Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical instrument for treating tissue in a surgical procedure. The surgical instrument comprises an end effector, comprising an anvil, and a staple cartridge. The surgical instrument further comprises a drive train operably coupled to the end effector, a motor configured to motivate the drive train based on a default control algorithm to affect a tissue treatment motion of the end effector, and a sensor configured to monitor an independent parameter of the surgical procedure. The independent parameter is independent of the motion of the end effector. The surgical instrument further comprises a control circuit coupled to the motor and the sensor. The control circuit is configured to receive an input from the sensor indicative of the independent parameter, and adjust the default control algorithm based on the independent parameter.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for controlling a tissue-treatment motion by a surgical instrument are disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed including an end effector configurable between an open state and a clamped state, a firing member movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, a manually-driveable closure system, a motor-powered firing system, and a control system. The motor-powered firing system is configured to drive the firing member through the firing stroke. The control system is configured to detect, at a first time point, the end effector reaching the clamped state with the manually-driveable closure system, detect, at a second time point, the actuation of the motor-powered firing system, set a firing motion parameter of the motor-powered firing system based on an elapsed time from the first time point to the second time point, and drive the firing member through the firing stroke with the motor-powered firing system using the firing motion parameter.

Abstract: A surgical stapling system includes a motor, a gear reducer assembly, a drive train, and a motor controller. A method of controlling the motor includes applying a first signal to the motor, receiving drive train operational data, comparing the drive train data to baseline data, and applying a signal having a different shape than the first signal to the motor. A method of characterizing the motor includes transmitting a perturbation signal, receiving motor function parameters, determining stapler system characteristics, and adjusting a controller function. A method of controlling a stepper motor includes applying a signal to the stepper motor, receiving stepper motor operational data, comparing the data to baseline data, and adjusting the signal. Another method of controlling the motor includes receiving motor rotational data, receiving gear rotation data, calculating a mechanical transfer function, determining non-idealities of the stapling system, and modifying a control signal based on the non-idealities.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, a firing member movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, a firing system comprising a motor, and a control system. The firing system is configured to drive the firing member through the firing stroke. The control system is configured to drive the firing member from the unfired position toward the fired position with the firing system, detect a force to fire the firing member toward the fired position, pause advancement of the firing member for a first amount of time, based on the detected force to fire, resume advancement of the firing member after the first amount of time, and pause advancement of the firing member for a second amount of time, wherein the second amount of time is based on the first amount of time.

Abstract: A surgical stapling system includes an anvil, a blade, a motor and gear assembly, a motor power supply, and a motor controller. A method of controlling the motor includes receiving first and second data indicative of operations of the motor under first and second conditions, respectively, and adjusting a motor control signal based on a difference between the first and second data. Another method includes receiving initial manufacture motor and gear assembly data from a manufacture and operational data during an initial use of the system, and adjusting parameters of the control signal based on a difference between the manufacture data and the operational data. Another method includes controlling a pulse-width modulated (PWM) motor control signal, receiving data regarding an interaction between the blade and a tissue clamped by the anvil, and adjusting a frequency of the PWM signal based on the data related to the interaction.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, a firing member movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, a firing system comprising a motor, and a control system. The firing system is configured to drive the firing member through the firing stroke. The control system is configured to drive the firing member from the unfired position toward the fired position with the firing system, detect a force to fire the firing member toward the fired position, pause advancement of the firing member for a first amount of time, based on the detected force to fire, resume advancement of the firing member after the first amount of time, and pause advancement of the firing member for a second amount of time, wherein the second amount of time is based on the first amount of time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of adapting energy modality due to a short circuit or tissue type grasped in the jaws of an end effector of a surgical instrument. The method includes selecting an electrode in an array of segmented electrodes during a pre-energy activation cycle. The method includes applying a sub-therapeutic electrical signal to the selected electrode to differentiate between a shorted electrode and low impedance tissue grasped in the jaws of the end effector. The method includes determining the selected electrode is shorted based on a measured electrical parameter received by the control circuit after applying the sub-therapeutic electrical signal and blending monopolar and bipolar RF energy. The method includes determining that the selected electrode is shorted and switching output energy of the RF generator between monopolar and bipolar RF energy.

