Abstract: A surgical stapler instrument includes a stapling head assembly that receives a plurality of staples. The staples are configured with features that allow the staples to expand after deployment so that an anastomosis created by the instrument can increase in size after forming. In some versions the staples expand automatically after deployment, and in other versions the staples expand in response to tissue forces imparted upon the staples after deployment. In some versions the staples are configured to be deployed in various patterns that promote expandability of the circular staple line.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets and a stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member capable of actuating the anvil relative to the body, a staple deck defining a plurality of staple openings, and a firing assembly capable of driving a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The firing assembly includes a proximal driving body and an array of discrete staple driving segments positioned distal to the proximal driving body. The proximal driving body is slidably housed within the body. The staple driving segments each have a free proximal end. The proximal driving body is capable of simultaneously actuating the array of staple driving segments to drive the plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil.

Abstract: A surgical stapler instrument includes a stapling head assembly that receives a plurality of staples. The staples are configured with features that allow the staples to expand after deployment so that an anastomosis created by the instrument can increase in size after forming. In some versions the staples expand automatically after deployment, and in other versions the staples expand in response to tissue forces imparted upon the staples after deployment. In some versions the staples are configured to be deployed in various patterns that promote expandability of the circular staple line.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets and a stapling head assembly configured to drive a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil. The stapling head assembly comprises a coupling member configured to actuate the anvil relative to the stapling head assembly, a firing assembly configured to drive the plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets of the anvil, and a deck member. The deck member includes a deck surface extending radially between an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and a plurality of staple openings extending through the deck surface. The plurality of staple openings define at least one cross shape.

Abstract: A method of creating an anastomosis is provided using a stapling assembly including a body extending distally along a longitudinal axis and a deck member defining a deck surface. The deck surface includes a first array of staple openings comprising a herringbone pattern, and each staple opening of the first array of staple openings has a same size. The method includes positioning an anvil within a first lumen of a patient and positioning the stapling assembly within a second lumen of the patient. The method also includes releasably coupling the anvil with the stapling assembly and compressing tissue of the first and second lumens between the anvil and the deck member. The method further includes actuating a plurality of staple drivers to drive a first plurality of staples distally and parallel to the longitudinal axis from the first array of staple openings into the tissue to define the anastomosis.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, and a stapling head assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body and includes a coupling feature. The coupling feature includes threading or at least one barb. The stapling head assembly is configured to cut and staple tissue. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes a knife member and a body member. The knife member includes a circular cutting edge configured to cut through tissue. The body member is configured to house the knife member. The body member includes a coupling feature that is configured to mechanically couple with the coupling feature of the shaft. The coupling feature of the body member includes threading or at least one barb.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, and a stapling head assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes a staple driver member and a knife member. The staple driver member is configured to drive a plurality of staples into tissue. The knife member is configured to cut through the tissue. The knife member includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical body extending between the proximal and distal ends. The cylindrical body includes at least one coupling feature that operatively couples the knife member with the staple driver member.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, and a stapling head assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes a staple driver member and a knife member. The staple driver member is configured to drive a plurality of staples into tissue. The knife member is configured to cut through the tissue. The knife member includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a cylindrical body extending between the proximal and distal ends. The cylindrical body includes at least one coupling feature that operatively couples the knife member with the staple driver member.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, and a stapling head assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body and includes a coupling feature. The coupling feature includes threading or at least one barb. The stapling head assembly is configured to cut and staple tissue. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft. The stapling head assembly includes a knife member and a body member. The knife member includes a circular cutting edge configured to cut through tissue. The body member is configured to house the knife member. The body member includes a coupling feature that is configured to mechanically couple with the coupling feature of the shaft. The coupling feature of the body member includes threading or at least one barb.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, and a stapling head assembly. The body includes a chassis, a bracket, a coupling, and a conical coil. The bracket is configured to move relative to the chassis between first and second positions when selectively activated by a user. The bracket includes an upright member. The conical coil spring is disposed between the bracket and the coupling. The conical coil spring includes a proximal end, a distal end, a conical helical body disposed between the proximal and distal ends, and at least one dead coil disposed at the distal end of the conical coil spring that is configured to prevent the distal end of the conical coil spring from being retained between the bracket and the chassis. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A method for manipulating tissue of a patient includes a surgical instrument having a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The method includes positioning a tissue within a gap between a cartridge and an anvil and against a guide pin to laterally position the tissue relative to the cartridge and the anvil. The method also includes moving a retaining pin from an open position to a closed position to capture the tissue and moving the cartridge toward the anvil in a closed configuration. Furthermore, the method includes inhibiting deflection of a distal end portion of the end effector wherein at least at least one of the guide pin or the retaining pin connects to the distal end portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of staples within the tissue and cutting the tissue with a knife.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, and a stapling head assembly. The body includes a chassis, a bracket, a coupling, and a conical coil. The bracket is configured to move relative to the chassis between first and second positions when selectively activated by a user. The bracket includes an upright member. The conical coil spring is disposed between the bracket and the coupling. The conical coil spring includes a proximal end, a distal end, a conical helical body disposed between the proximal and distal ends, and at least one dead coil disposed at the distal end of the conical coil spring that is configured to prevent the distal end of the conical coil spring from being retained between the bracket and the chassis. The shaft extends distally from the body. The stapling head assembly is positioned at a distal end of the shaft.

