Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, an actuation assembly, and a bailout mechanism. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector is disposed on a distal end of the shaft assembly and includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The actuation assembly includes a pusher member configured to move relative to the end effector to drive movement of the first jaw, the second jaw, or both the first jaw and the second jaw. The bailout mechanism includes a first elongate actuation element and a second elongate actuation element. A portion of the bailout mechanism is configured to selectively apply tension to the first elongate actuation element and the second elongate actuation element to move the pusher member. The first elongate actuation element is stronger in tension than the second elongate actuation element cable.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powered surgical stapler that includes an end effector with jaws that are movable between an open and a closed position and a firing member that is movable between a starting position and an ending position within the end effector. The jaws and firing member are controlled by separate rotary systems and the end effector includes a firing member lockout system that prevents axial movement of the firing member unless the surgical staple cartridge is in ready to fire condition.

Abstract: A method of stapling tissue is disclosed. The method can include obtaining a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples, wherein each staple has a base and a leg extending from the base. The stapling method can also include firing the staples from the staple cartridge, wherein the staples are fired into tissue in a staple line. The staple line can include a first portion having a first flexibility and a second portion having a second flexibility, wherein the second flexibility is different than the first flexibility. A method of stapling tissue can also include adapting an anvil with an anvil plate having an arrangement of staple-forming pockets that differs from the staple-forming pockets in the anvil.

Abstract: A staple driver actuator for a surgical stapler includes a base having at least one bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a plane and is configured to slide longitudinally relative to a jaw of the surgical stapler. The base also has at least one top surface parallel to the plane. The staple driver actuator further includes at least one rail extending upwardly from the base. The rail includes at least one first cam surface. The first cam surface is inclined relative to the plane, and the first cam surface is longitudinally aligned with at least a portion of the at least one top surface.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing a common body cavity of a patient from different approaches to achieve a common surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of surgical tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and operate in concert with one another to effect a desired surgical treatment.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a control system configured to alter and/or reduce the capability of the surgical instrument is disclosed. Also disclosed is a surgical instrument that can upload different firmware from a surgical hub such that the surgical instrument can be used to perform different surgical techniques.

Abstract: A method for authenticating the compatibility of a staple cartridge with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The method can comprise inserting a staple cartridge into a surgical instrument, receiving a first signal from a first RFID tag on a first component of the staple cartridge with an RFID reader system, receiving a second signal from a second RFID tag on a second component of the staple cartridge with the RFID reader system, comparing the first signal and the second signal to stored data for a compatible staple cartridge, and locking a staple firing system of the surgical instrument if the first signal and the second signal do not match the stored data for a compatible staple cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a control unit and a staple cartridge including a transponder. The control unit is configured to transmit a first wireless signal to the transponder and to receive a second wireless signal from the transponder to determine one of a first electronic state and a second electronic state of the transponder based on the second wireless signal.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a body, shaft, and end effector. The shaft couples the end effector and body together. The end effector comprises an anvil and lower jaw configured to receive a surgical staple cartridge. The anvil is configured to pivot toward and away from the staple cartridge and lower jaw. The shaft assembly comprises a knife member configured to longitudinally translate to thereby substantially simultaneously cut clamped tissue and staple the severed tissue. The end effector may comprise lockout features configure to prevent longitudinal translation of the knife member. The end effector or staple cartridge may comprise lockout bypass features configured to prevent lockout of the knife.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to battery packs for use with surgical instruments. The battery packs may comprise a plurality of cells and at least a portion of the plurality of cells may not be electrically connected to one another. The battery packs may comprise a switch or other mechanism for interconnecting the plurality of cells and may also comprise, or be used in conjunction with, a discharge switch or plug configured to electrically connect an anode of the battery pack to a cathode of the battery pack, for example, via a resistive element.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, a cartridge, and a staple driver actuator. The end effector is operable to manipulate tissue. The end effector comprises a lower jaw, a pivotable anvil, and a translating cutter. The translating cutter is operable to translate relative to the lower jaw and the anvil when the anvil is pivoted toward the lower jaw to manipulate tissue. The cartridge is insertable into the lower jaw and includes a plurality of staples. The staple driver actuator is disposed within the cartridge. The staple driver actuator comprises a secondary cutting element. The translating cutter of the end effector is operable to drive the staple driver actuator distally to staple and cut tissue substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A surgical stapler. The surgical stapler includes a drive system, an electric motor, a battery and a control system. The electric motor is mechanically coupled to the drive system. The battery is electrically couplable to the electric motor. The control system is electrically connected to the electric motor and includes an H-bridge circuit, an electrically resistive element and an electrically inductive element. The H-bridge circuit includes a high side and a low side. The low side of the H-bridge circuit includes first and second switching devices. The electrically resistive element is electrically connected in series with the first switching device. The electrically inductive element is electrically connected to the electrically resistive element. The control system is configured to control a force applied to the drive system based on a current downstream of the electrically resistive element.

