Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly having a body, a shaft assembly having an outer tubular member extending distally from the body, an end effector, an anvil, and a trocar latch assembly. The end effector includes a staple deck fixed relative to the outer tubular member, a staple driver that can actuate relative to the staple deck between an unfired position and a fired position, and a trocar that can actuate relative to the staple deck and the staple driver, the anvil can couple with trocar to move relative to the staple deck to define a gap distance. The trocar latch assembly includes a locking body that can actuate between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration in response to the staple driver actuating between the unfired position and the fired position. The locking body can selective fix the trocar relative to the staple deck in the locked position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical instrument having a housing, an end-effector, and a user interface. The end-effector includes a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer and to a pole of an electrical generator. The clamp arm includes a clamp jaw pivotally movable about a pivot point, an electrode defining a surface configured to contact tissue and apply electrical energy to the tissue in contact therewith and configured to couple to an opposite pole of the electrical generator. The user interface includes a first activation button switch to activate a first energy source and a second button switch to select an energy mode for the activation button switch.

Abstract: A surgical device for clipping tissue is disclosed. The surgical device comprises a housing, a shaft extending from the housing, an end effector extending from the shaft, a motor, a rotary input configured to rotate in response to the motor, and a clip magazine comprising a plurality of clips. The shaft defines a shaft axis. The clip magazine is operably connected to the rotary input. The clip magazine is movable in a first direction through a clip feed stroke in response to the rotation of the rotary input. The clip magazine is movable in a second direction in response to the rotation of the rotary input. The second direction is transverse to the first direction.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first stapler half a second stapler half configured to releasably couple together. The second stapler half includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member, and a polymeric body that encapsulates at least a portion of each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member. One of the first stapler half or the second stapler half includes a distal portion configured to receive a staple cartridge, and the other of the first stapler half or the second stapler half includes a distal portion having a plurality of staple-forming pockets.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, a sled configured to eject said staples from said cartridge body, and a deployable tissue cutting knife. During use, a firing member of a stapling instrument is advanced into the staple cartridge to deploy the tissue cutting knife and advance the sled distally through a staple firing stroke.

Abstract: Methods for operating a surgical instrument are disclosed. In various instances, the methods include preventing the operation of the surgical instrument in some capacity if an unspent staple cartridge is not seated in the surgical instrument. Moreover, in various instances, the methods include preventing the operation of the surgical instrument in some capacity if the surgical instrument cannot identify and/or authenticate the staple cartridge seated in the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body, staples removably stored in the cartridge body, and a sled configured to drive the staples out of the cartridge body is disclosed. In use, the staple cartridge is seatable in a jaw of a stapling instrument which is positioned opposite a movable jaw. The surgical instrument further comprises a closure lockout which prevents the movable jaw from being closed if the staple cartridge is not seated in the stapling instrument. The surgical instrument also comprises a firing lockout which prevents the stapling instrument from being fired if the sled is not in a proximal unfired position when the staple firing stroke is initiated.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle portion, an end effector, an anvil, a knob, and a monolithic closure rod. The monolithic closure rod includes a proximal shank portion, a distal trocar portion, and a band portion. The proximal shank portion is located within the handle portion and is configured to linearly actuate in response to rotation of the knob. The distal trocar portion is configured to selectively couple with the anvil in order to actuate the anvil relative to the end effector. The band portion extends between the proximal shank portion and the distal trocar portion and provides a reduced cross-sectional area. The monolithic closure rod consists of a single homogenous continuum of material extending along the lengths of the proximal shank portion, the band portion, and the distal trocar portion.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a staple cartridge that defines a stepped deck. The surgical instrument further includes a staple comprised of seamless unitary structure. The staple is configured to be formed and/or stamped from a sheet of material. The staple includes a base and staple legs. A staple drive surface is integrally formed in the base, and a sled is configured to directly contact the staple drive surface to directly drive the staple.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first elongate member having a distal portion that supports a plurality of staple-forming pockets, a second elongate member having a distal portion that supports a staple cartridge, and a clamp member movable from an open position to a closed position to releasably clamp the first and second elongate members together. A clamp lockout feature is supported by the first elongate member and is moveable between a lockout position in which the clamp lockout feature prevents closure of the clamp member, and a release position in which the clamp lockout feature permits closure of the clamp member. An actuating feature is supported by the second elongate member and is configured to actuate the clamp lockout feature from the lockout position to the release position in response to approximation of the distal portions of the first and second elongate members.

