Abstract: A method of driving a motor in a powered surgical stapler can include a pausing monitoring process that may be effective to improve staple form and/or increase localized compression of tissue. The pausing monitoring process monitors firing speed of a firing bar driving by the motor and pauses the motor when the firing speed passes a speed error threshold. Before pausing the motor, the pausing monitoring process may also require that a pulse width modulated (PWM) electrical signal driving the motor has a duty cycle over a duty cycle threshold while the firing speed is beyond the speed error. The pausing monitoring process may force the firing bar through a predetermined distance immediately after pausing. The pausing monitoring process may be limited in the number of pauses that can be taken during a firing stroke.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body including a deck and projections extending from the deck is disclosed. When used with a surgical stapling instrument, the deck of the staple cartridge can be compressed against patient tissue before the staples contained in the staple cartridge are ejected. The projections are engaged with the patient tissue and hold the patient tissue in place. The staple cartridge further comprises an electrical trace defined on the deck that extends between at least two of the projections. The electrical trace is part of a sensor system that detects properties of the patient tissue positioned against the projections.

Abstract: A surgical system for use in a surgical procedure to perform sequential firings of staple cartridges is disclosed. A control circuit is to monitor a parameter indicative of a tissue response associated with a first firing, assess the tissue response based on the parameter, and adjust an operational parameter associated with a second firing based on the tissue response during the first firing.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a motor, a regulator, a converter circuit, and a control circuit coupled to the regulator and the converter circuit. The control circuit is to couple either the regulator, or the converter circuit based on a pre-determined load voltage or current applied to the motor.

Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed that includes a motor, a power source, a voltage sensor, and a control circuit. The motor is operable between an on state in which the motor drives a motion at the end effector and an off state in which the motor ceases to drive the motion at the end effector. The power source is electrically coupled to the motor. The control circuit is configured to transition the motor to the on state for a first period, detect a dropped voltage potential of the power source at the end of the first period, conduct a comparison between the dropped voltage potential and the power source lower threshold, and transition the motor to the off state for a second period based on the comparison.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body having a firing actuator, a shaft, a motor, an end effector, and a control circuit. The motor is configured to activate in response to a firing actuation of the firing actuator. The end effector is operable to staple and sever tissue and includes a cutting edge configured to selectively translate longitudinally between a proximal position and a distal position in response to an activation of the motor. The control circuit is configured to generate a forward motor control signal to pulsate the cutting edge. The forward motor control signal includes a first time duration including movement of the cutting edge distally from the proximal position to a second longitudinal position, a second time duration including ceased movement of the cutting edge, and a third time duration including movement of the cutting edge distally from the second longitudinal position toward the distal position.

Abstract: A surgical stapling system is disclosed that comprises a closure driver, a firing driver, and a control circuit. The control circuit is to set a firing force threshold, advance the closure driver, advance the firing driver, monitor a firing force as the firing driver is advanced, compare the firing force to the firing force threshold, and control movement of at least one of the closure driver or the firing driver based on results of the compare and a zone in which the firing driver is positioned.

Abstract: A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The staple cartridge comprises a deck comprising a first staple cavity adjacent a longitudinal slot, a second staple cavity laterally and longitudinally offset relative to the first cavity, and a third staple cavity laterally and longitudinally offset relative to the second cavity. A first projection surrounds the first staple cavity, a second projection surrounds the second staple cavity, and a pair of third projections surrounds first and second portions of the third staple cavity, respectively. The first projection and the second projection are coupled together, and the second projection and one third projection are coupled together. The projections define a localized tissue-facing surface area. A localized valley is defined on the deck between the projections. The area of the localized valley area is greater than the localized tissue-facing area.

Abstract: A method for sequential firings of staple cartridges is disclosed. The sequential firings including a first firing that deploys first staples into a first tissue portion from a first staple cartridge and a second firing that deploys second staples into a second tissue portion from a second staple cartridge. The method comprises monitoring a parameter indicative of a tissue response associated with the first firing, assessing the tissue response based on the parameter, and adjusting an operational parameter associated with the second firing based on the tissue response during the first firing.

