Abstract: A forceps includes an end effector assembly having a stop and a plurality of overmold teeth within at least one jaw member. One (or both) of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. One (or both) of the jaw members includes a stop molded within an insulative housing, and an insulator plate with the overmold teeth formed from plastic. The overmold teeth extend through openings within a sealing plate and protrude past the tissue sealing surface of the sealing plate. The stop primarily controls the gap distance between opposing jaw members by bearing most of an applied load and the overmold teeth assist in controlling the gap distance by bearing the remaining applied load.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft, an actuator operably coupled to the housing, an actuation assembly, and a sensor module. The actuation assembly extends through the housing and the shaft and includes a distal end operably coupled to the end effector or a component associated therewith, a proximal end operably coupled to the actuator, and a spring. Actuation of the actuator manipulates the end effector or deploys the component relative thereto. The sensor module is disposed within the housing and configured to sense a property of the spring indicative of an amount the spring has been compressed. The sensor module is further configured, based upon the sensed property, to determine a condition of the end effector or the relative position of the component.

Abstract: An end effector assembly configured for use with a surgical instrument or surgical system includes first and second jaw members each including an outer jaw housing, a tissue-treating plate, and a longitudinally-extending channel therethrough. At least one of the first or second jaw members is pivotable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position. A cutting mechanism is configured to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members. The cutting mechanism may include an activation member coupled to a knife and configured to advance the knife transversely between the jaw members, a heat-activated elongated sheet configured to un-roll to advance a cutting edge thereof transversely between the jaw members, or a clutch and spring mechanism configured to deploy a knife longitudinally between the jaw members.

Abstract: A positioning device is provided for delivering or guiding a surgical device into a lumen of a body vessel to a position adjacent target tissue. The device includes a housing, an elongate sleeve, and a source of pressurized fluid. The sleeve has a first end coupled to a delivery side of the housing, a second end positioned on a return side of the housing, and an inverted distal portion positioned between the first and second ends. One second end of the sleeve can be furled about a support member supported on the housing. A distal portion of the sleeve defines a cavity that communicates with a pressure chamber within the housing. When pressurized fluid is directed into the pressure chamber, the pressurized fluid flows into the cavity of the distal portion of the sleeve to advance the sleeve away from the housing.

Abstract: A method of sharpening a cutting edge of a knife of a surgical instrument includes manipulating an end effector assembly of a surgical instrument such that first and second jaw members of the end effector assembly are disposed in a spaced-apart position, retaining the first and second jaw members in the spaced-apart position, advancing a knife of the surgical instrument to an extended position wherein the knife extends between the first and second jaw members, retaining the knife in the extended position, and sharpening a cutting edge of the knife.

Abstract: A surgical energy system includes a first and second surgical instruments and a generator including a universal interface. The first surgical instrument includes a first instrument connector having one or more instrument couplers disposed in a first instrument coupler configuration. The second surgical instrument includes a second instrument connector having one or more instrument couplers disposed in a second instrument coupler configuration. The first and second instrument coupler configurations are different. The generator includes a universal interface including generator couplers arranged to provide generator coupler configurations at the universal interface. Each generator coupler configuration accommodates one of the first and second instrument coupler configurations in order to electronically couple the generator to a respective one of the first and second surgical instruments.

Abstract: An access device configured for accommodating passage of an instrument with a curved end effector includes a housing assembly and a cannula member extending from the housing. The cannula member includes a length and a plurality of rigid portions alternating with a plurality of flexible portions. The cannula member is configured to maintain a circular cross-sectional profile when a force is applied to the cannula member from the outside and to flex to an oblong cross-sectional profile when a force is applied to the cannula member from the inside.

Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to a housing. An inner shaft member extends at least partially through the elongated shaft and is selectively movable in a longitudinal direction. An end effector is supported by the distal portion of the elongated shaft. The end effector includes upper and lower jaw members pivotally coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis and including a pair of laterally spaced flanges. The pairs of flanges of the jaw members are arranged in an offset configuration such that one flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally exterior side of a corresponding flange of the lower jaw member, and the other flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally interior side of the other flange of the lower jaw member.

Abstract: A forceps includes an end effector assembly having a stop and a plurality of overmold teeth within at least one jaw member. One (or both) of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. One (or both) of the jaw members includes a stop molded within an insulative housing, and an insulator plate with the overmold teeth formed from plastic. The overmold teeth extend through openings within a sealing plate and protrude past the tissue sealing surface of the sealing plate. The stop primarily controls the gap distance between opposing jaw members by bearing most of an applied load and the overmold teeth assist in controlling the gap distance by bearing the remaining applied load.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft, an actuator operably coupled to the housing, an actuation assembly, and a sensor module. The actuation assembly extends through the housing and the shaft and includes a distal end operably coupled to the end effector or a component associated therewith, a proximal end operably coupled to the actuator, and a spring. Actuation of the actuator manipulates the end effector or deploys the component relative thereto. The sensor module is disposed within the housing and configured to sense a property of the spring indicative of an amount the spring has been compressed. The sensor module is further configured, based upon the sensed property, to determine a condition of the end effector or the relative position of the component.

