Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes a first coupling member and a second coupling member. The first coupling member and the second coupling member are configured to flex toward each other from a first position to a second position. The first coupling member and the second coupling member define a pivot axis in the first position. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The clamp arm is configured to couple or decouple with the shaft assembly when the first coupling member and the second coupling member are in the second position. The clamp arm is configured to pivot toward and away the ultrasonic blade about the pivot axis when the first coupling member and the second coupling member are in the first position.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical blade includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface. The distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end. At least a portion of the outer surface of the body comprises a lubricious coating adhered thereto. The lubricious coating has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the body.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical blade includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface. The distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end. At least a portion of the outer surface of the body comprises a lubricious coating adhered thereto. The lubricious coating has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the body.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a power supply, a connector, and a surgical instrument having a body assembly, a transmission assembly, a transducer, and a connection assembly. The connection assembly is configured to selectively electrically couple electrodes on the transducer with wires of the connector. The connection assembly may be operable in response to actuation of a trigger. Various connection assemblies include an extensible member that extends to contact an electrode, a rotatable member that rotates a contact into contact with an electrode, a solenoid that extends contacts coupled to each end of the solenoid into the electrodes, or a solenoid that translates a frame having contacts towards the electrodes. Alternatively, the surgical instrument may include a connection assembly having a slip ring and a weighted cable end. Still further, the connection assembly may include contacts on a coupleable member that may be decoupled from contacts on the transducer.

Abstract: An end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw movable relative to the second jaw to transition the end effector between an open configuration and an approximated configuration to clamp tissue therebetween. The end effector may also include a camming assembly movable along a curved path. The camming assembly includes a first camming member which includes a first distal camming portion, a first proximal camming portion, and a first flexible portion extending between the first distal camming portion and the first proximal camming portion. The camming assembly includes a second camming member and a connector at least partially disposed between the first camming member and the second camming member, wherein the camming assembly is movable relative to the end effector to exert a camming force against the first jaw and the second jaw to transition the end effector to the approximated configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating on tissue comprises a body, a lever, an end effector, and a tissue severing assembly. The end effector has a pair of jaws configured to open and close on tissue. The end effector is also capable of delivering RF energy to the tissue. The lever is configured to drive the pair of jaws. The tissue severing assembly comprises a trigger having at least one elongate member, at least one gear, and a firing beam. The trigger may also comprise a button operable to activate the RF energy. The firing beam is operable to sever tissue captured between the jaws. The at least one elongate member, at least one gear, and firing beam are associated such that longitudinal movement of the trigger in a first direction causes longitudinal movement of the firing beam in a second direction.

Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to the second jaw to transition the end effector between an open configuration and an approximated configuration to clamp tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw, and a camming assembly. The camming assembly comprises a first camming member comprising a first distal camming portion, a first proximal camming portion, and a first flexible portion extending between the first distal camming portion and the first proximal camming portion. The camming assembly further comprises a second camming member and a connector at least partially disposed between the first camming member and the second camming member, wherein the camming assembly is movable relative to the end effector to transition the end effector to the approximated configuration.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating an ultrasonic end effector or surgical blade. The method includes providing an ultrasonic end effector or surgical blade and inducing a residual compressive stress along at least one surface of the ultrasonic end effector or surgical blade. The residual compressive stress may be induced by peening the at least one surface. Such treatment improves the resistance of the ultrasonic end effector or surgical blade to fracture propagation and improves the fatigue life of the ultrasonic end effector or surgical blade. Ultrasonic surgical instruments comprising an ultrasonic end effector or surgical blade treated according to the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ultrasonic surgical clamping instruments and, more particularly, to a curved clamp arm for use with ultrasonic surgical instruments that have an ultrasonically actuated blade that, in one case, is ultrasonically actuated to have motion in substantially a single plane. The curved clamp arm opens and closes with respect to the blade and also has a plane of curvature that is parallel to the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp arm is in the closed position, and not parallel to the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp arm is in the open position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a first arm, wherein the first arm comprises a first jaw, and wherein the first jaw includes a first electrically conductive member. The surgical instrument further includes a second arm, wherein the second arm comprises a second jaw, wherein the second jaw includes a second electrically conductive member, wherein the first arm is pivotable relative to the second arm between an open configuration and a closed configuration to capture tissue, and wherein the electrically conductive members are configured to cooperate to deliver energy to the tissue. The surgical instrument further includes a cutting beam, an actuator actuatable proximally to translate the cutting beam distally to sever the tissue, a support structure, and a flexible member extending at least partially around the support structure, and configured to couple the actuator to the cutting beam.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with an ultrasonic transducer via an acoustic waveguide that extends through the shaft assembly. The clamp arm is configured to pivot about a first pivot point toward and away from the ultrasonic blade along a first angular path from a first position to a second position to thereby provide a tissue sealing mode of operation. The clamp arm is further configured to pivot about a second pivot point toward and away from the ultrasonic blade along second angular path from the second position to a third position to thereby provide a tissue cutting and sealing mode of operation. The second pivot point is proximal to the first pivot point.