Abstract: The rotary output of the power source of an impact device is converted to reciprocation of a body, preferably having a resilient coupler, which drives a ram into impacting in an improved rotary-to-reciprocative motion converter including a crankshaft operatively interconnected to reciprocate the body. The converter includes a crankpin bearing, a flat bearing surface secured normal to the reciprocation on a connecting rod or directly on the body, and a constraint spring to hold the flat bearing surface in contact with the bearing during operation. The improved converter provides reciprocation free of angular motion of connecting rods and irregular motion within clearances between moving elements to significantly reduce extraneous harmonic vibrations and energy losses therefrom.

Abstract: An impact device incorporating an improved air spring coupler in the form of a novel cylinder-piston is disclosed, in which the air spring is linear, i.e., the air spring stiffness is substantially constant over the operating range of the air spring displacement. Selected relations between piston area, ram mass, cylinder volume and equivalent length, crank radius, frequency of impacts and power available in the impact device are disclosed for which the improvement of such linear air spring stiffness is obtained for preferred embodiments.

Abstract: An electric branch-line combiner is disclosed by which double power at double voltage is obtainable from two branch-line outlets of a typical existing branch-line circuit interconnected to a typical three-wire electric power source and by which electrical grounding means are readily, conveniently and safely obtained directly from two such existing branch outlets, each having only two contactors.

Abstract: An impact device, incorporating power drive means having a resilient drive element for generating successive ram impacts against a tool by reaction of the resilient drive element against the device frame, incorporates resilient bias means, interposed between the frame and the tool, to continuously transmit bias force from frame to tool acting to hold the tool firmly against a workpiece during operation, while resiliently suspending the frame for free dynamic motion clear of motion limiting stops, thereby eliminating spurious tool and frame motions and directing the impact energy of the ram to more efficiently and effectively accomplish impact work.

Abstract: An impact device incorporating an improved air spring coupler in the form of a novel cylinder-piston is disclosed, in which the air spring is linear, i.e., the air spring stiffness is substantially constant over the operating range of the air spring displacement. Selected relations between piston area, ram mass, cylinder volume and equivalent length, crank radius, frequency of impacts and power available in the impact device are disclosed for which the improvement of such linear air spring stiffness is obtained form preferred embodiments.

Abstract: Rotary-powered exciter-reciprocative means are disclosed by which improvements in efficiency and effectiveness of impact devices, effected by important reductions of wasteful extraneous harmonic vibrations through the use of long double connecting rods, are obtainable in selected embodiments incorporating gearing, by which a smaller lighter weight rotary motor of different rotational frequency from that of the impacting can be utilized.

Abstract: A power driven crankshaft is mounted on a frame and is connected by a pair of connecting rods to a coupler body, having guide means thereon to limit movement of the body to straight line reciprocation. Selected positioning and arrangement of crankshaft, bearings, connecting rods, journals, wrist pins, power drive means, reciprocating body guide means and selected crankarm result in high impact force being delivered to an impact tool with significantly reduced energy loss caused by oscillatory structural deflections spurious vibrations, and rotations. An improved coupler incorporates an air spring with selected central vent means resulting in nearly constant spring stiffness.

Abstract: Electric power, transmitted to a typical building by lead-in wires and distributed throughout the building by branch lines from which only a fraction of such power is available at each existing branch outlet, is re-combined in an electric branch-line combiner which incorporates two or more electric input plugs, that fit into and receive power from two or more selected branch outlets, and contactor-selector means which relate voltage polarities and phases of the interconnected branch outlets and input plugs and channel the combined power transmitted through such two or more plugs into a single combiner outlet.