Abstract: An end effector assembly configured for use with a surgical instrument or surgical system includes first and second jaw members each including an outer jaw housing, a tissue-treating plate, and a longitudinally-extending channel therethrough. At least one of the first or second jaw members is pivotable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position. A cutting mechanism is configured to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members. The cutting mechanism may include an activation member coupled to a knife and configured to advance the knife transversely between the jaw members, a heat-activated elongated sheet configured to un-roll to advance a cutting edge thereof transversely between the jaw members, or a clutch and spring mechanism configured to deploy a knife longitudinally between the jaw members.

Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing having a barrel defining an axis and a fixed handle extending from the barrel. The barrel includes at least one elongated indentation and the fixed handle defines a waist. A shaft extends from the barrel along the axis and couple to an end effector at a distal end thereof. A movable handle coupled to the housing is configured to manipulate the end effector. The movable handle includes a proximal leg, a distal tail, an arcuate segment defining a finger-retaining area, and a proximal foot. A deployable member is slidably disposed within the shaft. A trigger coupled to the housing is configured to deploy the deployable member. The trigger defines a saddle portion. The housing, movable handle, and trigger are configured to facilitate operable grasping by a hand of a user in at least first and second different grasping configurations.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing having a first handle and an elongated shaft extending therefrom. An end effector is disposed at a distal end of the elongated shaft and includes first and second jaw members, the first jaw member including a staple cartridge configured to house a series of staples therein. A second handle is operably coupled to the housing and is selectively moveable relative to the first handle to actuate the first and second jaw members between an open position and a closed position for grasping tissue. A first switch is activatable to supply energy to one of the jaw members. A stapler mode switch is actuatable between an unactuated position wherein movement of the second handle moves the jaws to the second position and an actuated position wherein movement of the second handle moves the jaws to the second position and drives the staples through tissue.

Abstract: A method of treating liver tissue includes progressively grasping liver tissue, applying a first energy to the grasped liver tissue during the progressive grasping to permanently close parenchyma of the liver tissue, fully grasping the liver tissue, and applying a second energy to the fully grasped liver tissue to permanently close large vessels of the fully grasped liver tissue.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing having a first handle depending therefrom and an elongated shaft. An end effector is included having first and second jaw members each having an electrically conductive plate disposed thereon. The first jaw member includes one or more electrodes disposed at a distal end thereof. A second handle operably couples to the housing and is moveable relative to actuate the jaw members to grasp tissue disposed therebetween. A first switch is activatable to supply electrical energy to the electrically conductive plates to pre-coagulate tissue. A second switch is electrically coupled to the electrode and activatable to provide electrical energy to the one or more one electrodes. A third switch is configured to supply electrical energy to tissue disposed between the electrically conductive plates. An irrigation actuator is operable to selectively supply electrically conductive fluid to the first and second jaw members proximate the electrode(s).

Abstract: A tissue removal system includes an electrosurgical generator including an active electrode port and a return electrode port, an active electrode device configured to connect to the active electrode port, and a return tissue clip configured to connect to the return electrode port. Another tissue removal system includes an electrosurgical generator including an active electrode port and a return electrode port, an active electrode device configured to connect to the active electrode port, and a return tissue harpoon configured to connect to the return electrode port. Another tissue removal system includes an active electrode device and a return electrode attachment configured to releasably engage the active electrode device.

Abstract: A tissue removal system includes an electrosurgical generator including an active electrode port and a return electrode port, an active electrode device configured to connect to the active electrode port, and a return tissue guard configured to connect to the return electrode port. Another tissue removal system includes an electrosurgical generator including an active electrode port and a return electrode port, an active electrode device configured to connect to the active electrode port, and a return specimen bag configured to connect to the return electrode port.

Abstract: An electrosurgical smoke evacuation pencil includes a handle housing having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the handle housing defining a first lumen therethrough. The electrosurgical pencil also includes a nozzle disposed within the first lumen and defining a second lumen, the nozzle being movable relative to and within the handle housing and extending proximally past the proximal end portion of the handle housing. The electrosurgical pencil may further include a swivel connector coupled to the distal end portion of the handle housing, the swivel connector configured to couple to a suction source. The electrosurgical pencil includes a hub assembly securedly disposed within the second lumen, the hub assembly including a conductive tube configured to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy, and an electrode slidably disposed within the conductive tube, the electrode being movable relative to and within the conductive tube.