Abstract: A tool assembly for use with an electrosurgical device for cutting tissue includes a base portion, a return lead, an electrical insulator, a center pin, and an active lead. The center pin extends from the base portion and through a lumen of the electrical insulator. The active lead is securely fixed to the base portion and extends between the base portion and a distal portion of the center pin such that a portion of the active lead extends around the distal portion of the center pin and first and second segments of the active lead are spaced apart from the return lead. Upon activation, electrosurgical energy is transmitted from the active lead through tissue to the return lead to cut tissue in contact with the active lead.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device for cutting tissue includes a body portion and a tool portion extending distally from the body portion. The tool portion defines a longitudinal axis. The tool portion includes a return lead adapted to be electrically coupled to a return terminal of an electrosurgical energy source, first and second electrical insulators disposed on a first surface of the return lead, and an active lead adapted to be electrically coupled to an active terminal of the electrosurgical energy source. The first electrical insulator is disposed distal of the second electrical insulator. The active lead extends through the first and second electrical insulators such that the active lead and the first surface of the return lead define a gap therebetween. Upon activation of the electrosurgical energy source, electrosurgical energy is transmitted from the active lead through tissue to the return lead to cut the tissue.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a housing having an active electrical connector and a return electrical connector configured to operably engage a distal end of an electrosurgical instrument shaft, the housing encapsulating an elongated return electrode and a pair of insulative tubes configured to house a wire-like active electrode. The elongated return electrode includes a clevis at a distal end thereof and operably engages to the return electrical connector at a proximal end thereof. The wire-like active electrode operably engages at one end to the active electrical connector. A donut-like insulator is operably engaged to the clevis of the elongated return electrode and is configured to support the wire-like active electrode therearound. A tensioning mechanism is configured to operably engage an opposite end of the wire-like electrode and tension the wire-like active electrode about the donut-like insulator during assembly.

Abstract: A loading assembly includes a cartridge having a cartridge body with rows of staple pockets. A carrier includes a platform adapted to releasably retain the cartridge. A shell is laterally spaced from the platform and flexibly coupled thereto. The arm extends through the shell at an acute angle and the shell has a passage that is configured to receive a jaw member of a surgical stapling instrument therethrough. A surgical buttress has a distal region with a first orifice and a cutout and a proximal region with a second orifice. The first orifice is attachable to a peg located in a distal region of the shell and the second orifice is attachable to a post located in a distal region of the cartridge such that a portion of the surgical buttress extends through the passage of the shell. The cutout is configured to receive an arm of the platform therethrough.

Abstract: An auxiliary return system for use with a bipolar electrosurgical device includes a tissue guard defining an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough between the open proximal end and the open distal end. A ground plate is disposed along an inner peripheral surface of the lumen and is operably coupled to a first end of a ground wire extending from the tissue guard. A coupling is included having a bore defined therein for receiving a cable from an electrosurgical device therethrough, the cable including active and ground leads. The coupling has a flange extending therefrom defining a receptacle therein configured to operably receive a plug connected to a second end of the ground wire. The receptacle is configured to provide electrical continuity between the ground lead disposed within the cable and the plug coupled to the ground wire which, in turn, provides electrical continuity to the ground plate.

Abstract: A tool assembly for use with an electrosurgical device for cutting tissue includes a base portion, a return lead, an electrical insulator, a center pin, and an active lead. The center pin extends from the base portion and through a lumen of the electrical insulator. The active lead is securely fixed to the base portion and extends between the base portion and a distal portion of the center pin such that a portion of the active lead extends around the distal portion of the center pin and first and second segments of the active lead are spaced apart from the return lead. Upon activation, electrosurgical energy is transmitted from the active lead through tissue to the return lead to cut tissue in contact with the active lead.

