Abstract: A vessel sealing instrument includes a housing having a shaft extending from a distal end thereof, the distal end including an end effector assembly having a pair of opposing jaw members operably coupled thereto. One or both of the jaw members is moveable between open and closed positions for clamping tissue with a closure pressure. One or both of the jaw members connects to a generator that provides energy thereto in accordance with a sealing algorithm upon activation thereof. An anti-backdrive mechanism is coupled to the end effector assembly and includes a drive shaft coupled at one end to a solenoid and another end that engages one of the jaw members upon extension thereof to provide additional closure pressure between the jaw members. The drive shaft is extendible by the solenoid to extend the drive shaft in response to tissue expansion during sealing based on the sealing algorithm.

Abstract: A surgical end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members configured to grasp tissue. Each of the first and second jaw members includes a proximal flange portion and a distal body portion. The proximal flange portions are pivotably coupled to one another to move the distal body portions between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft including an articulating segment. A jaw assembly extends from a distal segment of the elongated shaft. A first jaw member can be actuated between a closed configuration and an open configuration. An articulation cable assembly includes a first articulation cable including a first extending portion, a second extending portion spaced apart from the first extending portion, and a loop portion connecting distal ends of the first and second extending portions of the first articulation cable. A first ferrule is positioned about the loop portion of the first articulation cable. A second articulation cable includes a first extending portion, a second extending portion spaced apart from the first extending portion, and a loop portion connecting distal ends of the first and second extending portions of the second articulation cable. A second ferrule is positioned about the loop portion of the second articulation cable.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft including an articulating segment. A jaw assembly extends from a distal segment of the elongated shaft. A first jaw member can be actuated between a closed configuration and an open configuration. An articulation cable assembly includes a first articulation cable including a first extending portion, a second extending portion spaced apart from the first extending portion, and a loop portion connecting distal ends of the first and second extending portions of the first articulation cable. A first ferrule is positioned about the loop portion of the first articulation cable. A second articulation cable includes a first extending portion, a second extending portion spaced apart from the first extending portion, and a loop portion connecting distal ends of the first and second extending portions of the second articulation cable. A second ferrule is positioned about the loop portion of the second articulation cable.

Abstract: A surgical end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members configured to grasp tissue. Each of the first and second jaw members includes a proximal flange portion and a distal body portion. The proximal flange portions are pivotably coupled to one another to move the distal body portions between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position.

Abstract: A surgical end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members configured to grasp tissue. At least one of the jaw members defines a channel. A cutting element reciprocates through the channel to cut grasped tissue. The cutting element may include a first bevel defined along a first portion of a distal edge on a first side surface of the cutting element and a second bevel defined along a second portion of the distal edge on a second side surface of the cutting element. The first and second portions of the distal edge are sharpened to facilitate cutting tissue upon distal advancement of the cutting element. Alternatively or additionally, the cutting element may include a proximal body and a distal fin defining a height greater than a height of the proximal body and including a thinned portion defining a depression within a first side surface thereof.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, an articulating shaft, and an end effector assembly extending from the articulating shaft. Tensioning a first articulation cable and slackening a second articulation cable articulates the end effector assembly in a first direction and the opposite articulates the end effector assembly in a second, opposite direction. An articulation mechanism includes first and second capstans including proximal end portions of the first and second articulation cables at least partially wound thereabout. The first capstan is configured to rotate in a first direction to wind up the proximal end portion of the first articulation cable to tension the first articulation cable and in a second direction to unwind the proximal end portion of the first articulation cable to slacken the first articulation cable. The second capstan acts in an opposite manner to tension and slacken the second articulation cable.

Abstract: An end effector assembly includes a clevis having first and second spaced-apart arms, a ceiling, a floor, pivot and cam pins extending between the arms, and first and second jaw members. Each jaw member includes a proximal portion and a distal body extending distally from the clevis. The proximal portion of the first jaw member includes a first flag disposed between the first and second arms of the clevis, operably coupled to both the pivot pin and the cam pin, extending vertically at least partially through openings defined within the ceiling and floor. The proximal portion of the second jaw member includes second and third flags disposed between the first and second arms of the clevis in spaced-apart relative to one another and between the ceiling and the floor. The second and third flags are fixedly engaged to the clevis.

Abstract: An end effector assembly of a robotic surgical instrument includes a distal segment and first and second jaw members supported by the distal segment. The distal segment defines an elongate slot therein. The first jaw member has a proximal flange portion received in the elongate slot of the distal segment, and the second jaw member has a proximal flange portion received in the distal segment. The proximal flange portions of each of the first and second jaw member are pinned to the distal segment.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft assembly extending distally from the housing, and an end effector assembly. The shaft assembly has a proximal segment coupled to the housing, a clevis supporting the end effector assembly, and an articulating link pivotably coupled to and interconnecting the proximal segment and the clevis such that the end effector assembly is configured to articulate relative to the proximal segment via the articulating link in at least two directions.

