Abstract: An implantable sphincter assistance device is configured to surround an exterior wall of an esophagus. The implantable sphincter assistance device includes a plurality of beads, at least one connector, and secondary material. Each of the beads has an exterior surface. The connector is configured to serially connect the beads to form a ring. The secondary material is configured to be disposed between the exterior surface of at least one of the beads and the exterior wall of the esophagus. The secondary material is configured to control remodeling of tissue surrounding the exterior wall of the esophagus.

Abstract: A method of using a surgical modular robotic assembly including an interchangeable motor pack, a hand-held surgical instrument, and a robotic surgical instrument is disclosed. The method includes releasably attaching an interface portion of the interchangeable motor pack to the hand-held surgical instrument, causing the interchangeable motor pack to drive a first surgical tool of the hand-held surgical instrument, stopping the interchangeable motor pack from driving the first surgical tool, disconnecting the interface portion from the hand-held surgical instrument, and releasably attaching the interface portion of the interchangeable motor pack to the robotic surgical instrument.

Abstract: A control system for a surgical instrument. The control system comprises an RFID scanner and a control circuit coupled to the RFID scanner. The control circuit is configured to receive data from RFID tags associated with devices, determine whether the devices are compatible based on a comparison of the received data, and provide an alert that the devices are incompatible or a suggestion to replace one of the devices with a replacement compatible device.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system that comprises a shaft and a handle assembly releasably couplable to the shaft. The handle assembly comprises a disposable outer housing defining a sterile barrier. The disposable outer housing is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The handle assembly further comprises a control inner core receivable inside the disposable outer housing in the open configuration. The disposable outer housing is configured to isolate the control inner core within the sterile barrier in the closed configuration. The surgical instrument system further comprises an end effector releasably couplable to the shaft and an electrical interface assembly configured to transmit data and power between the control inner core and the end effector. The electrical interface assembly comprises a first interface portion on a first side of the sterile barrier, and a second interface portion on a second side of the sterile barrier opposite the first side.

Abstract: A handle assembly for use with a surgical instrument system. The handle assembly comprises a disposable outer housing defining a sterile barrier, a control inner core receivable inside the disposable outer housing in the open configuration, a wireless electrical interface assembly, and a wired electrical interface assembly. The disposable outer housing is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The disposable outer housing is configured to isolate the control inner core within the sterile barrier in the closed configuration. The wireless electrical interface assembly configured to effect a wireless transmission through the sterile barrier. The wireless electrical interface assembly comprises a first wireless-interface portion on a first side of the sterile barrier and a second wireless-interface portion on a second side of the sterile barrier opposite the first side. The wired electrical interface assembly configured to effect a wired transmission through the sterile barrier.

Abstract: A modular surgical instrument system, comprising a handle assembly, comprising a disposable outer housing configured to define a sterile barrier. The disposable outer housing comprises a first housing-portion and a second housing-portion movable relative to the first housing-portion between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The handle assembly further comprises a control inner core receivable inside the disposable outer housing in the open configuration. The disposable outer housing is configured to isolate the control inner core in the closed configuration.

Abstract: A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The loading unit comprises a shaft and an end effector extending from the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw that comprising an anvil, and a second jaw. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other to grasp tissue. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising retaining features, and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel for assembly therewith. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge pan, and a sled translatable relative to the cartridge pan from a first position toward a second position. The retaining features are configured to resist a movement by the sled beyond the first position up to a predetermined force.

Abstract: A method for treating tissue using a surgical instrument including at least one electrode and a staple cartridge is disclosed. The method includes causing the at least one electrode to deliver a therapeutic energy to the tissue in a first phase of a surgical treatment by the surgical instrument, deploying staples from the staple cartridge into the tissue in a second phase of the surgical treatment, monitoring a first tissue property in the first phase of the surgical treatment, switching from the first phase to the second phase if at least one of two conditions is met, setting a parameter of the second phase of the surgical treatment based on at least one measurement of the first tissue property determined in the first phase of the surgical treatment, and monitoring a second tissue property, different from the first tissue property, in the second phase of the surgical treatment.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument for use with a staple cartridge including a sled and staples is disclosed. The surgical stapling instrument comprises a firing system. The firing system comprising a motor and a driving member operably coupled to the motor. The motor is configured to cause the driving member to advance the sled to deploy the staples into tissue grasped by the surgical stapling instrument. The driving member is movable by the motor along a predefined firing path. The surgical stapling instrument further comprises a control circuit that is configured to detect a location of the sled along the firing path, and adjust a motor control program based on the location of the sled.

Abstract: A surgical instrument that comprises an end effector comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, a staple cartridge, and at least one electrode. The surgical instrument further comprises a drive member, a motor assembly, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to cause the at least one electrode to deliver a therapeutic energy to the tissue in a first phase of a surgical treatment, cause the motor assembly to move the drive member to deploy staples into the tissue in a second phase of the surgical treatment, monitor a first tissue property in the first phase, and switch from the first phase to the second phase if at least one of two conditions is met, set a parameter of the second phase based on at least one measurement of the tissue property determined in the first phase, and monitor a second tissue property, in the second phase.

