Abstract: An apparatus includes an end effector including an anvil and lower jaw. The anvil is pivotable toward the lower jaw to capture tissue. The apparatus further includes a stapling and severing assembly configured to sever and staple tissue clamped between the anvil and the lower jaw. A staple cartridge is coupled with the lower jaw. The staple cartridge includes a deck facing the anvil, a plurality of staples positioned in a plurality of staple openings formed through the deck, and a cinching feature positioned on the deck. At least a portion of the cinching feature is configured to be captured by the staples as the staples are driven out of the staple openings in response to activation of the stapling and severing mechanism. The cinching feature is configured to cinch severed and stapled tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a deck defining a plurality of openings. Each opening of the plurality of openings is associated with a corresponding staple of the plurality of staples, such that each staple is configured to pass through a corresponding opening of the plurality of openings. The apparatus further includes a deformable feature configured to be coupled to tissue in response to actuation of the staple cartridge. The deformable feature is configured to retain at least one outer portion of stapled tissue in an inwardly directed position relative to an inner portion of stapled tissue.

Abstract: A circular stapling instrument is disclosed which comprises a replaceable staple cartridge. The circular stapling instrument and/or staple cartridge comprises a lockout configured to prevent a previously-fired staple cartridge from being re-used.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, an anvil, an anvil adjustment assembly, a trigger, and a lockout assembly. The stapling head assembly is operable to drive an annular array of staples. The anvil is configured to couple with the stapling head assembly. The anvil adjustment assembly includes a translating member, which translates relative to the body to thereby adjust the longitudinal position of the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly. The trigger is operable to actuate the stapling head assembly. The lockout assembly includes an electrically powered braking feature. A method of operating the surgical instrument includes providing the lockout assembly in a first state to permit translation of the translating member. The translating member is then translated. The lockout assembly is then transitioned to a second state to prevent further translation of the translating member.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The stapling instrument comprises a staple cartridge configured to staple the tissue of a patient and a cutting member configure to incise the tissue. The stapling instrument further comprises an anvil movable between an open position and a closed position to clamp tissue against the staple cartridge. The anvil is configured to deform the staples when the staples are ejected from the staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the stapling instrument comprises a lockout configured to prevent the cutting member from incising the tissue until after the staples have been formed. In at least one embodiment, the stapling instrument comprises a lockout configured to prevent the anvil from being opened while the cutting member is exposed.

Abstract: A surgical circular stapler has a handle assembly, a shaft, a stapling assembly, and a firing assembly. The shaft extends distally from the handle assembly. The stapling assembly is secured to a distal end of the shaft. Longitudinal translation of the firing assembly causes the stapling assembly to drive a plurality of staples in a circular array to secure two lumens of tissue together. The stapling assembly may further drive a blade to sever any excess tissue interior of the circular array of staples. The stapler further includes a lockout assembly configured to control firing of the stapling assembly. The lockout assembly may include one or more switches, the actuation of which is configured to prevent or permit firing of the stapling assembly. The lockout assembly may additionally or alternatively include one or more mechanical lockout features configured to control firing of the stapling assembly.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument having one or more sensors at or a near an end effector and configured to aide in the detection of tissues and other materials and structures at a surgical site. The detections may then be used to aide in the placement of the end effector and to confirm which objects to operate on, or alternatively, to avoid. Examples of sensors include laser sensors used to employ Doppler shift principles to detect movement of objects at the surgical site, such as blood cells; resistance sensors to detect the presence of metal; monochromatic light sources that allow for different levels of absorption from different types of substances present at the surgical site, and near infrared spectrometers with small form factors.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a stapling head assembly, an anvil, a firing assembly, a motor, a user input feature, and an electrical circuit. The firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly to drive an annular array of staples through tissue toward the anvil. The motor actuates the firing assembly through an actuation stroke to thereby actuate the stapling head assembly. The electrical circuit includes a trigger switch and an electrical latching feature. The trigger transitions from an open state to a closed state in response to the user input feature transitioning from a non-actuated state to an actuated state. The electrical circuit activates the motor in response to closure of the trigger switch. The electrical latching feature maintains activation of the motor to complete the actuation stroke even if the trigger switch is transitioned back to the open state before completion of the actuation stroke.

