw rotatably coupled to a second jaw at a jaw axle, a central pulley rotatably mounted to the jaw axle, and a pivot link rotatably coupled to the first jaw at a pivot axle. A jaw cable is looped around the central pulley and operatively coupled to the pivot link such that linear movement of the jaw cable correspondingly causes the first jaw to rotate relative to the second jaw on the jaw axle and between open and closed positions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body assembly, an acoustic waveguide, an ultrasonic blade, a liquid dispensing feature, and a control module. 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. The control module is operable to regulate fluid flow through the liquid dispensing feature.

Abstract: An end effector includes first and second jaws movable between open and closed positions, a guide track defined in the second jaw, and a cutting element extendable into the guide track and longitudinally movable within the guide track. A retention feature is positioned within the guide track and operatively couples the cutting element to a drive rod. The drive rod is actuatable to move the cutting element within the guide track, and the retention feature is larger than a width of an opening to the guide track such that the retention feature is retained within the guide track as the cutting element moves.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are operable to track usage of a surgical instrument and modify the performance of the surgical instrument based on the prior usage of the surgical instrument. Some surgical instruments are designed to have a limited service life beginning at their first use, or a limit to their overall usage in order to ensure safe use of the sensitive instruments. However, a lack of ability to track usage characteristics when the instrument is separated from an external power supply allows for user abuse and avoidance of such safety mechanisms. Adding a battery or capacitor to the instrument may allow for an ability to track usage when the instrument is separated from an external power supply. Implementing special user prompts, device use ratios, and device use half-life upon powering down of an instrument may additionally be used to prevent circumvention of safety features.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that includes an end effector and a trigger that is actuatable between a first position and a second position. An actuation drive is movable between an unactuated position and an actuated position in response to actuation of the trigger. A toggle assembly is transitionable between a folded configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the toggle assembly is configured to motivate the actuation drive to effectuate a movement in the end effector in the folded configuration. The toggle assembly being configured to bypass the actuation drive when in the expanded configuration. A resetting member is operable to return the toggle assembly to the folded configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating on tissue includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes an acoustic waveguide. The waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm, and a clamp pad. The blade is in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The clamp arm is configured to pivot about a first pivot point toward and away from the ultrasonic blade and includes a coupling feature. The clamp pad is selectively attachable to the blade to acoustically isolate the clamp arm from the ultrasonic blade. The coupling feature of the clamp arm is configured to provide a snap fit between the clamp pad and the clamp arm and thereby permit manipulation of the clamp pad for removal of the clamp pad from the clamp arm.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm and a clamp pad. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The clamp arm is pivotally coupled with the shaft assembly. The clamp pad is configured to removably couple with the clamp arm while the clamp arm is pivotally coupled to the shaft assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating on tissue includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an articulation control assembly, an end effector, and an articulation lock. A portion of the articulation section encompasses a flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation includes a first member and a second member that is longitudinally translatable relative to the first member. The articulation control assembly is configured to move relative to the shaft assembly in order to longitudinally translate the second member relative to the first member. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation lock is configured to prevent movement of the articulation control assembly relative to the shaft assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body assembly, an acoustic waveguide, an ultrasonic blade, a liquid dispensing feature, and a control module. 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. The control module is operable to regulate fluid flow through the liquid dispensing feature.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm and a clamp pad. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The clamp arm is pivotally coupled with the shaft assembly. The clamp pad is configured to removably couple with the clamp arm while the clamp arm is pivotally coupled to the shaft assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating on tissue includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes an acoustic waveguide. The waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm, and a clamp pad. The blade is in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The clamp arm is configured to pivot about a first pivot point toward and away from the ultrasonic blade and includes a coupling feature. The clamp pad is selectively attachable to the blade to acoustically isolate the clamp arm from the ultrasonic blade. The coupling feature of the clamp arm is configured to provide a snap fit between the clamp pad and the clamp arm and thereby permit manipulation of the clamp pad for removal of the clamp pad from the clamp arm.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument for use during a surgical procedure includes a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and an actuation assembly. The body is configured to receive an ultrasonic transducer for selectively generating an oscillation at a first or a second predetermined power level. The shaft assembly projects from the body and includes an acoustic waveguide connected to the ultrasonic blade. The actuation assembly includes a selector collar generally surrounding the body and a plurality of activation buttons disposed radially about the body proximate to the selector collar. The selector collar is selectively movable along the body between a first position and a second position for selecting between the first and second predetermined power levels. The plurality of activation buttons are configured to direct the ultrasonic blade to oscillate with the selected first or second predetermined power levels.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, an actuation assembly, a shaft assembly, and an ultrasonic blade. The body defines a longitudinal axis and is configured to receive an ultrasonic transducer. The actuation assembly includes at least one annular activation member and at least one circuit. The at least one annular activation member extends angularly about the body along a 360 degree angular range. The at least one annular activation member is configured to move laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the body. The at least one circuit corresponds to the at least one annular activation member. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide. The at least one activation circuit is configured to activate the ultrasonic blade in response to lateral movement of the activation member relative to the longitudinal axis of the body.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with an ultrasonic transducer via an acoustic waveguide that extends through the shaft assembly. The clamp arm is configured to pivot about a first pivot point toward and away from the ultrasonic blade along a first angular path from a first position to a second position to thereby provide a tissue sealing mode of operation. The clamp arm is further configured to pivot about a second pivot point toward and away from the ultrasonic blade along second angular path from the second position to a third position to thereby provide a tissue cutting and sealing mode of operation. The second pivot point is proximal to the first pivot point.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, an actuation assembly, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a movable member. The body is configured to receive an ultrasonic transducer. The actuation assembly includes a first activation member and a second activation member. The first activation member is operable to trigger activation of the ultrasonic blade in a first power mode. The second activation member is operable to trigger activation of the ultrasonic blade in a second power mode. The movable member is configured to move between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the movable member is configured to permit access to the first activation member and prevent access to the second activation member. In the second position, the movable member is configured to permit access to the second activation member and prevent access to the first activation member.

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.