Abstract: A surgical system is configured to deploy staples from a staple cartridge reload into tissue. The surgical system includes a first sensor configured to measure a first parameter indicative of a force to form the staples, and a second sensor configured to measure a second parameter indicative of a position of a sled along a staple-forming distance. The system further includes a control circuit communicatively connected to a motor, the first sensor, and the second sensor, wherein the control circuit is configured to: receive a first signal from the first sensor indicative of the first parameter; receive a second signal from the second sensor indicative of the second parameter; and detect staple malformation of the staples based on the first signal and the second signals.

Abstract: A powered surgical instrument disclosed. The instrument includes a first circuit portion operable at a first voltage level, a second circuit portion operable at a second voltage level, a voltage source to supply the first voltage level to supply power to electrical components in the first circuit portion; a transistor comprising a control terminal, a first conduction terminal, and a second conduction terminal, and a control circuit coupled to the control terminal of the transistor. The second voltage level is different from the first voltage level. The first conduction terminal is coupled to the voltage source. The control circuit is to set the transistor in a linear mode and control the transistor to set a current for operating the motor.

Abstract: A surgical stapling system is disclosed. The stapling system comprises a motor, a drive assembly comprising a drive train coupled to the motor to actuate a function of a surgical end effector, wherein the drive train is actuatable by the motor through a drive stroke, and a control circuit coupled to the drive assembly. The control circuit is configured to monitor a first parameter of the drive assembly during the drive stroke, determine a stored kinetic energy of the drive assembly based on the first parameter, monitor a second parameter of the drive assembly during the drive stroke, wherein the first parameter and the second parameter are different, compare the monitored second parameter to a parameter threshold indicative of a motor stall condition, and determine a motor setting of the motor based on the determined stored kinetic energy and the comparison of the monitored second parameter to the parameter threshold.

Abstract: A powered surgical instrument disclosed. The instrument includes a first circuit portion operable at a first voltage level, a second circuit portion operable at a second voltage level, a voltage source to supply the first voltage level to supply power to electrical components in the first circuit portion; a transistor comprising a control terminal, a first conduction terminal, and a second conduction terminal, and a control circuit coupled to the control terminal of the transistor. The second voltage level is different from the first voltage level. The first conduction terminal is coupled to the voltage source. The control circuit is to set the transistor in a linear mode and control the transistor to set a current for operating the motor.

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 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: Disclosed is a method of detecting a short circuit in the jaws of an end effector of a surgical instrument. The method includes applying a sub-therapeutic electrical signal to an electrode located in the jaws of the end effector. The sub-therapeutic electrical signal comprises a sequence of exploratory waveforms comprising pulsed current and voltage waveforms. The method includes detecting a shorted electrode when a measured electrical parameter in the jaws of the end effector is less than a predetermined value and modifying electrical current applied to the shorted electrode by the RF generator.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a flex circuit comprising a sensor system.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body having a firing actuator, a shaft, a motor, an end effector, and a control circuit. The motor is configured to activate in response to a firing actuation of the firing actuator. The end effector is operable to staple and sever tissue and includes a cutting edge configured to selectively translate longitudinally between a proximal position and a distal position in response to an activation of the motor. The control circuit is configured to generate a forward motor control signal to pulsate the cutting edge. The forward motor control signal includes a first time duration including movement of the cutting edge distally from the proximal position to a second longitudinal position, a second time duration including ceased movement of the cutting edge, and a third time duration including movement of the cutting edge distally from the second longitudinal position toward the distal position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, a motor, a firing assembly, an end effector, and a control circuit. The motor is activatable to actuate the firing assembly through a firing stroke to staple and sever tissue with the end effector. The control circuit is configured to monitor one or more use metrics of the surgical instrument. Responsive to at least one of the one or more use metrics exceeding a predetermined threshold, the control circuit is further configured to initiate at least one of providing a notification to a user or disabling the firing assembly.

Abstract: A medical instrument may comprise a shaft (391) and an end effector (350) coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft. The end effector may comprise a jaw mechanism (350), a movable element (380) ranslatable relative to the jaw mechanism, a first actuation element (399) operably coupled to the end effector and translatable relative to the shaft, and a second actuation element (398) operably coupled to the end effector and translatable relative to the shaft. Translation of the first actuation element in a first direction relative to the shaft drives closing of the jaw mechanism. Translation of the second actuation element in a second direction relative to the shaft, opposite from the first direction, drives opening of the jaw mechanism. Translation of the second actuation element relative to the shaft in the first and second directions drives translation of the movable element relative to the jaw mechanism.