Abstract: A method of applying a buttress to a surgically cut and stapled site uses an end effector with a buttress applier cartridge assembly to load one or more buttress assemblies to the end effector. The buttress assemblies each include a buttress to support a staple formed therein as well an adhesive for adhering to the end effector. The adhesive of the buttress assemblies can include a pattern to assist in both attachment to the end effector and release from the end effector after cutting and stapling a tissue site. The buttress applier cartridge can include features that accommodate end effectors having various tip configurations, including straight tips and curved or bent tips.

Abstract: A surgical instrument configured to detect its orientation and adjust its operation based on the detected orientation is disclosed.

Abstract: A modular shaft assembly is disclosed. The modular shaft assembly includes one or more inputs configured to receive input motions from a surgical instrument system, such as a handle, for example. The shaft assembly further includes one or more on-board inputs configured to generate input motions. The input motions received and generated by the shaft assembly are transferrable to an end effector of the shaft assembly to perform various functions at the end effector. The end effector can include a staple cartridge and a firing member which is movable between a proximal position and a distal position to eject staples from the staple cartridge. The end effector can include a plurality of jaw members and the firing member can comprise camming members which are configured to position the jaw members relative to one another.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a rotatable jaw of an attachment relative to a non-rotatable jaw is disclosed. The method comprises assembling the attachment to a surgical robot, rotating a first rotatable driver of the robot to align the first driver with a first rotatable drive of the attachment, and rotating a second rotatable driver of the robot to align the second driver with a second rotatable drive of the attachment. The method further comprises evaluating the amount of rotation required to align the first driver with the first drive and the amount of rotation required to align the second driver with the second drive, calculating a difference between the amount of rotation of the first driver and the amount of the rotation of the second driver, and determining the position of the rotatable jaw relative to the non-rotatable jaw based on the calculated difference.

Abstract: A method for operating a surgical instrument. The method includes linking a second drive member to a first drive member such that the second drive member moves with the first drive member. The method further includes applying first control motions to the first drive member to cause the second drive member to apply actuation motions to a surgical end effector. The method also includes discontinuing application of the first control motions to the first drive member and de-linking the second drive member from the first drive member such that the second drive member is locked in place by a locking system. The method also includes re-applying control motions to the first drive member.

Abstract: Various cartridge assemblies for surgical instruments are provided. Cartridge assemblies can include active sensors for applying stimuli to a tissue clamped by an end effector of the surgical instrument and a circuit configured to determine a tissue type of the tissue according to a change in the tissue parameter detected by the sensor resulting from a stimulus from the active element. Cartridge assemblies can also include physical features and/or stored data that identify the cartridge. Surgical instruments further can be configured to resolve conflicts when the physical features and/or stored data are not consistent with each other in their identification of the cartridge type.

Abstract: A circular stapler apparatus for stapling tissue has a circular stapling head operable to drive staples toward an anvil to form the staples in a circular array. The anvil includes an anvil head, a proximal shaft extending proximally from the anvil head and having a proximal end disposed in a first plane, and a first pivot connecting the anvil head to the proximal shaft. The first pivot is operable to be disposed in a second plane that is laterally offset from the first plane. The anvil is configured to rotate via movement through multiple pivot points. The anvil may be configured to rotate to a position in which a portion of the anvil head is disposed below the first pivot and between the first pivot and the proximal shaft such that the anvil head is acutely angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the proximal shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical system, comprising an end effector configured to grasp tissue and provide therapeutic treatment to tissue. The surgical system further comprises a motor, a motor drive circuit, and a motor control circuit. The motor control circuit is configured to provide a motor drive signal to the motor drive circuit and adaptively control elements of the motor drive circuit to control deceleration of the motor in the absence of the motor drive signal. When the motor drive signal is present, the motor drive circuit can be configured to pass the motor drive signal through to the motor.