Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an end effector include an end effector for grasping a material, a drive system coupled to the end effector, a user interface, and a processor. The processor is configured to actuate the drive system to clamp the material using the end effector and in response to detecting successful clamping of the material, display a timer on the user interface. The timer provides an indication of when conditions will be safe to proceed with stapling of the material clamped by the end effector.

Abstract: A common data structure for access by several application programs is created from a single primitive data element or attribute data object. The attribute data objects can be extracted from node data and node data descriptors in the application program's databases. The attribute data objects are arranged in an attribute file in accordance with certain rules which impose a hierarchical organization upon the attribute data objects. Nonhierarchical relationships may also be used to represent the node data descriptors. The simplicity of the attribute data objects and their lack of limitations make them well suited for use with a wide variety of application programs' databases.