Abstract: A buttress applier cartridge configured to interface with an end effector of a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The buttress applier cartridge includes a first loading region configured to interface with an anvil of the end effector and a second loading region configured to interface with an elongate channel of the end effector. The first loading region includes a first absorbable layer and a loading assembly for securing the first absorbable layer to the anvil as the anvil approaches the first absorbable layer. The second loading region includes a staple cartridge removably coupled to the buttress applier cartridge. The staple cartridge includes a deck and a second absorbable layer positioned on the deck.

Abstract: An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw comprises an anvil comprising a proximal camming member. At least one jaw is movable relative to the other to close the end effector. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising a proximal channel aperture and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a cartridge pan. The cartridge pan comprises a proximal pan aperture configured to be positioned partially distal to the proximal channel aperture when the staple cartridge is assembled with the elongated channel in an unlocked configuration. The camming member is configured to proximally translate the cartridge pan relative to the cartridge body from the unlocked configuration to a locked configuration during a transition of the end effector to a closed configuration.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed herein. The surgical instrument includes a handheld device and an adapter assembly. The handheld device includes a first drive assembly and a power source. The adapter assembly includes an outer housing that defines an internal cavity configured to accommodate a handheld device. The adapter assembly is configured to establish a sterile barrier around the handheld device. The surgical instrument includes an energy management system configured to extract energy dissipated by the handheld device from the internal cavity without disrupting the sterile barrier. In some aspects, the surgical instrument further includes a plurality of interchangeable end effectors and the adapter assembly includes a drive interface assembly.

Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed including a housing assembly including an elongate shaft extending therefrom and a loading unit including a lug extending therefrom. The elongate shaft includes a spring assembly. The loading unit is rotatable relative to the elongate shaft between an unlocked position and a locked position. The spring assembly is configured to resist rotation of the lug as the loading unit is rotated toward the locked position.

Abstract: A modular surgical instrument system that comprises modular components and a control circuit electrically couplable to the modular components. The modular components comprise a shaft and a handle assembly. The handle assembly comprises a disposable outer housing. The disposable outer housing is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The handle assembly further comprises a control inner core receivable inside the disposable outer housing in the open configuration. The disposable outer housing is configured to isolate the control inner core in the closed configuration. The modular components further comprise a loading unit releasably couplable to the shaft and a staple cartridge releasably couplable to an end effector. The loading unit comprises the end effector.

Abstract: A sphincter augmentation device includes a plurality of interlinked bodies and a pair of device ends configured to releasably couple together to secure the bodies in a loop formation sized to fit around an internal anatomical passageway of a patient. The device further includes a plurality of resilient members, with each resilient member extending between an adjacent pair of the bodies. The resilient members are configured to elastically deform to permit the device to transition between a radially contracted state and a radially expanded state. The resilient members bias the device toward the radially contracted state in which the device exerts an inwardly directed force on the anatomical passageway to selectively limit passage of fluids therethrough. The device further includes an expansion limiting member that extends between and is slidably received by an adjacent pair of the bodies, and is configured to limit radial expansion of the device.

Abstract: A surgical hub may be in communication with at least one augmented reality device, at least one display and at least one smart surgical device. The surgical hub may provide interactive overlay of a display, such as a surgical display or a display on a smart surgical device. For example, surgical hub may generate augmented reality (AR) content for superimposing onto the display. The AR device may overlay or superimpose additional datasets or data streams received from the hub onto a display. This interactive overlay may enable the user of the AR device to layer data on a screen when the user is looking at the screen. The surgical hub may adjust the AR content based on the display the user is viewing via the AR device. For example, the hub may adjust the AR content when the user looks from one display to another display.

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 surgical hub may have cooperative interactions with one of more means of displaying the image from the laparoscopic scope and information from one of more other smart devices. The surgical hub may have the capacity of interacting with these multiple displays using an algorithm or control program that enables the combined display and control of the data distributed across the number of displays in communication with the surgical hub. The hub can obtain display control parameter(s) associated with a surgical procedure. The hub may determine, based on the display control parameter, different contents for different displays. The hub may generate and send the display contents to their respective displays. For example, the visualization control parameter may be a progression of the surgical procedure. The surgical hub may determine different display contents for the primary and the secondary displays based on the progression of the surgical procedure.

Abstract: Examples herein describes a powered surgical end-effector that may include a controllable jaw configured to operate on a tissue, an updatable memory having stored therein a default actuation algorithm, and and a processor. The processor may be configured to operate in a first mode at a first time, wherein in the first mode the processor may be configured to operate an aspect of the controllable jaw according to the default actuation algorithm. The processor may receive data at a second time, after the first time, that may cause the processor to operate in a second mode, wherein in the second mode the processor may be configured to operate an aspect of the controllable jaw according to an alternative actuation algorithm.