Abstract: Circular and curved surgical stapling instruments are disclosed comprising circular and curved stapling configurations. A circular staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples arranged in an inner row, an intermediate row, and an outer row. Staples in certain rows can have different unformed heights. Some arrangements include deck features that protrude from the staple cartridge deck. Various anvil arrangements are also disclosed to attain staples having different formed heights.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a stapling head assembly, an anvil, a firing assembly, a motor, a user input feature, and an electrical circuit. The firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly to drive an annular array of staples through tissue toward the anvil. The motor actuates the firing assembly through an actuation stroke to thereby actuate the stapling head assembly. The electrical circuit includes a trigger switch and an electrical latching feature. The trigger transitions from an open state to a closed state in response to the user input feature transitioning from a non-actuated state to an actuated state. The electrical circuit activates the motor in response to closure of the trigger switch. The electrical latching feature maintains activation of the motor to complete the actuation stroke even if the trigger switch is transitioned back to the open state before completion of the actuation stroke.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and devices for delivering gaseous Nitrous Oxide (gNO) under therapeutic parameters to reduce infection in a subject. Certain embodiments include devices and systems for delivering pressurized gNO to reduce bioburden and promote healing in the wounds of subjects having various disease conditions, including skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and osteomyelitis. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides portable wound healing devices for delivering pressurized gNO to the site of a wound to treat various disease conditions in a subject.

Abstract: Tissue thickness compensators for use with circular surgical staplers. Various tissue thickness compensators are disclosed for deployment between a stapler head of a surgical circular stapler and an anvil attached thereto to accommodate variances in tissue thickness during stapling. Some tissue thickness compensator arrangements include means and configurations for deploying healing agents for enhancing the healing process.

Abstract: A surgical circular stapler has a handle assembly, a shaft, a stapling assembly, and a firing assembly. The shaft extends distally from the handle assembly. The stapling assembly is secured to a distal end of the shaft. Longitudinal translation of the firing assembly causes the stapling assembly to drive a plurality of staples in a circular array to secure two lumens of tissue together. The stapling assembly may further drive a blade to sever any excess tissue interior of the circular array of staples. The stapler further includes a lockout assembly configured to control firing of the stapling assembly. The lockout assembly may include one or more switches, the actuation of which is configured to prevent or permit firing of the stapling assembly. The lockout assembly may additionally or alternatively include one or more mechanical lockout features configured to control firing of the stapling assembly.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for stapling tissue includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an anvil. The shaft assembly includes a stapling head assembly and an actuator. The anvil is configured to be selectively coupled to the actuator. The anvil is configured to cooperate with the stapling head assembly to staple tissue. The anvil comprises a head and a shank extending from the head. The shank includes a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen, and an engagement feature. The engagement feature is in communication with the lumen such that the engagement feature is configured to move relative to the axis in response to the rod being directed into the lumen. The engagement feature is configured to selectively couple the shank to the actuator. The proximal end of the engagement feature is radially fixed relative to the axis.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a stapling head assembly, an anvil, a firing assembly, a load sensor, and an indicator. The firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly to drive an annular array of staples through tissue toward the anvil. The load sensor is operable to sense a load in the firing assembly while the firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly. The indicator is operable to provide feedback based on the load sensed by the load sensor. The firing assembly may include a longitudinally translatable member. The instrument may further include a position sensor that is operable to sense a longitudinal position of the translatable member while the firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly. The indicator may be activated based on data from at least one of the sensors indicating completion or failure of a full actuation stroke of the firing assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods useful for immune activation that is effective for eliciting a non-antigen-specific immune response in a subject. An immunomodulator composition can include a therapeutically effective amount of a liquid nitric oxide releasing solution (NORS) for eliciting an immune response in a subject to treat an adverse health condition in the subject.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly having a trigger operable to fire a staple driver to staple tissue. The instrument includes a pointed rod to which an anvil may be coupled. An anvil detection feature is included to determine when the anvil is coupled to the rod. In some versions, the anvil detection feature comprises a translatable rod that inhibits a lockout feature from disengaging. In other versions, an anvil sensing tube is disposed about the pointed rod and interferes with actuation of the trigger in a first position. A recess in the tube permits trigger to actuate when the anvil sensing tube is in the second position. Alternatively, a resilient tab is coupled to the pointed rod and resists actuation of the staple driver. A trigger lockout assembly may include a spring-loaded button that “pops” out when a push rod is actuated, thereby freeing a pivotable lockout feature.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The stapling head assembly includes an annular deck member, a plurality of staples, and a driver. The deck member includes a deck surface that has a curved profile defined by a curve extending from the inner diameter of the deck member to the outer diameter of the deck member. The deck member further includes an outer array of staple openings and an inner array of staple openings. The driver is operable to drive the staples through the staple openings. The anvil is operable to compress tissue against the first deck surface.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly, and an anvil. The stapling head assembly includes an annular deck member, a plurality of staples, and a driver. The deck member includes a deck surface that has a curved profile defined by a curve extending from the inner diameter of the deck member to the outer diameter of the deck member. The deck member further includes an outer array of staple openings and an inner array of staple openings. The driver is operable to drive the staples through the staple openings. The anvil is operable to compress tissue against the first deck surface.