Abstract: Surgical access devices having wound closure features incorporated as part of the device are provided. The devices allow suture to be inserted directly into the device and operated to close an opening through which the device is disposed as or shortly after the device is removed from the surgical site. Further, the wound closure features allow for various orientations of wound closure to be achieved by adjusting an angle at which the suture enters tissue surrounding the opening to be closed. Some of the wound closure features provided for include openings formed in both the housing and cannula of the surgical access device, multiple openings formed in one or both the housing and cannula, locations of the openings being adjustable or otherwise movable, and various flexible seals. Other features, as well as methods of closing an opening through which the surgical access device was disposed, are also provided.

Abstract: A method for deforming a staple comprising a base, a first staple leg, and a second staple leg, wherein the base, the first staple leg, and the second staple leg are positioned within a common plane prior to being deformed, the method comprising positioning the first staple leg within a first cup of a staple pocket, the first cup comprising a first inner surface, applying a first compressive force to the first staple leg to bend the first staple leg toward the base and the second staple leg, contacting the first inner surface with the end of the first staple leg to bend the end of the first staple leg toward a first side of the base, and deforming the first staple leg such that the end of the first staple leg crosses a mid-line of the staple defined between the first staple leg and the second staple leg.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing a platform, and a first buttress assembly. The housing defines a gap configured to receive a portion of an end effector of a surgical stapler. The housing includes proximal and distal portions. A portion of the platform is exposed within the gap defined by the housing. The platform includes proximal and distal portions. The first buttress assembly is positioned on at least the proximal portion of the platform. The first buttress assembly is exposed in the gap defined by the housing. At least one of the distal portion of the platform or the distal portion of the housing includes a cavity configured to receive a curved distal tip of the end effector.

Abstract: Various adjunct releasing mechanisms are provided herein that can be incorporated into surgical devices, such as an end effector of a surgical stapler. For example, an adjunct releasing mechanism can act to release an adjunct attached to an end effector of a surgical stapler upon deployment of staples retained within the end effector. The adjunct can be retained on the end effector through a variety of means, such as through use of adhesive or by having a portion of the adjunct partially received within cavities formed on a tissue-facing surface of the end effector. The releasing mechanisms can extend into the cavities formed on the tissue-facing surface of the end effector to cause the adjunct to detach from the end effector upon deployment of staples.

Abstract: A disposable end effector for use with a surgical fastening instrument is disclosed. The disposable end effector comprises a proximal end configured to be attached to a shaft of the surgical fastening instrument, a distal end, a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing member. One of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other one of the first jaw and the second jaw to transition the disposable end effector between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The firing member transitions the disposable end effector to the closed configuration. The firing member comprises a first flange configured to engage the first jaw, a second flange configured to engage the second jaw, and two engagement surfaces configured to engage the first jaw. The first flange and the second flange are comprised of a metal. Resilient material is inserted on the two engagement surfaces.

Abstract: A cannula sleeve for a surgical trocar assembly. The cannula sleeve includes a hollow shaft, at least a portion of which is made of a rigid material, and a seal at the distal end of the hollow shaft, the seal being movable between a first open position and a second closed position. The shaft defines a proximal end, a distal end, a periphery, and a longitudinal axis. The shaft further includes a channel at the periphery substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the channel being in communication with the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body is disclosed. The cartridge body comprises staple cavities defined in the cartridge body. The staple cavities are arranged in an inner longitudinal row of staple cavities, a middle longitudinal row of staple cavities, and an outer longitudinal row of staple cavities. The staple cartridge also comprises a proximal staple driver configured to eject a first quantity of staples. The staple cartridge also comprises an intermediate staple driver positioned distally to the proximal staple driver, wherein the intermediate staple driver is configured to eject a second quantity of staples. The staple cartridge further comprises a distal staple driver positioned distally to the intermediate staple driver, wherein the distal staple driver is configured to eject a third quantity of staples.

Abstract: Surgical access devices having wound closure features incorporated as part of the device are provided. The devices allow suture to be inserted directly into the device and operated to close an opening through which the device is disposed as or shortly after the device is removed from the surgical site. Further, the wound closure features allow for various orientations of wound closure to be achieved by adjusting an angle at which the suture enters tissue surrounding the opening to be closed. Some of the wound closure features provided for include openings formed in both the housing and cannula of the surgical access device, multiple openings formed in one or both the housing and cannula, locations of the openings being adjustable or otherwise movable, and various flexible seals. Other features, as well as methods of closing an opening through which the surgical access device was disposed, are also provided.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly that releasably attaches to the body assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The body assembly includes a first electrical contact and a first sealing portion. The shaft assembly includes a second electrical contact and a second sealing portion. The first and second electrical contacts are configured to electrically couple together to establish an electrical connection therebetween when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. The first and second sealing portions are configured to sealingly engage one another when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly to establish a liquid-tight seal that surrounds the electrical connection.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly that releasably attaches to the body assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The body assembly includes a first support structure, a first electrical contact supported by the first support structure, and a first sealing surface. The shaft assembly includes a second support structure, a second electrical contact supported by the second support structure, and a second sealing surface. When the shaft assembly attaches to the body assembly, the first and second electrical contacts electrically couple to establish an electrical connection therebetween, and the first and second sealing surfaces sealingly engage to block fluid from reaching the electrical connection. At least one of the first or second sealing surfaces is movable relative to the respective support structure to facilitate the sealing engagement.

