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 movable handle movable relative a housing to manipulate an end effector assembly, and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a latch arm including a latch post, and a latch track defining an entry path, a latching path, a saddle, an un-latching path, and a return path. The latch post moves through the entry path, the latching path, and into the saddle upon movement of the movable handle from an un-actuated position to an over-actuated position and back to an actuated position to lock the movable handle. The latch post moves from the saddle through the un-latching path and the return path upon movement of the movable handle from actuated position to the over-actuated position and back to the un-actuated position. The return path includes a ramped surface configured to inhibit reverse travel of the latch post into the return path.

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 method of disassembling a surgical instrument for reprocessing, includes accessing an interior housing of a surgical instrument to expose a slider assembly, an elongated outer shaft including a drive plate and knife assembly extending therethrough, and a torsion spring of the surgical instrument. The method further includes grasping an upper leg of the torsion spring to disengage the upper leg from a slot defined within the drive plate, disengaging the drive plate from the slider assembly, and removing the torsion spring from the slider assembly.

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 method of disassembling a surgical instrument for reprocessing, includes accessing an interior housing of a surgical instrument to expose a slider assembly, an elongated outer shaft including a drive plate and knife assembly extending therethrough, and a torsion spring of the surgical instrument. The method further includes grasping an upper leg of the torsion spring to disengage the upper leg from a slot defined within the drive plate, disengaging the drive plate from the slider assembly, and removing the torsion spring from the slider assembly.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft having a proximal end portion disposed within the housing, and an end effector assembly supported at a distal end portion of the shaft distally-spaced from the housing. A bobbin includes a body, a proximal rim, and a distal cylinder. The bobbin is disposed about the shaft such that at least one protrusion of the shaft is captured within a track defined within the distal cylinder. The bobbin is configured for positioning within the housing such that the body extends through a shaft aperture of a partition of the housing with the proximal rim disposed on a proximal side of the partition and the distal cylinder disposed within an interior cavity defined between the partition and a distal end of the housing on a distal side of the partition, thereby rotatably supporting the proximal end portion of the shaft within the housing.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing and a trigger assembly. The trigger assembly includes a trigger including a drive portion and a manipulation portion, a rocker, a linkage, and a slider. The trigger is pivotably coupled to the housing such that the drive and manipulation portions are moved in different directions in response to actuation of the trigger. The drive portion of the trigger is pivotably coupled to the rocker. The linkage is pivotably coupled to the rocker and the housing at opposing end portions thereof. The slider is pivotably coupled to the rocker and operably coupled to the deployable component. Actuation of the manipulation portion of the trigger moves the drive portion of the trigger distally to thereby urge the rocker distally, pivot the linkage about the second end portion thereof, and slide the slider distally to deploy the deployable component distally.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a movable handle movable relative a housing to manipulate an end effector assembly, and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a latch arm including a latch post, and a latch track defining an entry path, a latching path, a saddle, an un-latching path, and a return path. The latch post moves through the entry path, the latching path, and into the saddle upon movement of the movable handle from an un-actuated position to an over-actuated position and back to an actuated position to lock the movable handle. The latch post moves from the saddle through the un-latching path and the return path upon movement of the movable handle from actuated position to the over-actuated position and back to the un-actuated position. The return path includes a ramped surface configured to inhibit reverse travel of the latch post into the return path.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector assembly at a distal end portion of the shaft, and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a movable handle, a carriage operably coupled to the movable handle, an inner drive operably coupled to the end effector assembly, and a spring assembly operably coupling the carriage and the inner drive. The spring assembly includes inner and outer coil springs arranged in a nested configuration. Initial actuation of the movable handle slides the carriage such that the spring assembly transfers the sliding of the carriage into translation of the inner drive to apply a jaw force by the end effector assembly. Subsequent actuation of the movable handle slides the carriage to compress the spring assembly to substantially maintain a position of the inner drive, thereby controlling the jaw force.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a movable handle, a trigger, a drive assembly operably coupled between the movable handle and an end effector assembly such that movement of the movable handle from an initial position to a compressed position manipulates the end effector assembly, and a linkage operably coupled between the trigger and a knife such that movement of the trigger from an un-actuated position to an actuated position rotates the linkage to deploy the knife relative to the end effector assembly. A drive housing of the drive assembly inhibits rotation of the linkage when the movable handle is disposed in the initial position and the trigger is disposed in the un-actuated position. The drive housing cams along a surface of the linkage to urge the linkage to rotate when the movable handle is returned towards the initial position, thereby returning the trigger towards the un-actuated position.

