Abstract: An electrode assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument includes a base portion, a return lead adapted to be electrically coupled to a return terminal of an electrosurgical generator, an electrical insulator supported on a distal portion of the return lead, a tensioning mechanism, and an active lead adapted to be electrically coupled to an active terminal of the electrosurgical generator. The tensioning mechanism includes a slider slidably disposed in the base portion, a rotation rod threadably coupled to the slider, and a spring proximally biasing the slider. The active lead having a first end portion securely fixed to the base portion and a second end portion slidably coupled to the rotation rod of the tensioning mechanism. A portion of the active lead extends around the electrical insulator. Rotation of the rotation rod causes axial displacement of the second end portion of the active lead to tension the active lead about the electrical insulator.

Abstract: A surgical kit includes a stapling device and a securing ring. The stapling device includes a reload including a trocar member and an anvil assembly including an anvil and an anvil shaft detachably couplable to the trocar member of the reload for unitary movement. The securing ring is selectively securable about the anvil shaft. The securing ring has an annular profile defining an aperture. The securing ring includes first and second portions and an intermediate portion. The first and second portions adjustably overlap each other. The first portion includes a first tab. The second portion includes a hook. The intermediate portion includes a second tab and defines slots to receive the hook of the second portion. When the first and second tabs are displaced relative to each other, the aperture is transitionable from a first state having a first diameter to a second state having a second diameter.

Abstract: A surgical access assembly includes a housing, a tubular member, and a valve assembly. The tubular member extends from the housing. The valve assembly is positioned in the housing and includes a centering mechanism, a guard assembly disposed on a first side of the centering mechanism, and an instrument seal disposed on a second side of the centering mechanism. The instrument seal including petals that are arrange in an overlapping arrangement.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes an elongate body, a tool assembly pivotably coupled to the elongate body for articulation, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly is movable in relation to the tool assembly to eject staples from the tool assembly and cut tissue clamped between jaws of the tool assembly. The drive assembly includes a working end that is coupled to a flexible drive beam. The flexible drive beam includes a metallic core member and outer laminates secured to opposite sides of the core member. The outer laminates are formed of a material having a lower coefficient of friction than the core member to minimize firing forces of the surgical stapling device.

Abstract: A tissue guard for use with a surgical access device includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end and lumen defined therebetween. A proximal lip extends radially from the proximal end and is configured to mount atop a rim of an access device. The proximal lip includes an annular channel defined therein disposed in fluid communication with the lumen, the annular channel configured to direct surgical gases from the lumen to a smoke evacuation system. The annular channel includes a neck defined therein disposed between the lumen and the annular channel, the neck having geometry configured to induce the evacuation of surgical gases or smoke therethrough. One or more fingers extend from the proximal lip and are configured to engage an access device to secure the tissue guard thereon.

Abstract: A tissue guard includes a body defining an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a lumen extending through the body between the open proximal end and the open distal end. A lip extends radially outwardly from the open proximal end of the body, the lip including a finger extending from an exterior peripheral surface thereof. The finger includes a flange at a distal end thereof adapted to operably engage an underside of a proximal ring of an access device to secure the tissue guard therein.

Abstract: A surgical buttress attachment assembly includes a staple cartridge having a cartridge body and a cartridge tip, and a surgical buttress. The cartridge tip includes a distal buttress attachment assembly including a block body disposed within a cavity defined in the cartridge tip and a distal tongue extending distally from the block body. The block body is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. A proximal end portion of the surgical buttress is releasably secured to the cartridge body and a distal end portion of the surgical buttress is releasably secured to the cartridge tip by engagement of the distal tongue with the distal end portion when the block body is in the extended position.

Abstract: A tool assembly for use with an electrosurgical device for cutting tissue includes a base portion, a return lead, an electrical insulator, a center pin, and an active lead. The center pin extends from the base portion and through a lumen of the electrical insulator. The active lead is securely fixed to the base portion and extends between the base portion and a distal portion of the center pin such that a portion of the active lead extends around the distal portion of the center pin and first and second segments of the active lead are spaced apart from the return lead. Upon activation, electrosurgical energy is transmitted from the active lead through tissue to the return lead to cut tissue in contact with the active lead.

Abstract: An auxiliary return system for use with a bipolar electrosurgical device includes a tissue guard defining an open proximal end, an open distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough between the open proximal end and the open distal end. A ground plate is disposed along an inner peripheral surface of the lumen and is operably coupled to a first end of a ground wire extending from the tissue guard. A coupling is included having a bore defined therein for receiving a cable from an electrosurgical device therethrough, the cable including active and ground leads. The coupling has a flange extending therefrom defining a receptacle therein configured to operably receive a plug connected to a second end of the ground wire. The receptacle is configured to provide electrical continuity between the ground lead disposed within the cable and the plug coupled to the ground wire which, in turn, provides electrical continuity to the ground plate.

