Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft including a longitudinally extending slot, a drive element slidably disposed within the shaft, a drive link, and a body. The drive link includes a first portion external of the shaft and a second portion extending through the slot to engage the drive element within the shaft. The drive link defines a depth, a width greater than the depth, and a length. The depth of the drive link is less than the width of the slot to enable the drive link to extend through the slot. The width of the drive link is greater than the width of the slot. The body is disposed about at least a portion of the shaft. The first portion of the drive link is coupled to the body such that translation of the body along the shaft translates the drive element through the shaft.

Abstract: A knife assembly for use with a surgical instrument includes a knife having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end including an aperture defined therein having a series of spaced apart fins extending thereacross. A knife drive rod is included and is configured to operably engage the fins to secure the knife drive rod to the knife. A retention mechanism is operably disposed at a distal end of the knife drive rod and is configured to secure the knife drive rod in engagement between the fins.

Abstract: A knife assembly for use with a surgical instrument includes a knife having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end including an aperture defined therein having a series of spaced apart fins extending thereacross. A knife drive rod is included and is configured to operably engage the fins to secure the knife drive rod to the knife. A retention mechanism is operably disposed at a distal end of the knife drive rod and is configured to secure the knife drive rod in engagement between the fins.

Abstract: An end effector for use with a robotic system includes a proximal hub having a first upright support opposing a second upright support, a distal hub having a first upright support and a second upright support and pivotally coupled to the proximal hub about a first pivot axis, a first jaw member, a second jaw member, a first idler pulley, and a second idler pulley. The first and second jaw members are pivotally coupled to the first and second upright supports of the distal hub about a second pivot axis. First and second cable sets are configured to extend around the first and second idler pulleys and the first and second jaw members to rotate the first and second jaw members. The distal hub, the first idler pulley, and the second idler pulley are angled to produce fleet angles of about zero degrees.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing including an actuator disposed thereon and an elongated shaft extending therefrom. The elongated shaft includes an end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members including a knife channel defined therein. An articulation section is disposed between the housing and the end effector assembly and is configured to articulate the end effector assembly upon actuation of the actuator, the articulating section and a proximal end of the knife channel defining a first distance therebetween. A knife assembly includes a knife having a length, the proximal end including an engagement feature disposed thereon. A knife drive rod is configured to engage the engagement feature to secure the knife drive rod to the knife such that the distal end of the knife extends beyond the engagement feature and wherein the knife length is less than the length of the first distance.

Abstract: A method for attaching a drive rod to a knife includes: forming a knife having proximal and distal ends; forming an aperture within the proximal end of the knife, the aperture including a series of fins disposed therein; weaving a distal end of a knife rod through the series of fins in an alternating manner; and engaging a cap onto the distal end of the knife drive rod to secure the knife drive rod within the aperture of the knife.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing including an actuator disposed thereon and an elongated shaft extending therefrom. The elongated shaft includes an end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members including a knife channel defined therein. An articulation section is disposed between the housing and the end effector assembly and is configured to articulate the end effector assembly upon actuation of the actuator, the articulating section and a proximal end of the knife channel defining a first distance therebetween. A knife assembly includes a knife having a length, the proximal end including an engagement feature disposed thereon. A knife drive rod is configured to engage the engagement feature to secure the knife drive rod to the knife such that the distal end of the knife extends beyond the engagement feature and wherein the knife length is less than the length of the first distance.

Abstract: A method for attaching a drive rod to a knife includes: forming a knife having proximal and distal ends; forming an aperture within the proximal end of the knife, the aperture including a series of fins disposed therein; weaving a distal end of a knife rod through the series of fins in an alternating manner; and engaging a cap onto the distal end of the knife drive rod to secure the knife drive rod within the aperture of the knife.

Abstract: A surgical end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members configured to grasp tissue. At least one of the jaw members defines a channel. A cutting element reciprocates through the channel to cut grasped tissue. The cutting element may include a first bevel defined along a first portion of a distal edge on a first side surface of the cutting element and a second bevel defined along a second portion of the distal edge on a second side surface of the cutting element. The first and second portions of the distal edge are sharpened to facilitate cutting tissue upon distal advancement of the cutting element. Alternatively or additionally, the cutting element may include a proximal body and a distal fin defining a height greater than a height of the proximal body and including a thinned portion defining a depression within a first side surface thereof.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing including an actuator disposed thereon and an elongated shaft extending therefrom. The elongated shaft includes an end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members including a knife channel defined therein. An articulation section is disposed between the housing and the end effector assembly and is configured to articulate the end effector assembly upon actuation of the actuator, the articulating section and a proximal end of the knife channel defining a first distance therebetween. A knife assembly includes a knife having a length, the proximal end including an engagement feature disposed thereon. A knife drive rod is configured to engage the engagement feature to secure the knife drive rod to the knife such that the distal end of the knife extends beyond the engagement feature and wherein the knife length is less than the length of the first distance.