Abstract: Surgical access devices having wound closure features incorporated as part of the device are provided. The devices allow suture to be inserted directly into the device and operated to close an opening through which the device is disposed as or shortly after the device is removed from the surgical site. Further, the wound closure features allow for various orientations of wound closure to be achieved by adjusting an angle at which the suture enters tissue surrounding the opening to be closed. Some of the wound closure features provided for include openings formed in both the housing and cannula of the surgical access device, multiple openings formed in one or both the housing and cannula, locations of the openings being adjustable or otherwise movable, and various flexible seals. Other features, as well as methods of closing an opening through which the surgical access device was disposed, are also provided.

Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a stapling device that has an actuator that is selectively actuatable in an axial direction and an anvil portion that is selectively movable between open and closed positions is disclosed. Various embodiments of the present invention include a cartridge body that movably supports first and second staple drivers. The staple drivers each support a staple thereon and serve to drive the staples into forming contact with the anvil upon actuation by the actuator. The various embodiments of the present invention enable the final formed heights of the staples to be varied so as to apply various clamping forces and pressures to soft tissue captured within the staples. In at least one embodiment, the staples can include crowns formed thereon which can be utilized to adjust or control the clamping force and/or pressure applied by the staples.

Abstract: A surgical staple including at least two deformable members which can be bent upon contacting an anvil of a surgical stapler. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the deformable members can include a non-circular cross-section which can dictate the direction and manner in which the deformable members are bent. In at least one embodiment, the non-circular cross-section can include a flat portion which can cause the deformable members to bend in the direction of the flat portion. In various embodiments, the at least two deformable members can be connected by a dissolvable or bioabsorbable crown. In at least one various embodiment, the crown can dissolve and can, depending on the cross-sectional geometry of the deformable members, reduce the force or pressure applied to soft tissue captured within the staple by the bent deformable member.

Abstract: Methods and devices create an intestinal braking effect, are non-invasive or minimally invasive, and may be reversible. These methods and devices are accomplished via stabilized implantable systems, and ingestible pills. In one embodiment, the implantable system comprises a device delivering a therapeutic substance to a target location within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient in order to initiate an intestinal braking effect which would promote sensations of satiety and stimulate excess weight loss for the patient.

Abstract: A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member, a motor coupled to the displacement member, a control circuit coupled to the motor, and a position sensor coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to determine a velocity of the displacement member via the position sensor, and cause the display to present an indicia that is indicative of the velocity of the displacement member, wherein a portion of the display occupied by the indicia corresponds to the velocity of the displacement member.

Abstract: A surgical stapling system comprising a lockout is disclosed. The lockout is configured to prevent the stapling system from performing a stapling firing function if an unspent staple cartridge is not fully seated in the stapling system. In various instances, the lockout is configured to permit the stapling system to perform a jaw clamping function even though an unspent staple cartridge is not fully seated in the stapling system.

Abstract: Surgical devices and methods are described. The loading devices can include an elongate shaft extending distally from a housing and a hinge can be disposed between the elongate shaft and an articulating distal portion. The articulating distal portion can hold an end effector to be loaded onto a surgical device. The loading device can have features for stabilizing and holding the distal portion at a particular angular position relative to the elongate shaft, such as washers having protrusions that seat in corresponding recesses formed in the hinge. During articulation of the distal portion, an articulation rack can be advanced which can deform the protrusions on the washers. The washers can rotate and seat in the recesses at the next angular position and change the degree of articulation. The deformable washer and corresponding recesses can apply a biasing force that holds the articulating distal portion in a desired angled position.

Abstract: Surgical instruments and methods including a stop guard are described herein. An exemplary instrument can include an inner shaft disposed within an outer shaft, the inner shaft including a tissue-piercing tip and being effective to secure an end effector to the device. A stop guard can be coupled to the inner shaft and extend through outer shaft sidewall openings when the tip is advanced distally or retract into the outer shaft when the tip is retracted proximally. In a percutaneous procedure, external force applied to the stop guard by the tissue can retract the tip to prevent damage to surrounding tissue as the instrument is advanced distally. Moreover, once passed through pierced tissue, the stop guard can be redeployed when the inner shaft is advanced distally to secure an end effector to the instrument and can prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the instrument.

Abstract: A stapling assembly comprising an end effector movable from an open configuration to a closed configuration is disclosed. The end effector comprises an anvil and a staple cartridge comprising a first tissue-contact surface, a second tissue-contact surface stepped up from the first tissue-contact surface, an annular row of cavities, and a plurality of staples removably stored in the cavities. The anvil is configured to transition the staples from an unformed configuration to a formed configuration. Each staple comprises a crown, a first staple leg extending from the crown, and a second staple leg extending from the crown. The first staple leg and the second staple leg define a plane intersecting the crown in the unformed configuration. The first staple leg is bent toward a first side of the plane in the formed configuration. The second staple leg is bent toward a second side of the plane in the formed configuration.