Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a handle assembly, a trigger assembly, an input driving body, and a coupling body. The end effector includes a pair of jaws, a knife, and an RF electrode assembly. The input driving body drives the knife between the pre-fired position and the fired position when traveling between the first position and the second position. The engagement body of the trigger assembly drives the input driving body from the first position to the second position when the coupling body is in the engaged position. The input driving body returns to the first position when the coupling body is in the disengaged position. The coupling body moves from the engaged position to the disengaged position is response to the input driving body traveling from the second position to the third position such that the input driving body returns to the first position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a handle assembly, a knife drive assembly, an electrode activation assembly, and a lockout assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a knife, and an electrode assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing associated with the first jaw and an arm associated with the second jaw, where the arm is configured to pivot the second jaw between an open position and a closed position. The lockout assembly is may transition between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The lockout assembly may prevent activation of the electrode and prevent actuation of the knife drive assembly while in the locked configuration. The lockout assembly may allow activation of the electrode and allow actuation of the knife drive assembly while in the unlocked configuration.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a single surgical instrument configured for grasping tissue, performing sealing procedures using electrosurgical or ultrasonic energy, suctioning fluid, and providing irrigation. An end effector of the surgical instrument may include multiple members arranged in various configurations to collectively perform the aforementioned functions. The suction and irrigation elements may comprise one or more fluid paths configured to deliver fluid to or evacuate fluid from a surgical field. In this way, a user, such as a clinician or surgeon, may rely on a single surgical instrument to perform these tasks typical in surgery while having an extra hand available and so as to not need to divert his or her concentration away from the surgical site in order to access multiple devices. Further, the timing for performing each of the functions may be made quicker, due to not needing to switch using multiple devices.

Abstract: A first subassembly includes a body and an ultrasonic blade. A second subassembly is configured to removably couple with the first subassembly and includes a first clamp arm and a first clamp arm actuator. The first clamp arm is configured to be located on a first side of the longitudinal axis of the body, and the first clamp arm actuator is configured to be located on a second side of the longitudinal axis, when the second subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly. The third subassembly is similar to the second subassembly except that the second clamp arm of the third subassembly is configured to be located on the second side of the longitudinal axis of the body when the third subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly.

Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed including a frame, an electric motor, a power source configured to supply power to the electric motor, a firing member, a manual release for retracting the firing member, and a controller for de-energizing the electric motor while a retraction motion is applied to the firing member. The electric motor is configured to impart a firing motion to the firing member.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an articulation section. The articulation section is longitudinally interposed between a distal end of the shaft assembly and a proximal end of the end effector. The articulation section is configured to flex to thereby provide deflection of the end effector away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The articulation section includes a first frame member, a second frame member, and a sleeve. The proximal end of the second frame member is proximal to the proximal end of the first frame member. The sleeve is disposed about the first and second frame members.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a handle assembly and an end effector, including a first jaw pivotably coupled to a second jaw, is disclosed. The handle assembly may comprise a jaw position sensor comprising a switch, a closure trigger, and a clamp spring actuatable by the closure trigger. The closure trigger may be configured to: rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to the first and second jaws in an open position and the second position corresponds to the first and second jaws in a closed position, and activate the switch of the jaw position sensor at a predetermined rotated position. The clamp spring may be configured to: cause the first and second jaws to transition between the open position and the closed position, and apply a force to the first and second jaws.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a handle assembly, a trigger assembly, an input driving body, and a coupling body. The end effector includes a pair of jaws, a knife, and an RF electrode assembly. The input driving body drives the knife between the pre-fired position and the fired position when traveling between the first position and the second position. The engagement body of the trigger assembly drives the input driving body from the first position to the second position when the coupling body is in the engaged position. The input driving body returns to the first position when the coupling body is in the disengaged position. The coupling body moves from the engaged position to the disengaged position is response to the input driving body traveling from the second position to the third position such that the input driving body returns to the first position.

Abstract: Various exemplary methods and devices for actuating surgical instruments are provided. In general, a surgical device can include one or more actuation shafts configured to facilitate actuation of the device. In an exemplary embodiment, the device can include four actuation shafts, two actuation shafts to facilitate articulation of the device, one actuation shaft to facilitate opening and closing of jaws at a distal end of the device, and one actuation shaft to facilitate moving a cutting element of the device. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the one or more actuation shafts can include a distal elongate member and a proximal elongate member having a proximal end attached to a distal end of the distal elongate member. The proximal elongate member can be rigid, and the distal elongate member can be flexible.

Abstract: A first subassembly includes a body and an ultrasonic blade. A second subassembly is configured to removably couple with the first subassembly and includes a first clamp arm and a first clamp arm actuator. The first clamp arm is configured to be located on a first side of the longitudinal axis of the body, and the first clamp arm actuator is configured to be located on a second side of the longitudinal axis, when the second subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly. The third subassembly is similar to the second subassembly except that the second clamp arm of the third subassembly is configured to be located on the second side of the longitudinal axis of the body when the third subassembly is coupled with the first subassembly.

