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: 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 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 replaceable blade assembly for an end effector of a surgical tool includes a first blade having an inner side and an outer side, the first blade having an open-ended slot that opens in the proximal direction, the open-ended slot of the first blade having an axle opening and an axle slot. The replaceable blade assembly also includes a second blade having an inner side and an outer side, the second blade having an open-ended slot that opens in the proximal direction, the open-ended slot of the second blade having an axle opening and an axle slot. Further, the replaceable blade assembly includes a retainer arranged through the axle openings of the open-ended slots for coupling the first blade and the second blade together, with the inner sides of the first and second blades facing each other, while permitting relative rotation between the first and second blade.

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: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, an articulation section, and an articulation control assembly. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly and comprises an ultrasonic blade. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft assembly and is operable to articulate to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly comprises first and second threaded members and an articulation control. The first and second threaded members have respective first and second pitch orientations. The articulation control is rotatable to thereby drive articulation of the articulation section by causing translation of the first and second threaded members along a path that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The axis of rotation of the articulation control is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly.

Abstract: An end effector of an instrument is positioned in a patient. An ultrasonic blade of the end effector is positioned against tissue in the patient. The ultrasonic blade is activated to vibrate ultrasonically while the ultrasonic blade is positioned against tissue. At least one electrode of the end effector is positioned against tissue in the patient. The at least one electrode is activated to apply RF electrosurgical energy to tissue against which the at least one electrode is positioned against tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, an articulation section, and an articulation control assembly. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly and comprises an ultrasonic blade. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft assembly and is operable to articulate to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly comprises first and second threaded members and an articulation control. The first and second threaded members have respective first and second pitch orientations. The articulation control is rotatable to thereby drive articulation of the articulation section by causing translation of the first and second threaded members along a path that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The axis of rotation of the articulation control is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly.

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: 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 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 tool includes a drive housing, a drive input rotatably coupled to the drive housing, and an indicator assembly arranged within the drive housing. The indicator assembly including a capstan assembly operatively coupled to the drive input, an indicator mount secured to the drive housing, and an indicator shaft extending from the indicator mount. The surgical tool further including a drive gear mounted to the capstan assembly, and a driven gear arranged such that rotating the drive gear rotates the driven gear to undertake a function of the surgical tool. The capstan assembly is rotated with the drive input to undertake the function and further to actuate the indicator assembly between a non-activated state, where the indicator shaft is recessed into an indicator aperture defined in the drive housing, and an activated state, where the indicator shaft extends out of the drive housing via the indicator aperture.

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: 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 tool includes a drive housing, an elongate shaft extending distally from the drive housing, a wrist arranged at a distal end of the shaft and including a distal clevis with first and second distally-extending arms, and an end effector operatively coupled to the wrist. The end effector including a first blade holder rotatably mounted to the first arm at a first axle, a second blade holder rotatably mounted to the second arm at a second axle, a first blade releasably coupled to the first blade holder with a first securing device, and a second blade rotatably coupled to the first blade at a center pin and releasably coupled to the second blade holder with a second securing device. Disengaging the first and second securing devices from the first and second blade holders allows the first and second blades to be separated from the first and second blade holders.

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 tool includes a drive housing, a shaft extending distally from the drive housing, a distal seal arranged at a distal end of the shaft, and a flush tube extending from the drive housing within the shaft and terminating proximal to the distal seal. A flushing fluid conveyed distally through the flush tube is discharged from the flush tube and impinges upon the distal seal. A proximal drain is arranged within the drive housing and in fluid communication with an annulus defined between the flush tube and an inner wall of the shaft. The flushing fluid discharged from the flush tube circulates proximally within the annulus to the proximal drain to be discharged from the drive housing.

Abstract: A surgical tool includes a drive housing, an elongate shaft extending distally from the drive housing, a wrist arranged at a distal end of the shaft, and an end effector operatively coupled to the wrist and including first and second blade pulleys rotatably mounted to the wrist, first and second blade holders mounted to the first and second blade pulleys, respectively, and cooperatively defining an interior, first and second blades mountable to the first and second blade holders, respectively, such that rotational movement of the first and second blade pulleys correspondingly moves the first and second blades between closed and open positions, and a blade retention system that releasably secures the first and second blades to the first and second blade holders, respectively, and allows a user to manually remove and replace the first and second blades.

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 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.