Abstract: A knife assembly for use with a surgical instrument includes a knife having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end including an aperture defined therein having a series of spaced apart fins extending thereacross. A knife drive rod is included and is configured to operably engage the fins to secure the knife drive rod to the knife. A retention mechanism is operably disposed at a distal end of the knife drive rod and is configured to secure the knife drive rod in engagement between the fins.

Abstract: A method for attaching a drive rod to a knife includes: forming a knife having proximal and distal ends; forming an aperture within the proximal end of the knife, the aperture including a series of fins disposed therein; weaving a distal end of a knife rod through the series of fins in an alternating manner; and engaging a cap onto the distal end of the knife drive rod to secure the knife drive rod within the aperture of the knife.

Abstract: A knife assembly for use with a surgical instrument includes a knife having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end including an aperture defined therein having a series of spaced apart fins extending thereacross. A knife drive rod is included and is configured to operably engage the fins to secure the knife drive rod to the knife. A retention mechanism is operably disposed at a distal end of the knife drive rod and is configured to secure the knife drive rod in engagement between the fins.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing including an actuator disposed thereon and an elongated shaft extending therefrom. The elongated shaft includes an end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members including a knife channel defined therein. An articulation section is disposed between the housing and the end effector assembly and is configured to articulate the end effector assembly upon actuation of the actuator, the articulating section and a proximal end of the knife channel defining a first distance therebetween. A knife assembly includes a knife having a length, the proximal end including an engagement feature disposed thereon. A knife drive rod is configured to engage the engagement feature to secure the knife drive rod to the knife such that the distal end of the knife extends beyond the engagement feature and wherein the knife length is less than the length of the first distance.

Abstract: A surgical end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members configured to grasp tissue. At least one of the jaw members defines a channel. A cutting element reciprocates through the channel to cut grasped tissue. The cutting element may include a first bevel defined along a first portion of a distal edge on a first side surface of the cutting element and a second bevel defined along a second portion of the distal edge on a second side surface of the cutting element. The first and second portions of the distal edge are sharpened to facilitate cutting tissue upon distal advancement of the cutting element. Alternatively or additionally, the cutting element may include a proximal body and a distal fin defining a height greater than a height of the proximal body and including a thinned portion defining a depression within a first side surface thereof.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing including an actuator disposed thereon and an elongated shaft extending therefrom. The elongated shaft includes an end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members including a knife channel defined therein. An articulation section is disposed between the housing and the end effector assembly and is configured to articulate the end effector assembly upon actuation of the actuator, the articulating section and a proximal end of the knife channel defining a first distance therebetween. A knife assembly includes a knife having a length, the proximal end including an engagement feature disposed thereon. A knife drive rod is configured to engage the engagement feature to secure the knife drive rod to the knife such that the distal end of the knife extends beyond the engagement feature and wherein the knife length is less than the length of the first distance.

Abstract: A knife assembly for use with a surgical instrument includes a knife having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end including an aperture defined therein having a series of spaced apart fins extending thereacross. A knife drive rod is included and is configured to operably engage the fins to secure the knife drive rod to the knife. A retention mechanism is operably disposed at a distal end of the knife drive rod and is configured to secure the knife drive rod in engagement between the fins.

Abstract: A jaw member for a surgical instrument includes an outer housing having a sealing plate operably coupled thereon including an upper knife channel defined therethrough and extending therealong. A pair of opposing jaw flanges is configured to operably couple to a corresponding pair of jaw flanges of an opposing jaw member. An insulative insert is disposed within the outer housing and includes opposing sidewalls and a connector portion which define an engagement channel and a lower knife channel in vertical registration with the upper knife channel, the upper and lower knife channels configured to receive a knife of a knife assembly, the engagement channel configured to receive a tube of the knife assembly. A top plate is engaged between the jaw flanges, a portion of the top plate is configured to extend across the engagement channel and retain the tube within the engagement channel during translation of the knife assembly.

Abstract: A method for attaching a drive rod to a knife includes: forming a knife having proximal and distal ends; forming an aperture within the proximal end of the knife, the aperture including a series of fins disposed therein; weaving a distal end of a knife rod through the series of fins in an alternating manner; and engaging a cap onto the distal end of the knife drive rod to secure the knife drive rod within the aperture of the knife.

Abstract: A storage drive configured for use in a storage drive block and a storage drive block are provided. The storage drive block in one example includes a plurality of storage drives joined together into a substantially rigid storage drive block, a block communication element extending to the plurality of storage drives and adapted to communicatively link a plurality of communication boards of the plurality of storage drives to a mass storage chassis assembly, and one or more joining elements affixing the one or more mounting elements of each storage drive to form the storage drive block.