Abstract: An end effector of a surgical instrument may generally comprise a blade, and a clamp arm assembly comprising a clamp arm movable between an open position and a closed position relative to the blade, and at least one camming member rotationally attached to the clamp arm, wherein the at least one camming member is configured to rotate relative to the blade as the clamp arm moves from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises a handle assembly configured to receive an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft assembly having an acoustic waveguide and an ultrasonic blade, and a retractable clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide such that the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the ultrasonic blade to vibrate ultrasonically via the acoustic waveguide. The clamp arm is configured to selectively translate between an inoperative position and an operative position. The clamp arm is positioned generally proximal to the ultrasonic blade when the clamp arm is in the inoperative position. The clamp arm is positioned lateral to the ultrasonic blade when the clamp arm is in the operative position. When in the operative position, the clamp arm is operable to move toward and away from the ultrasonic blade so as to capture and compress tissue between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises an ultrasonic transducer, an acoustic waveguide, and an ultrasonic blade. The acoustic waveguide comprises a bore extending through the waveguide, an anchor pin, and an acoustic isolator. The anchor pin is insertable through the bore and is operable to longitudinally anchor the acoustic waveguide relative to the ultrasonic instrument. The acoustic isolator is radially disposed about the acoustic waveguide and is operable to acoustically isolate the acoustic waveguide from the ultrasonic instrument. The acoustic isolator comprises an opening extending through the isolator. The opening is configured to receive the anchor pin. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide such that the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the ultrasonic blade to vibrate ultrasonically via the acoustic waveguide.

Abstract: A nested trigger assembly for a surgical instrument may generally comprise a first trigger and a second trigger, wherein the first trigger and the second trigger are movable together on a first stroke of the nested trigger assembly, wherein the second trigger is configured to be biased away from the first trigger after the first stroke and before a second stroke, and wherein the second trigger is configured to be moved toward to the first trigger during the second stroke. A surgical instrument may generally comprise a shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a handle extending from the proximal end, wherein the handle comprises a gripping portion, and a nested trigger assembly extending from the handle. The nested trigger assemble may comprise one of a separable trigger assembly and a divisible trigger assembly.

Abstract: An end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, a firing beam, and a lockout feature. The second jaw pivots relative to the first jaw from an open position to a closed position. The firing beam has a sharp distal end and translates between the first and second jaws. The firing beam translates from a proximal position to a first distal position to pivot the second jaw to the closed position. The end effector applies bipolar RF energy when the firing beam is in the first distal position. The firing beam then translates to a second distal position to sever tissue captured between the first and second jaws. The lockout feature prevents the firing beam from advancing from the first distal position to the second distal position until the lockout feature is actuated.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating on tissue includes an end effector, a first actuator, and a second actuator. The end effector includes a first jaw pivotable relative to a second jaw to a closed position. The first actuator is movable from a first position to a second position to pivot the first jaw to the closed position. The first actuator engages the second actuator in the second position to selectively provide RF energy to the end effector.