Abstract: A method of replacing a consumable of a surgical tool includes securing the surgical tool, which includes a drive housing, a shaft extending from the drive housing, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft and including opposing upper and lower jaws, a wrist interposing the shaft and the end effector, and a knife assembly including a knife arranged at the end effector and first and second drive members extending to the drive housing. The method includes uncoupling the end effector from the wrist, moving the end effector distally from the wrist while the wrist remains intact, removing the knife assembly from the end effector, and thereby entirely separating the end effector from proximal portions of the surgical tool, replacing the consumable of the surgical tool, reconnecting the knife assembly to the surgical tool, and re-coupling the end effector to the wrist.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, an actuation assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The actuation assembly includes an activation member that is operable to move in a first direction to select a mode of operation. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes an acoustic waveguide. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade that is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide. The activation member is operable to move in a second direction to activate the end effector in a mode of operation selected by movement of the activation member in the first direction.

Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing, an indicator assembly arranged within the drive housing and actuatable to provide visual indication that the surgical tool has exhausted its useful life. The indicator assembly includes a drive input rotatably coupled to the bottom of the drive housing. The drive input further including a riser and a rim where the riser contains a passage therethrough. The indicator assembly further includes an indicator shaft extending through the passage along a longitudinal axis coaxially aligned with the drive input. The drive input is rotated to actuate the indicator assembly between a non-activated state, where the indicator shaft is recessed into the drive housing, and an activated state, where the indicator shaft extends out of the drive housing to provide the visual indication.

Abstract: A method of replacing a surgical tool consumable, the surgical tool including a drive housing containing an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft extending distally from the drive housing, an end effector coupled to the shaft and including a blade operatively coupled to the ultrasonic transducer and extending from drive housing within the shaft, and a clamp assembly that includes a clevis extending about the blade and a clamp arm pivotably coupled to the clevis such that axial movement of the clevis causes the clamp arm to move between open and closed positions, and a wrist interposing the shaft and the end effector. The method further including decoupling the blade from the ultrasonic transducer, removing the end effector from the wrist and proximal portions of the surgical tool, replacing the consumable of the surgical tool, and reconnecting the end effector to the wrist and the proximal portions of the surgical tool.

Abstract: A method of replacing a consumable of a surgical tool includes securing the surgical tool, which includes a drive housing, an elongate shaft, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft and including opposing first and second jaws, a wrist interposing the shaft and the end effector, and a plurality of drive cables extending proximally from the end effector and through the wrist. The method further includes moving the shaft proximally away from the end effector and deeper into the drive housing, detaching the drive cables from the jaws, removing the end effector and the wrist from proximal portions of the surgical tool, replacing the consumable of the surgical tool, reconnecting the end effector and the wrist to the proximal portions of the surgical tool, reconnecting the drive cables to the jaws, and moving the elongate shaft distally toward the wrist and the end effector.

Abstract: A method of replacing a consumable of a surgical tool includes securing the surgical tool, which includes a drive housing, a shaft extending from the drive housing, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft and including opposing upper and lower jaws, a wrist interposing the shaft and the end effector, and a knife assembly including a knife arranged at the end effector and first and second drive members extending to the drive housing. The method includes uncoupling the end effector from the wrist, moving the end effector distally from the wrist while the wrist remains intact, removing the knife assembly from the end effector, and thereby entirely separating the end effector from proximal portions of the surgical tool, replacing the consumable of the surgical tool, reconnecting the knife assembly to the surgical tool, and re-coupling the end effector to the wrist.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, an actuation assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The actuation assembly includes an activation member that is operable to move in a first direction to select a mode of operation. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes an acoustic waveguide. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade that is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide. The activation member is operable to move in a second direction to activate the end effector in a mode of operation selected by movement of the activation member in the first direction.

Abstract: A method of replacing a consumable of a surgical tool includes securing the surgical tool, which includes a drive housing, an elongate shaft extending distally from the drive housing, an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft, and a wrist interposing the distal end of the shaft and the end effector. The method further includes moving the elongate shaft proximally and thereby exposing internal portions of the wrist and the end effector, moving the end effector distally to separate the end effector from the wrist, disconnecting the end effector from proximal portions of the surgical tool, replacing the consumable of the surgical tool, reconnecting the end effector to the proximal portions of the surgical tool, moving the end effector proximally to re-attach the end effector to the wrist, and moving the shaft distally to occlude the internal portions of the wrist and the end effector.

Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing defining an indicator aperture, a drive input rotatably coupled to a bottom of the drive housing, and an indicator assembly arranged within the drive housing and actuatable to provide visual indication that the surgical tool has exhausted its useful life. The indicator assembly includes a capstan assembly operatively coupled to the drive input such that rotation of the drive input correspondingly rotates the capstan assembly, an indicator mount secured to the drive housing, and an indicator shaft extending from the indicator mount along a longitudinal axis coaxially aligned with the indicator aperture. The capstan assembly is rotated with the drive input to actuate the indicator assembly between a non-activated state, where the indicator shaft is recessed into the indicator aperture, and an activated state, where the indicator shaft extends out of the drive housing via the indicator aperture to provide the visual indication.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly and an articulation control assembly. The shaft assembly includes an articulation section. The distal end of the shaft assembly is configured to receive an end effector. The articulation section is configured to deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly includes a first articulation control member, a second articulation control member, and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes a high ratio drive and a low ratio drive. The high ratio drive is configured to drive the articulation section to deflect the end effector at a high rate of articulation in response to actuation of the first articulation control member. The low ratio drive is configured to drive the articulation section to deflect the end effector at a low rate of articulation in response to actuation of the second articulation control member.

