Abstract: A method for resetting a stapling apparatus includes providing an apparatus with a cam member in a fired position. A circuit of the apparatus is then changed from a first polarity state to a second polarity state. A motor of the apparatus is then activated to rotate the cam member from a fired position back to a home position while the circuit is in the second polarity state.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes a shaft extendable through a handle, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft and including a first and second jaws providing first and second jaw extension, a plurality of drive members extending along the shaft and actuatable by the handle, and an articulable wrist interposing the end effector and the distal end. The wrist includes a proximal clevis, a distal clevis rotatably coupled to the proximal clevis, first and second pulleys rotatably mounted to the distal clevis, the first jaw extension being pinned to the first pulley and the second jaw extension being pinned to the second pulley, and a linkage mounted to the jaws. The plurality of drive members terminate at the first and second pulleys and are antagonistically operable to open and close the jaws and articulate the end effector in pitch and yaw.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an end effector with an ultrasonic blade, an acoustic waveguide, an ultrasonic transducer assembly, and a carrier. At least a proximal portion of the acoustic waveguide extends along a longitudinal axis. The ultrasonic transducer assembly is operatively coupled with the acoustic waveguide. The carrier is configured to translate the end effector. The carrier includes a carriage and a translation driver. The carriage movably supports the ultrasonic transducer assembly along the longitudinal axis. The translation driver is configured to translate the carriage and the ultrasonic transducer assembly along the longitudinal axis so that the ultrasonic transducer assembly moves from a proximal position along the longitudinal axis to a distal position along the longitudinal axis for inserting the ultrasonic blade into a patient.

Abstract: A surgical visualization system comprises: (a) a set of one or more imaging devices, wherein the set of one or more imaging devices is adapted to capture a view of an interior of a cavity of a patient; (b) a display; and (c) a processor in operative communication with the set of one or more imaging devices and the display, wherein the processor is configured to present an interface on the display, the interface comprising a second field of view of the interior of the cavity of the patient, wherein the second field of view is comprised by the first field of view.

Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical instrument includes a lower jaw, an anvil, and a resilient member. The anvil is pivotable relative to the lower jaw between a fully opened position and a fully closed position. The resilient member is configured to bias the anvil to remain in the fully opened position when the anvil is in the fully opened position. The end effector may include a closure ring coupled with the anvil that is translatable relative to the lower jaw and configured to engage the anvil at an interface as the closure ring translates proximally relative to the lower jaw to thereby pivot the anvil relative to the lower jaw toward the fully opened position. In various embodiments, the resilient member may comprise elastomeric material positioned between the closure ring and the anvil or a pair of springs or resilient arms that engage the anvil.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool includes an elongate shaft extendable through a handle that provides a drive input, an actuation system housed within the handle and operatively coupled to the drive input such that actuation of the drive input operates the actuation system, a rocker bar system arranged at a proximal end of the shaft and actuatable to articulate an end effector at a distal end of the shaft, and first and second drive cables extending along a portion of the shaft, each drive cable having a proximal end anchored to the shaft proximal to the handle and a distal end anchored to the shaft distal to the handle, wherein the drive cables are threaded through portions of the actuation and rocker bar systems such that operation of the actuation system acts on the drive cables and thereby actuates the rocker bar system to articulate the end effector.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The body includes a motor, a first user input feature, and a second user input feature. The first user input feature is operable to activate the motor. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes an anvil coupling feature, at least one annular array of staples, and a staple driver. The second user input feature is operable to drive the anvil coupling feature longitudinally. The staple driver is operable to drive the at least one annular array of staples. The motor is operable to drive the staple driver. The anvil is configured to couple with the anvil coupling feature. The anvil is further configured to deform the staples driven by the staple driver.

Abstract: A surgical robotic visualization system comprises a first robotic arm, a second robotic arm, a photoacoustic receiver coupled to the first robotic arm, an emitter assembly coupled to the second robotic arm, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to cause the emitter assembly to emit electromagnetic radiation toward an anatomical structure at a plurality of wavelengths capable of penetrating the anatomical structure and reaching an embedded structure located below a surface of the anatomical structure, receive an input of the photoacoustic receiver indicative of an acoustic response signal of the embedded structure, and detect the embedded structure based on the input from the photoacoustic receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a scope base configured to be positioned extracorporeally relative to a patient. The scope base is configured to attach to at least one drive mechanism. The apparatus also includes an outer sheath extending distally from the scope base, an insertion channel extending through each of the scope base and the outer sheath, and a scope shaft actuatable relative to the scope base and slidably disposed within the insertion channel. The scope shaft includes a rigid proximal shaft portion configured to be driven by the at least one drive mechanism. The scope shaft also includes a deflectable distal shaft portion. The deflectable distal shaft portion is deflectable relative to the proximal shaft portion. The scope shaft further includes a distal end configured to provide visualization of a body cavity.

