Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed comprising a shaft assembly comprising a shaft, a housing coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, a button, a driver, a motor configured to actuate the driver, and a controller for translating displacement of the button to a velocity of the motor. The controller is configured to detect a displacement of the button, wherein the displacement is manifested as a frequency and magnitude over a period of time, compare the detected frequency to a frequency threshold, compare the detected magnitude with a magnitude threshold, determine that the detected frequency exceeds the frequency threshold and the detected magnitude exceeds the magnitude threshold, and smooth the velocity of the motor over the period of time based on determining the detected frequency exceeds frequency threshold and determining the detected magnitude exceeds the a magnitude threshold.

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

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: The instant disclosure is directed to a heterogeneous fiber fluid reservoir for holding and delivering fluid. A reservoir may comprise a rod having a core component and a surrounding component. Each of the core component and the surrounding component may comprise fibers. The core component may have a first property, and the surrounding component may have a second property different from the first property, or the core component and the surrounding component may each have a different value or range of values for the same property. Alternatively, a reservoir may comprise a rod that includes fibers and has a cross-sectional diameter. At least one property of the rod may vary in value along the cross-sectional diameter of the rod. The property may include, for example, fiber bulk density, fiber diameter, fiber material, fiber morphology, fiber surface tension, capillary force, fluid absorption capacity, color, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a system and medical device that includes self diagnosing control switches. The control switch may be slidable within a slot in order to control activation of some function of the medical device. Due to natural wear and tear of movement of a control switch, the distances along the sliding slot that correspond to how much energy is used for the function may need to be adjusted over time in order to reflect the changing physical attributes of the actuator mechanism. The self diagnosing control switches of the present disclosures may be configured to automatically adjust for these thresholds using, for example, Hall effect sensors and magnets. In addition, in some cases, the self diagnosing control switches may be capable of indicating external influences on the controls, as well as predict a time until replacement is needed.

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 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 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: A catalyst is provided, where the catalyst has an active surface that includes at least one nodular-structured (particulate) catalyst layer disposed on a support substrate, where the nodular-structured catalyst layer partially coats a surface of the support substrate. The invention further includes a fabrication method of the catalyst. The method includes depositing a catalyst precursor coating on a support substrate by heating a catalyst precursor solution on the support substrate, and further heating the catalyst precursor-coated substrate until a nodular-structured (particulate) catalyst is formed, where the nodular-structured catalyst layer partially coats a surface of the support substrate.

Abstract: Molten metal or molten metal alloy catalysts for transesterification reactions are provided. In particular, readily available molten tin is used as a catalyst for biodiesel production. Catalysts comprising tin alloys with low melting point temperatures to allow for low operation temperatures are also provided. The molten catalysts remain in the reaction zone and do not contaminate the product stream, thereby product separation and recovery are manageable. By using molten tin catalysts, it is possible to produce a high quality glycerol as a second valuable product. Furthermore, wide quality ranges of reactants (alcohol and oil) are available for biodiesel production with molten tin catalysts.