Abstract: A loading assembly includes a cartridge having a cartridge body with rows of staple pockets. A carrier includes a platform adapted to releasably retain the cartridge. A shell is laterally spaced from the platform and flexibly coupled thereto. The arm extends through the shell at an acute angle and the shell has a passage that is configured to receive a jaw member of a surgical stapling instrument therethrough. A surgical buttress has a distal region with a first orifice and a cutout and a proximal region with a second orifice. The first orifice is attachable to a peg located in a distal region of the shell and the second orifice is attachable to a post located in a distal region of the cartridge such that a portion of the surgical buttress extends through the passage of the shell. The cutout is configured to receive an arm of the platform therethrough.

Abstract: A tool assembly for use with an electrosurgical device for cutting tissue includes a base portion, a return lead, an electrical insulator, a center pin, and an active lead. The center pin extends from the base portion and through a lumen of the electrical insulator. The active lead is securely fixed to the base portion and extends between the base portion and a distal portion of the center pin such that a portion of the active lead extends around the distal portion of the center pin and first and second segments of the active lead are spaced apart from the return lead. Upon activation, electrosurgical energy is transmitted from the active lead through tissue to the return lead to cut tissue in contact with the active lead.

Abstract: An auxiliary return system for use with a bipolar electrosurgical device includes a tissue guard defining an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough between the open proximal end and the open distal end. A ground plate is disposed along an inner peripheral surface of the lumen and is operably coupled to a first end of a ground wire extending from the tissue guard. A coupling is included having a bore defined therein for receiving a cable from an electrosurgical device therethrough, the cable including active and ground leads. The coupling has a flange extending therefrom defining a receptacle therein configured to operably receive a plug connected to a second end of the ground wire. The receptacle is configured to provide electrical continuity between the ground lead disposed within the cable and the plug coupled to the ground wire which, in turn, provides electrical continuity to the ground plate.

Abstract: A surgical system includes an active terminal, a return terminal, an active electrode, a return electrode, an active plug configured to connect to the active terminal, and a return plug configured to connect to the return terminal. The return plug is coupled to the return electrode and coupled between the active plug and the active electrode. The return plug is configured to break an electrical connection between the active plug and the active electrode when the return plug is not connected to the return terminal and to establish an electrical connection between the active plug and the active electrode when the return plug is connected to the return terminal.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator having active and return terminals, an electrosurgical instrument including an active electrode, a return instrument including a return electrode, an active plug configured to connect to the active terminal of the generator, a return plug configured to connect to the return terminal of the generator, an active cable extending from the return plug to the electro surgical instrument, a return cable extending from the return plug to the return instrument, a connector cable extending from the active plug to the return plug, and a mechanical switch mechanism disposed within the return plug. The mechanical switch mechanism has a disengaged position in which the active plug is electrically disconnected from the active cable and an engaged position in which the active plug is in electrical communication with the active cable.

Abstract: A tissue guard includes a body defining an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a lumen extending through the body between the open proximal end and the open distal end. The tissue guard further includes a lip extending radially outwardly from the open proximal end of the body. The lip includes a plurality of spaced-apart cut-outs defined about the outer circumference of the lip to define a plurality of tabs of the lip. Each tab includes an outer edge segment. The body and the lip are monolithically formed as a single piece of material.

Abstract: A handle assembly for actuating an end effector includes a feedback mechanism for providing an audible and/or tactical response to indicate to the user that the handle assembly is fully actuated. The feedback mechanism may include a hammer member configured to strike a surface of the handle assembly to create the audible and/or tactical response.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a housing having an active electrical connector and a return electrical connector configured to operably engage a distal end of an electrosurgical instrument shaft, the housing encapsulating an elongated return electrode and a pair of insulative tubes configured to house a wire-like active electrode. The elongated return electrode includes a clevis at a distal end thereof and operably engages to the return electrical connector at a proximal end thereof. The wire-like active electrode operably engages at one end to the active electrical connector. A donut-like insulator is operably engaged to the clevis of the elongated return electrode and is configured to support the wire-like active electrode therearound. A tensioning mechanism is configured to operably engage an opposite end of the wire-like electrode and tension the wire-like active electrode about the donut-like insulator during assembly.