Abstract: A system includes a surgical scope, a feed device, and a controller. The surgical scope is configured to extend through a surgical opening in a body wall of a patient and into a body cavity and includes a distal tip having a lens configured to visualize an anatomical structure. The feed device is operable to selectively advance and retract the surgical scope relative to the body wall. The controller is in communication with the surgical scope and the feed device, and is configured to determine a present target distance measured from the distal tip to the anatomical structure, and compare the present target distance to a threshold target distance. Based on the comparison, the controller is configured to at least one of control the feed device to advance, retract, or halt the surgical scope longitudinally relative to the body wall, or provide a notification to a user of the system.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a shaft assembly, an actuation driver, and an actuation assembly. The end effector includes first and second jaws. At least one of the first and second jaws is configured to move relative to the other of the first and second jaws to compress tissue therebetween. The shaft assembly extends proximally from the end effector. The shaft assembly includes a closure member extending along a longitudinal axis. The actuation driver is configured to configured to receive a motor output from a motor. The actuation assembly is operatively coupled with the actuation driver and the closure member. The actuation assembly includes a translating member configured to translate together with the closure member along the longitudinal axis a predetermined distance using the actuation driver such that the closure member applies a predetermined closure force to the first and second jaws corresponding to the predetermined distance.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprises a shaft assembly including a waveguide, and an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft assembly and including an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The instrument also comprises a base translatably coupled to shaft assembly. The base includes a first mechanical input and a second mechanical input. The instrument further comprises a closure actuation mechanism operatively connected between the first mechanical input and the clamp arm and configured to actuate the clamp arm from an open position toward a closed position upon selective drive of the first mechanical input. The instrument also includes an insertion actuation mechanism operatively connected between the second mechanical input and the shaft assembly and configured to actuate the shaft assembly from a proximal position toward a distal position upon selective drive of the second mechanical input for insertion of the end effector.

Abstract: A tissue thickness compensator comprising a first compensation layer, a second compensation layer, and a pocket situated between the compensation layers can be positioned in the end effector of a surgical instrument. A fastener cartridge positioned in the end effector can comprise a fastener moveable between an initial position and a fired position. When the fastener is moved from the initial position to the fired position, the fastener can move through the pocket and can compress a portion of the tissue thickness compensator. A support can be positioned between the first and second compensation layers. When the fastener compresses the tissue thickness compensator, at least one of the support, first compensation layer and second compensation layer can be deformed. The tissue thickness compensator can also comprise a tab and/or a limiting plate to control deformation of the compensation layers and/or the support.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an end effector, a shaft assembly, and a waveguide grounding feature. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm movable between an open position and a closed position. The shaft assembly includes a proximal shaft portion extending along a longitudinal axis, an acoustic waveguide extending proximally from the ultrasonic blade, a distal shaft portion extending along a distal axis, and an articulation section interposed between the proximal shaft portion and the distal shaft portion. The articulation section can deflect the distal shaft portion and the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis between a straight configuration and an articulated configuration. The waveguide grounding feature inhibits the ultrasonic blade from shifting relative to the clamp arm along the distal axis as the end effector is driven between the straight configuration and the articulated configuration.

Abstract: A method of manually operating a surgical tool includes arranging the surgical tool adjacent a patient, the surgical tool including a drive housing having opposing first and second ends, a spline extending between the first and second ends and being rotatably coupled to a drive input at the first end, a drive gear coupled to and rotatable with the spline, a carriage movably mounted to the spline and housing an activating mechanism operatively coupled to the drive gear such that rotation of the spline actuates the activating mechanism, and a bailout mechanism arranged at the second end and including a lever engageable with the spline. The lever is movable relative to the spline to engage the lever allow the lever to be manually rotated to rotate the spline and the drive gear to manually actuate the activating mechanism.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a shaft assembly, a carrier, and a support structure. Shaft assembly extends proximally from the end effector. The shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis. The carrier is configured to translate the end effector along the longitudinal axis. The carrier includes a carriage, an actuation driver, and an actuation assembly. The actuation driver is configured to rotate along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis. The actuation assembly is operatively coupled with the actuation driver and the carriage. The support structure includes a supporting portion. The supporting portion is configured to reduce torsional forces exerted on the carriage as the actuation assembly transfers the rotation of the actuation driver into translation of a portion of the shaft assembly to actuate the end effector.

Abstract: An input control device is disclosed. The input control device includes a central portion coupled to a multi-axis force and torque sensor, which is configured to receive input control motions from a surgeon. The central portion is flexibly supported on a base. The input control device also includes a rotary joint coupled to a rotary sensor. The input control device is configured to provide control motions to a robotic arm and/or a robotic tool based on input controls detected by the multi-axis force and torque sensor and the rotary sensor.

Abstract: Surgical systems are provided. The surgical system includes a first scope device configured to transmit image data of a first scene within a field of view of the first scope device. A second scope device is configured to transmit image data of a second scene within a field of view of the second scope device. A tracking device is associated with one of the scope devices and configured to transmit a signal indicative of a location of the one of the scope devices. A controller is configured to receive the transmitted image data and the transmitted signal to determine a relative distance between the scope devices and to provide a merged image of at least a portion of the scope devices in a single scene, where at least one of the scope devices in the merged image is a representative depiction.

Abstract: A robotic surgical tool comprises a stage assembly and a core assembly removably mountable to the stage assembly. The stage assembly may comprise a lead screw and at least one spline extendable between first and second ends of the stage assembly, and a nut rotatably mounted to the lead screw to translate between the first and second ends upon rotation of the lead screw. The core assembly may comprise a drive housing that is movably mountable to the stage assembly to translate, with the nut, between the first and second ends of the stage assembly. The surgical tool may also comprise a shroud assembly having a primary shroud and a secondary shroud, the primary shroud at least partially enclosing the core assembly when installed on the stage assembly, and the secondary shroud being movable between a first position, where the secondary shroud occludes an opening in the primary shroud, and a second position, where the opening in the primary shroud is exposed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft including a distal shaft end. At least a portion of the shaft defines a first axis. The apparatus also includes a sleeve slidably coupled to the shaft. The sleeve includes a distal sleeve end. The apparatus further includes a colpotomy cup fixedly secured to the distal sleeve end, and a movable member extending distally from the distal shaft end. The movable member is configured to move relative to the shaft between a first state in which the movable member extends substantially along the first axis and a second state in which the movable member extends at least partially along a second axis transverse to the first axis for manipulating an anatomical structure.