Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed including a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency and an ultrasonic blade extending along the longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer. The ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is movable along the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer. The surgical instrument further includes a protective sheath including a proximal end and a distal end and disposed adjacent to the body. The protective sheath further includes a pad positioned toward the distal end of the protective sheath and located between the body and the distal end of the protective sheath.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed including a transducer, an ultrasonic blade, a protective sheath, and a non-vibrating clamp arm assembly. The ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer. The ultrasonic blade comprises a body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is movable along the longitudinal axis by vibrations produced by the transducer. The protective sheath comprises a proximal end and a distal end and disposed adjacent to the body. The protective sheath further comprises a pad positioned toward the distal end of the protective sheath and located between the body and the distal end of the protective sheath. The non-vibrating clamp arm assembly has a proximal end and a distal end and pivotally positioned adjacent to the body. The clamp arm assembly is pivotally moveable from an open position to a closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly includes a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the blade about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the blade. A rotation feature may provide rotation of the blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.

Abstract: In general, systems, methods, and devices for electrosurgical devices with monopolar and bipolar functionality are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a surgical device can have bipolar functionality, in which tissue engaged by the device is treated in a bipolar energy delivery mode, and can have monopolar functionality in which tissue engaged by the device is treated in a monopolar energy delivery mode.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly includes a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the blade about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the blade. A rotation feature may provide rotation of the blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a pivoting member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The ultrasonic blade is positioned distal to the shaft assembly. The pivoting member is pivotable with respect to the blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the blade. One or both of the shaft assembly or the pivoting member comprise a guide feature. The guide feature is configured to provide lateral alignment of the distal portion of the pivoting member with the blade as the pivoting member is pivoted to the closed position.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a pivoting member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The ultrasonic blade is positioned distal to the shaft assembly. The pivoting member is pivotable with respect to the blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the blade. One or both of the shaft assembly or the pivoting member comprise a guide feature. The guide feature is configured to provide lateral alignment of the distal portion of the pivoting member with the blade as the pivoting member is pivoted to the closed position.

Abstract: In general, systems, methods, and devices for electrosurgical devices with monopolar and bipolar functionality are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a surgical device can have bipolar functionality, in which tissue engaged by the device is treated in a bipolar energy delivery mode, and can have monopolar functionality in which tissue engaged by the device is treated in a monopolar energy delivery mode.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an end effector, a body assembly, a power source, and a control module. The end effector is operable for use in a surgical procedure and can deliver energy to a surgical site. The end effector comprises at least one sensor. The sensor is able to measure at least one physical characteristic associated with the surgical site. The body assembly is in communication with the end effector. The power source is in communication with the body assembly and is operable to deliver power to the end effector. The control module is in communication with the sensor and is operable to change delivery of power to the end effector based on data from the sensor indicating a change in tissue density.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed including a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency and an ultrasonic blade extending along the longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer. The ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is movable along the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer. The surgical instrument further includes a protective sheath including a proximal end and a distal end and disposed adjacent to the body. The protective sheath further includes a pad positioned toward the distal end of the protective sheath and located between the body and the distal end of the protective sheath.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly includes a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the blade about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the blade. A rotation feature may provide rotation of the blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly includes a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the blade about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the blade. A rotation feature may provide rotation of the blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.

Abstract: An end effector includes a first portion having a first specific acoustic impedance value, and a second portion having a second specific acoustic impedance value less than the first specific acoustic impedance value. The first portion may include a proximal end segment and a distal end segment. The proximal end segment and the distal end segment are composed of a first material. The second portion may include an insert segment composed of a second material. The insert segment is located between the proximal end segment and the distal end segment along the longitudinal axis of the end effector. The insert segment functions to bridge or fill a nodal energy gap defined by the end effector.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a pivoting member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The ultrasonic blade is positioned distal to the shaft assembly. The pivoting member is pivotable with respect to the blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the blade. One or both of the shaft assembly or the pivoting member comprise a guide feature. The guide feature is configured to provide lateral alignment of the distal portion of the pivoting member with the blade as the pivoting member is pivoted to the closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an end effector, a body assembly, a power source, and a control module. The end effector is operable for use in a surgical procedure and can deliver energy to a surgical site. The end effector comprises at least one sensor. The sensor is able to measure at least one physical characteristic associated with the surgical site. The body assembly is in communication with the end effector. The power source is in communication with the body assembly and is operable to deliver power to the end effector. The control module is in communication with the sensor and is operable to change delivery of power to the end effector based on data from the sensor indicating a change in tissue density.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly comprises an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly comprises a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the blade about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the blade. A rotation feature may provide rotation of the blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a pivoting member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The ultrasonic blade is positioned distal to the shaft assembly. The pivoting member is pivotable with respect to the blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the blade. The shaft assembly comprises a feature to provide for the removal of surgical debris (e.g. tissue, coagulated blood, etc.), body fluid, etc. from the shaft assembly. The feature may remove the surgical debris, body fluid, etc. from a cavity within the shaft assembly. The feature may also prevent the collection of surgical debris, body fluid, etc. within the shaft assembly.

Abstract: A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an end effector, a body assembly, a power source, and a control module. The end effector is operable for use in a surgical procedure and can deliver energy to a surgical site. The end effector comprises at least one sensor. The sensor is able to measure at least one physical characteristic associated with the surgical site. The body assembly is in communication with the end effector. The power source is in communication with the body assembly and is operable to deliver power to the end effector. The control module is in communication with the sensor and is operable to change delivery of power to the end effector based on data from the sensor indicating a change in tissue density.