Abstract: Surgical tools that are capable of both manipulating a needle and cutting surgical thread during a suturing operation can sometimes be problematic due to inadvertent severing of the surgical thread. Surgical tools capable of exposing a bladed cutting surface only when severing of surgical thread is desired can substantially alleviate this issue. Such surgical tools may comprise an end effector comprising an end effector axle, a first jaw and a second jaw rotatably mounted to the end effector axle, and a first cutting body having a first blade and second cutting body having a second blade. The first cutting body is configured to move in tandem with the first jaw and the second cutting body is configured to move in tandem with the second jaw, such that the first and second blades are occluded when the first and second jaws are closed or partially opened.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly and an articulation control assembly. The shaft assembly includes an articulation section. The distal end of the shaft assembly is configured to receive an end effector. The articulation section is configured to deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly includes a first articulation control member, a second articulation control member, and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes a high ratio drive and a low ratio drive. The high ratio drive is configured to drive the articulation section to deflect the end effector at a high rate of articulation in response to actuation of the first articulation control member. The low ratio drive is configured to drive the articulation section to deflect the end effector at a low rate of articulation in response to actuation of the second articulation control member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly and an articulation control assembly. The shaft assembly includes an articulation section that is configured to deflect a distal end portion from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly includes an articulation control member and a transmission assembly. The articulation control member is rotatably mounted relative to the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is operatively connected between the articulation control member and the articulation section of the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is configured to transmit selective manipulation of the articulation control member to the articulation section and selectively actuate the articulation section.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes a first coupling member and a second coupling member. The first coupling member and the second coupling member are configured to flex toward each other from a first position to a second position. The first coupling member and the second coupling member define a pivot axis in the first position. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The clamp arm is configured to couple or decouple with the shaft assembly when the first coupling member and the second coupling member are in the second position. The clamp arm is configured to pivot toward and away the ultrasonic blade about the pivot axis when the first coupling member and the second coupling member are in the first position.

Abstract: Provided is a method for managing radio frequency (RF) and ultrasonic signals output by a generator that includes a surgical instrument comprising an RF energy output and an ultrasonic energy output and a circuit configured to receive a combined RF and ultrasonic signal from the generator. The method includes receiving a combined radio frequency (RF) and ultrasonic signal from a generator, generating a RF filtered signal by filtering RF frequency content from the combined signal; filtering ultrasonic frequency content from the combined signal; generating an ultrasonic filtered signal; providing the RF filtered signal to the RF energy output; and providing the ultrasonic filtered signal to the ultrasonic energy output.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector is located at a distal end portion of the shaft assembly. The end effector includes an active feature configured to operate on tissue. The body includes a drive feature operable to drive the active feature of the end effector. The body is removably coupled with the shaft assembly in a connected state and separated from the shaft assembly in a disconnected state. The body includes a drive feature configured to drive operation of the active feature of the effector. The drive feature includes at least one of an ultrasonic drive feature or a mechanical drive feature. A proximal end portion of the shaft assembly is configured to be removed from the body to separate the at least one activation feature from the drive feature.

Abstract: Surgical tools that are capable of both manipulating a needle and cutting surgical thread during a suturing operation can sometimes be problematic due to inadvertent severing of the surgical thread. Surgical tools capable of exposing a bladed cutting surface only when severing of surgical thread is desired can substantially alleviate this issue. Such surgical tools may comprise an end effector comprising an end effector axle, a first jaw and a second jaw rotatably mounted to the end effector axle, and a first cutting body having a first blade and second cutting body having a second blade. The first cutting body is configured to move in tandem with the first jaw and the second cutting body is configured to move in tandem with the second jaw, such that the first and second blades are occluded when the first and second jaws are closed or partially opened.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly and an articulation control assembly. The shaft assembly includes an articulation section that is configured to deflect a distal end portion from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly includes an articulation control member and a transmission assembly. The articulation control member is rotatably mounted relative to the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is operatively connected between the articulation control member and the articulation section of the shaft assembly. The transmission assembly is configured to transmit selective manipulation of the articulation control member to the articulation section and selectively actuate the articulation section.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer. The articulation section includes a collar that is located distal to a nodal portion of the waveguide and is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section. The articulation drive assembly comprises at least one translating articulation driver coupled with the collar. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue even when the articulation section is in an articulated state.

Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling motorized surgical devices are provided. In general, the methods and devices can allow a surgical device to grasp and cut tissue. In some embodiments, the device can include at least one sensor and a motor, and an output of the motor can be configured to be adjusted based at least in part on an output from the at least one sensor. The output of the motor can be configured to provide power for translation of a cutting element along an end effector of the device. Adjusting the motor's output can cause the cutting element to translate through the end effector at different speeds, thereby allowing the cutting element to cut through tissue being grasped by the end effector at different speeds.