Abstract: A surgical instrument can comprise a first jaw, a second jaw comprising a fastener cartridge, and a closing system. The closing system can comprise a closure member configured to engage the first jaw and move the first jaw toward the second jaw. A pivot can pivotably couple the first jaw to the second jaw. The closure member can engage the first jaw at a location which is distal with respect to the pivot. The closure member and the first jaw can include a cam pin/cam slot arrangement which increases the leverage or mechanical advantage that the closure member applies to the first jaw as the first jaw is moved from an open position to a closed position. The surgical instrument can further comprise a first motor configured to operate the closing system and a second motor configured to operate a firing system configured to eject fasteners from the fastener cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and method of manipulating tissue of a patient includes a body, a shaft assembly extending distally therefrom, and an end effector extending distally from the shaft assembly and configured to receive a cartridge for manipulating tissue. The end effector has a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, a gap between the distal and proximal end portions, and a retaining pin. The retaining pin includes a distal head and is selectively movable from an open position to a locked closed position. In the open position, the retaining pin is proximally positioned such that the gap is configured to receive tissue. In the locked closed position, the retaining pin extends across the gap and is configured to capture tissue within the gap. The distal head of the retaining pin is configured engage and secure the distal end portion relative to the proximal end portion via the retaining pin.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a housing, a shaft assembly, and an end effector is disclosed. The housing comprises a plurality of electric motors. The shaft assembly comprises a plurality of rotatable shafts. The electric motors are simultaneously coupled to the rotatable shafts as the shaft assembly is connected to the housing. The shaft assembly further comprises an articulation joint including an electrically conductive articulation joint conductor that traverses the articulation joint, an electrically conductive shaft conductor in communication with the articulation joint conductor, and a distal coupler. The end effector is releasably connectable to the distal coupler and comprises an electrically conductive end effector conductor. The distal coupler comprises an electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor.

Abstract: A cover for an articulation joint that is supported in an elongate shaft assembly of a surgical instrument that is operably coupled to a surgical end effector that includes at least one end effector conductor therein. The cover includes at least one electrically conductive pathway that extends from the distal end of the cover to form an electrically conductive pathway from the end effector conductor to a shaft conductor on the elongate shaft assembly while facilitating operation of the articulation joint. Various conductor arrangements facilitating the passage of electrical current between an end effector to a control system across the articulation joint are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manipulating tissue of a patient includes a surgical instrument having a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The method includes positioning a tissue within a gap between a cartridge and an anvil and against a guide pin to laterally position the tissue relative to the cartridge and the anvil. The method also includes moving a retaining pin from an open position to a closed position to capture the tissue and moving the cartridge toward the anvil in a closed configuration. Furthermore, the method includes inhibiting deflection of a distal end portion of the end effector wherein at least at least one of the guide pin or the retaining pin connects to the distal end portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of staples within the tissue and cutting the tissue with a knife.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a gap setting system is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manipulating tissue of a patient includes a surgical instrument having a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The method includes positioning a tissue within a gap between a cartridge and an anvil and against a guide pin to laterally position the tissue relative to the cartridge and the anvil. The method also includes moving a retaining pin from an open position to a closed position to capture the tissue and moving the cartridge toward the anvil in a closed configuration. Furthermore, the method includes inhibiting deflection of a distal end portion of the end effector wherein at least at least one of the guide pin or the retaining pin connects to the distal end portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of staples within the tissue and cutting the tissue with a knife.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for locking a surgical device based on loading of a fastener cartridge in the surgical device. In general, a surgical device can be configured to prevent at least one of closure of an end effector of the surgical device and firing of fasteners from the end effector when a cartridge is not fully seated in the end effector. In an exemplary embodiment, the surgical device can include a lockout element configured to prevent at least one of closure of the end effector and firing of fasteners from the end effector when a cartridge is not fully seated in the end effector. The locking element can be configured to automatically prevent firing and/or prevent closing of the end effector if a cartridge is not fully seated in the end effector.