Abstract: Devices and methods are used to modify a metabolic pathway of a digestive system by creating a pathway within the intestinal tract through an anastomosis between a proximal location within the intestinal tract and a distal location within the intestinal tract. In some examples, the small intestine has a first initial length and the created pathway defines a second length of the intestinal tract that is approximately ten to seventy percent of the first initial length of the small intestine.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly configured to releasably attach to and extend distally from the body assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. A first electrical connector is coupled to one of the body assembly or the shaft assembly and includes a first connector body and a first electrical contact recessed within the first connector body. A second electrical connector is coupled to the other of the body assembly or the shaft assembly and includes a second connector body and a second electrical contact supported by the second connector body. The first connector body is configured to receive the second electrical contact therein to enable the electrical contacts to electrically couple together when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a shaft, an end effector, and an articulation system which are configured to provide various mechanical advantages.

Abstract: A staple cartridge assembly is disclosed. The staple cartridge assembly includes one or more wire staples and one or more staples formed from a sheet of material. For example, the staple cartridge assembly can include an arrangement of diverse staples. A first type of staple can be arranged in a first longitudinal row and a second type of staple can be arranged in a second longitudinal row. The first type of staple can be wire staples supported by staple drivers. The second type of staples can be formed from a flat sheet of material and can each include an integral driver. A sled can be configured to engage the staple drivers to eject the first type of staples and to directly engage the integral drivers of the second type of staples to fire the arrangement of diverse staples from the staple cartridge assembly.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a staple cartridge that defines a stepped deck. The surgical instrument further includes a staple comprised of seamless unitary structure. The staple is configured to be formed and/or stamped from a sheet of material. The staple includes a base and staple legs. A staple drive surface is integrally formed in the base, and a sled is configured to directly contact the staple drive surface to directly drive the staple.

Abstract: A surgical stapling anvil is disclosed comprising an anvil body including a tissue-facing surface, a plurality of staple forming pockets, and a longitudinal slot. The longitudinal slot comprises a first portion configured to receive a cutting edge of a firing member therethrough and a second portion configured to receive an anvil-camming portion of the firing member therethrough. The anvil further comprises an anvil cap welded to the anvil body, wherein the anvil cap comprises a welded portion and a non-welded portion, wherein the non-welded portion comprises a non-welded width, and wherein the non-welded width is less than or equal to about 105% of the width of the second portion.

Abstract: A staple cartridge assembly is disclosed which comprises first staples including a drive portion and a clenching portion offset from the drive portion by a first distance and, in addition, second staples including a drive portion and a clenching portion offset from the drive portion by a second distance which is different than the first distance.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member, and a clamp member operable to releasably clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member. A distal portion of the first elongate member supports an anvil surface having a plurality of staple forming pockets. A distal portion of the second elongate member is configured to receive a staple cartridge. A firing assembly of the surgical stapler is translatable from a first longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position to fire the staple cartridge when the first elongate member is clamped against the second elongate member. A retaining assembly of the surgical stapler includes a first retaining member configured to releasably couple a proximal end of the first elongate member with a proximal end of the second elongate member, and a second retaining member configured to releasably retain the firing assembly in the first longitudinal position.

Abstract: Surgical end effectors are disclosed. The surgical end effectors can include a first jaw, a second jaw, and a firing member configured to translate relative to the first jaw and the second jaw during a firing stroke. The firing member can include at least one floating flange. The floating flange can be configured to shift or slide relative to a fixed portion of the firing member such as a fixed flange.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, and an end effector that is operable to compress, staple, and cut tissue. The end effector includes a pair of jaws. One of the jaws has a deflectable placement tip attached thereto. The placement tip may be attached using a mechanical connection in some versions. Still in other versions the placement tip may be attached via an overmolding process. Where an overmolding process is used, a portion of the jaw can be configured with various connection features that improve the overmolding attachment success.