Abstract: An end effector is disclosed. The end effector includes a first jaw member. The first jaw member comprises a first electrode. The first jaw member defines a first aperture at a distal end. The end effector includes a second jaw member. The second jaw member comprises a second electrode. The second jaw member defines a second aperture at a distal end. The second jaw member is operatively coupled to the first jaw member. The first and second apertures are configured to define a single aperture when the first and second jaw members are in a closed position. The first and second electrodes are configured to deliver energy.

Abstract: An end effector includes a grasping portion that includes a first jaw member having a first electrode, a second jaw member having a second electrode, a first electrically conductive member located either on the first jaw member or the second jaw member, and a gap setting portion having a second electrically conductive member located at the distal end of either the first jaw member or the second jaw member. The electrically insulative member is sized and configured to engage tissue and the second electrically conductive member sized and configured to define a minimum distance between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a handle assembly, and a knife drive assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, a knife, and an electrode assembly. The second jaw is pivotably coupled with the first jaw and is operable to move between an open position and a closed position. The knife is configured to actuate between a pre-fired position and a fired position. The electrode assembly is configured to apply RF energy to tissue. The handle assembly includes a housing associated with the first jaw and an arm associated with the second jaw. The arm is configured to pivot the second jaw between the open position and the closed position. The knife drive assembly includes an input assembly, an output assembly, and a threaded member rotatably disposed within the housing. The threaded member includes a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion. The first threaded portion is associated with the input assembly and includes a first pitch extending in a first pitch orientation.

Abstract: An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a discharge port in communication with a first fluid path, an aspiration port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a diverter in mechanical communication with the two electrodes. The diverter may receive, on its surface, a fluid emitted by the discharge port, and maintain a contact of the fluid with the first and second electrodes. The diverter may be further configured to prevent an aspiration, by the aspiration port, of the fluid on its surface. An electrosurgical device may include a source port in communication with a first fluid path, an evacuation port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a housing. The device may include a shaft extending distally from the housing and the end effector as described above.

Abstract: Various surgical devices are provided having mechanisms for preventing premature actuation of a cutting mechanism. These devices generally include a handle having one or more actuators and an effector disposed at a distal end of the device and configured to grasp tissue. When the end effector is in an open position, a firing actuator can be positioned so that it cannot be actuated by a user. For example, the firing actuator can be obstructed by a shield or arm when the end effector is in the open position. In other embodiments, the firing actuator can be hidden in a recess formed in the closure actuator until the end effector is moved to the closed position. When the end effector is in the closed position, the firing actuator can be engaged to advance a cutting mechanism, thereby cutting the tissue grasped by the end effector.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a body, an ultrasonic transducer rotatably supported within the body and having a threaded distal end, a shaft extending from the body, a waveguide extending through the shaft and having a threaded proximal end configured to threadedly engage the threaded distal end to define a threaded coupling, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. An integrated torque wrench mechanism is arranged within the body and includes a first torque wrench member rotationally coupled with a proximal end of the transducer, and a second torque wrench member arranged proximally of the first torque wrench member. The torque wrench members are configured to selectively couple together and frictionally engage one another to facilitate application of a predetermined maximum torque to the threaded coupling. The torque wrench members are configured to automatically decouple upon application of the predetermined maximum torque to the threaded coupling.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, a first handle, and a second handle. The second jaw is pivotally coupled with the first jaw. The first jaw and the second jaw are configured to grasp tissue. The jaws provide offset electrode surfaces that are operable to deliver bipolar RF energy to tissue grasped between the jaws. The apparatus is further operable to sever tissue. A lockout feature selectively prevents tissue severing, based on an energization state of the jaws.

Abstract: Various exemplary methods and devices for actuating surgical instruments are provided. In general, a surgical device can include one or more actuation shafts configured to facilitate actuation of the device. In an exemplary embodiment, the device can include four actuation shafts, two actuation shafts to facilitate articulation of the device, one actuation shaft to facilitate opening and closing of jaws at a distal end of the device, and one actuation shaft to facilitate moving a cutting element of the device. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the one or more actuation shafts can include a distal elongate member and a proximal elongate member having a proximal end attached to a distal end of the distal elongate member. The proximal elongate member can be rigid, and the distal elongate member can be flexible.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm assembly. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with an acoustic waveguide of the shaft assembly. The clamp arm assembly is pivotable toward and away from the ultrasonic blade. The clamp arm assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first and second electrodes are operable to cooperate to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue.

Abstract: In general, surgical devices having monopolar functionality and bipolar functionality are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a surgical device is configured to selectively apply each of bipolar energy and monopolar energy.