Abstract: An auxiliary return system for use with a bipolar electrosurgical device includes a tissue guard defining an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough between the open proximal end and the open distal end. A ground plate is disposed along an inner peripheral surface of the lumen and is operably coupled to a first end of a ground wire extending from the tissue guard. A coupling is included having a bore defined therein for receiving a cable from an electrosurgical device therethrough, the cable including active and ground leads. The coupling has a flange extending therefrom defining a receptacle therein configured to operably receive a plug connected to a second end of the ground wire. The receptacle is configured to provide electrical continuity between the ground lead disposed within the cable and the plug coupled to the ground wire which, in turn, provides electrical continuity to the ground plate.

Abstract: A tissue specimen retrieval device includes a first shaft and a second shaft telescopically movable relative to the first shaft. The second shaft supports an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes a tissue specimen bag supported by a first bag arm and a second bag arm. The first and second bag arms open the tissue specimen bag when the second shaft is in the deployed position. An insertion cap extends outwardly from the tissue specimen bag. The insertion cap retains the first and second bag arms at distal ends thereof. The insertion cap includes a release mechanism. The release mechanism releases the first and second bag arms from the insertion cap upon retraction of the second shaft from the deployed position.

Abstract: A tissue specimen bag includes a bag body and a support ring. The bag body has a closed end and an open end defining a mouth, and defines a channel circumferentially surrounding the mouth. The bag body further includes a plurality of cut-outs defined within the bag body and spaced-apart circumferentially about the mouth such that the channel is discontinuous. The support ring extends through the channel, is resiliently flexible, and is configured to bias the mouth towards an open condition. Portions of the support ring are exposed within the plurality of cut-outs to enable direct interfacing with the support ring without contacting the bag body. A tissue specimen retrieval system includes the tissue specimen bag and a grasper configured to grasp one of the exposed portions of the support ring without contacting the bag body to facilitate manipulation of the tissue specimen bag.

Abstract: A tool assembly for use with an electrosurgical device for cutting tissue includes a base portion, a return lead, an electrical insulator, a center pin, and an active lead. The center pin extends from the base portion and through a lumen of the electrical insulator. The active lead is securely fixed to the base portion and extends between the base portion and a distal portion of the center pin such that a portion of the active lead extends around the distal portion of the center pin and first and second segments of the active lead are spaced apart from the return lead. Upon activation, electrosurgical energy is transmitted from the active lead through tissue to the return lead to cut tissue in contact with the active lead.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device for cutting tissue includes a body portion and a tool portion extending distally from the body portion. The tool portion defines a longitudinal axis. The tool portion includes a return lead adapted to be electrically coupled to a return terminal of an electrosurgical energy source, first and second electrical insulators disposed on a first surface of the return lead, and an active lead adapted to be electrically coupled to an active terminal of the electrosurgical energy source. The first electrical insulator is disposed distal of the second electrical insulator. The active lead extends through the first and second electrical insulators such that the active lead and the first surface of the return lead define a gap therebetween. Upon activation of the electrosurgical energy source, electrosurgical energy is transmitted from the active lead through tissue to the return lead to cut the tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device for cutting tissue includes a body portion and a tool portion extending distally from the body portion. The tool portion includes a return lead, first and second electrical insulators, and an active lead. The return lead is adapted to be electrically coupled to a return terminal of an electrosurgical energy source. The return lead defines a recess between proximal and distal portions of the return lead. The first and second electrical insulators are disposed on the respective proximal and distal portions of the return lead. The active lead extends through the first and second electrical insulators and across the recess of the return lead. Upon activation of the electrosurgical energy source, electrosurgical energy is transmitted from the active lead through tissue in contact with the active lead to the return lead to cut tissue in contact with the active lead.