Abstract: An end effector assembly of a robotic surgical instrument includes a clevis, first and second jaw members supported by the clevis, and a cam bar configured to move the first and second jaw members between an open state and a closed state.

Abstract: A colpotomy system includes an energy source and a uterine manipulator that is electrically coupled to the energy source. The uterine manipulator supports a colpotomy cup and extends to a conductive distal tip portion. The colpotomy cup includes a conductive surface. One or both of the conductive distal tip portion and the conductive surface of the colpotomy cup are configured to return monopolar energy to the energy source.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument includes a housing and a shaft extending distally from the housing and including proximal and distal segments and an articulating portion interconnecting the segments. An end effector assembly is coupled to the distal segment and a plurality of actuation components extends through at least a portion of the shaft to enable selective actuation of the end effector assembly. A seal configuration is operably associated with a proximal body portion of a proximal link of the articulating portion of the shaft to establish seals against an interior annular surface of the shaft, about each actuation component of the plurality of actuation components, and within a distal end portion of the proximal segment of the shaft to inhibit fluid communication proximally into the proximal segment of the shaft.

Abstract: A robotic surgical instrument includes a housing, a support plate disposed within the housing, and a shaft having a proximal end portion coupled to the support plate within the housing, a proximal segment, a distal segment, and an articulating portion interconnecting the proximal and distal segments. An end effector assembly is coupled to the distal segment of the shaft. A plurality of actuation components extends through the support plate and at least a portion of the shaft to operably couple to at least one of the end effector assembly, the articulating portion, or the distal segment to enable selective actuation of the end effector assembly. A seal configuration establishes seals against an interior annular surface of the shaft, about each actuation component of the plurality of actuation components, and within the proximal end portion of the shaft to inhibit fluid communication from the shaft into the housing.

Abstract: A colpotomy system includes a colpotomy cup that extends to a distal surface and defines a longitudinal axis. The colpotomy system further includes a cutter operably coupled to the colpotomy cup and configured to travel along an arcuate path defined about the distal surface of the colpotomy cup. The cutter actuatable to separate a uterus from a vagina as the cutter rotates about the longitudinal axis of the colpotomy cup.

Abstract: A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members, each including a proximal flange and a distal jaw body defining a tissue-treating surface. The second jaw member is both proximally offset and spaced-apart from the first jaw member. One or more resilient bands extends between and interconnects the proximal flanges of the jaw members. The resilient band(s) is configured to bias the first and second jaw members towards an open position. The resilient band(s) is configured to flex in response to distal translation of the second jaw member relative to the first jaw member to thereby move the second jaw member relative to the first jaw member to a closed position for grasping tissue between the tissue-treating surfaces thereof. In the closed position, the second jaw member is disposed in an aligned orientation and is approximated relative to the first jaw member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending therefrom, an end effector assembly supported by the shaft, a movable handle, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a translatable drive member for actuating the end effector assembly, and a torsion spring including first and second legs. The first leg is configured to translate through the housing in response to movement of the movable handle relative to the housing. The second leg is configured to translate through the housing in cooperation with the first leg to move the drive member longitudinally when a force acting on the drive member is less than a threshold force, and to remain in fixed position, thereby tensioning the torsion spring and retaining the drive member in fixed position when the force acting on the drive member is equal to or exceeds the threshold force.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending therefrom, an end effector assembly supported by the shaft, a movable handle, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a translatable drive member for actuating the end effector assembly, and a torsion spring including first and second legs. The first leg is configured to translate through the housing in response to movement of the movable handle relative to the housing. The second leg is configured to translate through the housing in cooperation with the first leg to move the drive member longitudinally when a force acting on the drive member is less than a threshold force, and to remain in fixed position, thereby tensioning the torsion spring and retaining the drive member in fixed position when the force acting on the drive member is equal to or exceeds the threshold force.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending therefrom, an end effector assembly supported by the shaft, a movable handle, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a translatable drive member for actuating the end effector assembly, and a torsion spring including first and second legs. The first leg is configured to translate through the housing in response to movement of the movable handle relative to the housing. The second leg is configured to translate through the housing in cooperation with the first leg to move the drive member longitudinally when a force acting on the drive member is less than a threshold force, and to remain in fixed position, thereby tensioning the torsion spring and retaining the drive member in fixed position when the force acting on the drive member is equal to or exceeds the threshold force.

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.