Abstract: A surgical system may include tiered-access features. The surgical system may be used to analyze at least a portion of a surgical field. Based on a control parameter, the system may scale up or down various capabilities, such as visualization processing, endocutter communication, endocutter algorithm updates, smart cartridge connectivity, smart motor control for circular stapler, smart energy control, cloud analytics, hub connectivity control, and/or hub visualization and control interactions. The control parameter may include system aspects such as processing capability or bandwidth for example and/or the identification of an appropriate service tier.

Abstract: A health data management system may obtain a consent key for accessing health information associated with a patient. The system may determine that at least some of the health information associated with the patient is stored in an external system, different from the health data system. The external system may be, for example, a second health data management system or a secure storage container associated with the patient. The health data system may send a request to access the health information associated with the patient. The access request may include a consent key associated with the patient's consent data. The consent key may be, may include, and/or may indicate the patient's consent data. The health data system may access the health information associated with the patient from the external system (e.g., upon the external system authorizing access based on the consent key).

Abstract: Patient health data and consent data may be managed. Conditional consent by a patient may be provided for utilizing their private health data in one or more of the following: the adaptation of procedures, instrument operation, system configuration, display of results and/or plans for device usage. The patient granted consent may be associated with one or more condition(s), stipulation(s), and/or limitations of the scope, duration, and/or usage of their health data. A health data management system may check that patient data is only being used in accordance with the consent data (e.g., for the agreed upon purpose(s) and for the agreed upon time).

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for controlling a tissue-treatment motion by a surgical instrument are disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a motor system and a control circuit is disclosed. The motor system comprises a motor and a drive train movable by the motor to actuate a firing member through a staple firing stroke. The control circuit is coupled to the motor, wherein, during the staple firing stroke, the control circuit is configured to perform a first sensory action to determine if a speed of the motor can be increased to a first target speed, monitor a result of the first sensory action, adjust a parameter of a subsequent sensory action based on the monitored result of the first sensory action, and perform the subsequent sensory action with the adjusted parameter.

Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive imaging data from a surgical visualization system, identify a critical structure within a patient based on the imaging data received from the surgical visualization system, transmit a margin signal based on the identified critical structure, measure a size of an anatomical structure of the patient based on the imaging data, identify information about a surgical instrument of a plurality of surgical instruments, customize an operational parameter of a surgical instrument of the plurality of surgical instruments, and provide electrosurgical energy to electrosurgical instruments of the plurality of surgical instrument. A display is configured to display a digital representation of the critical structure on the display. The display is configured to display a resection margin around the critical structure. The resection margin is generated based on the margin signal.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: A surgical hub for use with a surgical system in a surgical procedure performed in an operating room is disclosed. The surgical hub comprises a control circuit configured to generate a first image of a surgical site from a real-time imaging source, receive a second image of the surgical site from a non-real-time image source, align the first image and the second image, generate a representation of the surgical site based on the first image and the second image as aligned, display the representation on a display screen, receive a first user selection to overlay hidden structures on the representation, receive a second user selection to manipulate the representation, and adjust the representation based on the second user selection.

Abstract: A method for generating and updating a three-dimensional representation of a surgical site based on imaging data from an imaging system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of generating a first image of the surgical site based on structured electromagnetic radiation emitted from the imaging system, receiving a second image of the surgical site, aligning the first image and the second image, generating a three-dimensional representation of the surgical site based on the first image and the second image as aligned, displaying the three-dimensional representation on a display screen, receiving a user selection to manipulate the three-dimensional representation, and updating the three-dimensional representation as displayed on the display screen from a first state to a second state according to the received user selection.

Abstract: A method for adjusting control parameters of a clip applier using a surgical hub is disclosed. The method comprises gathering data during a first surgical procedure, evaluating the gathered data to determine the appropriate operation of a clip applier in a subsequent surgical procedure, gathering data during the operation of the clip applier in the subsequent surgical procedure, determining if the operation of the clip applier needs to be adjusted based on the data gathered during the subsequent surgical procedure, and adjusting the operation of the clip applier based on the data gathered during the subsequent surgical procedure.

Abstract: A surgical instrument controls communication capabilities between the surgical instrument and a removeable component. The surgical instrument may determine parameters associated with the surgical instrument and the removable component. Based on the parameters, the surgical instrument determines a level or tier of communication between the surgical instrument and the removable component. The surgical instrument may determine to configure one or more of the following levels: one-way static communication with the component; two-way communication with the component; real-time two-way communication with the component; and communication with a surgical hub.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing formation evaluation in a borehole intersecting an earth formation. Methods may include exciting at a first borehole depth at least one critical refraction wave by steering an acoustic beam transmitted by at least one ultrasonic transmitter to an interface in the formation to intercept the interface at a critical angle; receiving an acoustic signal comprising critical refraction wave data at a logging tool in the borehole; and obtaining a wave property measurement from the critical refraction wave data. The interface may be the borehole wall in an open-hole well or behind casing. Methods include using ultrasonic transmitter(s) to generate the plurality of acoustic beams, identifying critical refraction wave data within the response signal corresponding to the at least one critical refraction wave, and obtaining the wave property measurement from the critical refraction wave data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing formation evaluation in a borehole intersecting an earth formation. Methods may include exciting at a first borehole depth at least one critical refraction wave by steering an acoustic beam transmitted by at least one ultrasonic transmitter to an interface in the formation to intercept the interface at a critical angle; receiving an acoustic signal comprising critical refraction wave data at a logging tool in the borehole; and obtaining a wave property measurement from the critical refraction wave data. The interface may be the borehole wall in an open-hole well or behind casing. Methods include using ultrasonic transmitter(s) to generate the plurality of acoustic beams, identifying critical refraction wave data within the response signal corresponding to the at least one critical refraction wave, and obtaining the wave property measurement from the critical refraction wave data.

Abstract: Measurements made by a transducer assembly for downhole imaging are affected by reverberations between the transducer and the window on the outside of the assembly. The reverberations result in a stationary noise on the image. Hardware solutions to improve signal-to-noise ratio includes using a composite transducer, adjusting the distance between the transducer and the window. SNR can also be improved by processing techniques that include stacking, fitting a sinusoid to the reverberation, by envelope peak detection, and by applying a notch filter.

Abstract: Measurements made by a transducer assembly for downhole imaging are affected by reverberations between the transducer and the window on the outside of the assembly. The reverberations result in a stationary noise on the image. Hardware solutions to improve signal-to-noise ratio includes using a composite transducer, adjusting the distance between the transducer and the window. SNR can also be improved by processing techniques that include stacking, fitting a sinusoid to the reverberation, by envelope peak detection, and by applying a notch filter.

Abstract: Measurements made by a transducer assembly for downhole imaging are affected by reverberations between the transducer and the window on the outside of the assembly. The reverberations result in a stationary noise on the image. Hardware solutions to improve signal-to-noise ratio includes using a composite transducer, adjusting the distance between the transducer and the window. SNR can also be improved by processing techniques that include stacking, fitting a sinusoid to the reverberation, by envelope peak detection, and by applying a notch filter.

Abstract: Measurements made by a transducer assembly for downhole imaging are affected by reverberations between the transducer and the window on the outside of the assembly. The reverberations result in a stationary noise on the image. Hardware solutions to improve signal-to-noise ratio includes using a composite transducer, adjusting the distance between the transducer and the window. SNR can also be improved by processing techniques that include stacking, fitting a sinusoid to the reverberation, by envelope peak detection, and by applying a notch filter.