Abstract: An obturator includes a unitary body having an elongate portion, a handle portion formed on a proximal portion of the elongate portion, and a piercing tip formed on a distal portion of the elongate portion. The obturator further includes a section of heat shrink tubing received about the handle portion of the unitary body. A method of assembling an obturator includes selecting an obturator body having a unitary structure and having a handle portion, placing a section of heat shrink tubing about the handle portion of the obturator body, heating the section of heat shrink tubing to shrink the tubing about the handle portion, and trimming the section of heat shrink tubing.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument including a stapling end effector configured for unilateral sealing of tissue. The stapling end effector includes an anvil assembly, a cartridge assembly coupled to the anvil assembly such that stapling end effector is movable between open and closed positions; and a clamping member slidably disposed about the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly between an initial position in which the stapling end effector is in the open position and subsequent advanced positions in which the stapling end effector is in the closed position. The clamping member includes a substantially “C”-shaped cross-section with a leading edge. The leading edge includes a blade portion positioned outwards of the anvil and cartridge assemblies.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly and a drive assembly for actuating the tool assembly. The tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly having a staple cartridge and an anvil assembly that supports a lockout mechanism. The staple cartridge includes a cartridge body and an actuation sled and knife assembly that includes an actuation sled and a knife. The actuation sled and knife assembly is movable in relation to the cartridge body to eject staples from the cartridge body and to cut tissue. The anvil assembly supports a lockout mechanism that includes a lockout member that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The drive assembly is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to move the actuation sled and knife assembly from its retracted position to its advanced position. In the locked position, the lockout member obstructs movement of the drive assembly from its retracted position towards its advanced position.

Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument includes an elongate shaft extending from a handle. An end effector is coupled to one end of the elongate shaft. The end effector has a first jaw with retainer strips disposed thereon. Each retainer strip includes rows of receptacles and each receptacle has a passageway leading to a chamber formed in the first jaw. The end effector also includes a second jaw with fastener strips disposed thereon. The first jaw is pivotally coupled to the second jaw. Each fastener strip includes rows of fasteners and each fastener is slidably positioned on a lance extending from a surface of the second jaw. The lances are aligned with the receptacles and each fastener has barbs configured to be retained in one of the chambers.

Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a loading unit, a surgical buttress, and a buttress retention band. The loading unit includes an anvil assembly and a staple cartridge assembly. The staple cartridge assembly includes a staple cartridge having a tissue facing surface including staple pockets and a central longitudinal slot defined therethrough, and a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom. The surgical buttress includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion is positioned over the protrusion of the staple cartridge. The buttress retention band is disposed around the proximal end portion of the surgical buttress and the protrusion of the staple cartridge to releasably secure the proximal end portion of the surgical buttress to the staple cartridge assembly.

Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes a loading unit having first and second jaw members, a drive beam, and a firing lockout assembly. The drive beam is axially movable within the loading unit during a firing sequence. The firing sequence includes an advancement stroke which moves the first and second jaw members to an approximated position and a retraction stroke which moves the first and second jaw members to an unapproximated position. The firing lockout assembly includes an iterating plate, a capture gear, and a lockout pin. The iterating plate is disposed adjacent to the drive beam and is incrementally movable proximally within the loading unit during the firing sequence. The capture gear is rotatable between first and second positions during the firing sequence and is configured to move the iterating plate. The lockout pin is configured to lock the drive beam after a pre-determined number of firing sequences.

Abstract: An anvil buttress loading system includes an anvil assembly, an anvil buttress retention clip coupled to the anvil assembly, an anvil buttress loading tool, and an anvil buttress. The anvil buttress is retainable on each of the anvil buttress loading tool and the anvil assembly, and is transferrable from the anvil buttress loading tool to the anvil assembly.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for an electrosurgical pencil includes an insulative housing. A locking plate is supported at a distal end of the insulative housing about a pivot, the locking plate including a series of locking holes defined therein. A tip assembly is coupled to a distal end of the locking plate and is configured to treat tissue. A connection is coupled to a proximal end of the insulative housing and is electrically coupled to the tip assembly. One or more locking fingers is operably disposed within the housing and is movable between a first position allowing rotation of the locking plate and the tip assembly about the pivot and a second position preventing rotation of the locking plate and the tip assembly. The finger(s) is configured to engage a corresponding one of the series of locking holes to prevent rotation of the locking plate and the tip assembly.

Abstract: A loading assembly includes a cartridge having a cartridge body with rows of staple pockets. A carrier includes a platform adapted to releasably retain the cartridge. A shell is laterally spaced from the platform and flexibly coupled thereto. The arm extends through the shell at an acute angle and the shell has a passage that is configured to receive a jaw member of a surgical stapling instrument therethrough. A surgical buttress has a distal region with a first orifice and a cutout and a proximal region with a second orifice. The first orifice is attachable to a peg located in a distal region of the shell and the second orifice is attachable to a post located in a distal region of the cartridge such that a portion of the surgical buttress extends through the passage of the shell. The cutout is configured to receive an arm of the platform therethrough.

Abstract: A smoke evacuator for use with a surgical access device includes an evacuation ring having an inner peripheral surface defining one or more channels therein disposed in fluid communication with an operating cavity. A connection port is disposed thereon in fluid communication with the channel(s) and adapted to connect to a smoke evacuation system. The evacuation ring includes a profile having an inner flange that forms part of the inner peripheral surface of the evacuation ring and one or more lower flanges, the inner flange is configured to mechanically engage a rim of an access device and the lower flange(s) is adapted to mechanically engage a wound guard, wherein engagement of the inner flange of the evacuation ring atop the access device and engagement of the lower flange(s) with the wound guard secures the access device, the wound guard and the smoke evacuation ring within the operating cavity.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device includes a tool assembly that includes a drive assembly having a drive member and a working end. The working end of the drive assembly has a I-beam configuration and includes a first beam, a second beam, and a strut interconnecting the first beam and the second beam. The strut defines a slot. The drive member includes a distal portion that is press-fit into the slot in the strut to secure the working end to the drive member.