Abstract: An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom including an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof having jaw members. A movable handle is pivotable relative to the housing from an initial position wherein the jaw members are spaced relative to one another to a compressed position wherein the jaw members are closed about tissue. A trigger assembly is pivotably coupled to the movable handle and includes a trigger operably coupled to a knife assembly having a knife, a knife drive bar and a cam pin. The trigger includes an elongated slot defined therein configured to house the cam pin for translation therein. Upon actuation of the movable handle, the trigger moves in unison with the movable handle to the compressed position and the cam pin rides within the elongated slot maintaining consistent angle between the movable handle and the trigger during movement thereof.

Abstract: The electrosurgical systems and corresponding methods of the present disclosure involve an electrosurgical generator, sensing circuitry, and a controller. The electrosurgical generator includes a radio frequency (RF) output stage that supplies power to tissue. The sensing circuitry measures impedance of tissue. The controller controls the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a nonlinear power curve until the power supplied from the RF output stage has reached a predetermined peak power of the nonlinear power curve. The controller further determines whether a tissue reaction has occurred based on impedance measured by the sensing circuitry and controls the power supplied from the RF output stage during a cooling phase if the controller determines that a tissue reaction has occurred. The controller may further control the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a linear power curve.

Abstract: A method of disassembling a surgical instrument for reprocessing, includes accessing an interior housing of a surgical instrument to expose a slider assembly, an elongated outer shaft including a drive plate and knife assembly extending therethrough, and a torsion spring of the surgical instrument. The method further includes grasping an upper leg of the torsion spring to disengage the upper leg from a slot defined within the drive plate, disengaging the drive plate from the slider assembly, and removing the torsion spring from the slider assembly.

Abstract: The electrosurgical systems and corresponding methods of the present disclosure involve an electrosurgical generator, sensing circuitry, and a controller. The electrosurgical generator includes a radio frequency (RF) output stage that supplies power to tissue. The sensing circuitry measures impedance of tissue. The controller controls the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a nonlinear power curve until the power supplied from the RF output stage has reached a predetermined peak power of the nonlinear power curve. The controller further determines whether a tissue reaction has occurred based on impedance measured by the sensing circuitry and controls the power supplied from the RF output stage during a cooling phase if the controller determines that a tissue reaction has occurred. The controller may further control the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a linear power curve.

Abstract: A method of disassembling a surgical instrument for reprocessing, includes accessing an interior housing of a surgical instrument to expose a slider assembly, an elongated outer shaft including a drive plate and knife assembly extending therethrough, and a torsion spring of the surgical instrument. The method further includes grasping an upper leg of the torsion spring to disengage the upper leg from a slot defined within the drive plate, disengaging the drive plate from the slider assembly, and removing the torsion spring from the slider assembly.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, a knife slidably disposed within the shaft, a movable handle operably coupled to the housing, a trigger operably coupled to the housing, a drive assembly operably coupled between the movable handle and the end effector assembly such that movement of the movable handle manipulates the end effector assembly, and a linkage operably coupled between the trigger and the knife such that movement of the trigger deploys the knife. In an initial position of the movable handle, a portion of a drive housing of the drive assembly intersects a path of movement of the linkage to inhibit movement of the linkage, thereby inhibiting actuation of the trigger.

Abstract: The electrosurgical systems and corresponding methods of the present disclosure involve an electrosurgical generator, sensing circuitry, and a controller. The electrosurgical generator includes a radio frequency (RF) output stage that supplies power to tissue. The sensing circuitry measures impedance of tissue. The controller controls the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a nonlinear power curve until the power supplied from the RF output stage has reached a predetermined peak power of the nonlinear power curve. The controller further determines whether a tissue reaction has occurred based on impedance measured by the sensing circuitry and controls the power supplied from the RF output stage during a cooling phase if the controller determines that a tissue reaction has occurred. The controller may further control the power supplied from the RF output stage to track a linear power curve.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing having a movable handle operably coupled to the housing and movable relative thereto between an initial position and a compressed position. A trigger is operably coupled to the housing within a slot defined therein and movable relative to the housing and the movable handle between an un-actuated position and an actuated position. A flange is disposed on the trigger and configured to extend distally therefrom. The flange is dimensioned to cover the slot when the trigger is moved between the un-actuated and actuated positions to avoid creating a potential pinch point between the trigger and the slot.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, a knife slidably disposed within the shaft, a movable handle operably coupled to the housing, a trigger operably coupled to the housing, a drive assembly operably coupled between the movable handle and the end effector assembly such that movement of the movable handle manipulates the end effector assembly, and a linkage operably coupled between the trigger and the knife such that movement of the trigger deploys the knife. In an initial position of the movable handle, a portion of a drive housing of the drive assembly intersects a path of movement of the linkage to inhibit movement of the linkage, thereby inhibiting actuation of the trigger.