Abstract: A medical device includes a shaft comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. A beam has a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a middle portion, and one or more strain sensors are on the middle portion. The proximal end portion of the beam is matingly coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft to form an interface. The beam comprises a discontinuity between the interface and the middle portion of the beam. In some embodiments, the medical device includes a link and the distal end portion of the beam is matingly coupled to the link to form a second interface. A second discontinuity is between the second interface and the middle portion of the beam. In some embodiments, an anchor is coupled to the shaft and the proximal end portion of the beam is matingly coupled to the anchor.

Abstract: Methods for treating tissue, and surgical assemblies and related methods are disclosed in which a single input is used to sequentially articulate two members. A medical device includes an input link movable through an input link range of motion, a jaw coupled with the input link, and a tissue manipulation member coupled to the input link and positioned to manipulate a tissue gripped by the jaw. The input link range of motion includes a first portion and a second portion. The input link within the first portion of the input link range of motion drives the jaw through a jaw range of motion. The input link within the second portion of the input link range of motion drives the tissue manipulation member through a tissue manipulation member range of motion.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying surgical clips to tissue comprises an end effector having first and second jaws that are movable between open and closed positions and configured to receive first and second rows of clips in the open position. The instrument further includes an actuator coupled to the end effector and configured to move the jaws into the closed position and to discharge the first and second rows of clips. This allows an operator to apply multiple rows of clips to tissue with a single instrument insertion, which obviates the need to remove the surgical instrument from the cannula to manually reload a new cartridge, thereby reducing the overall time of the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A method of assembling a surgical instrument comprising an end effector body and a retaining member includes inserting a distal end feature of a cable within a recess in the end effector body, the distal end feature extending radially outwardly from the cable. The method further includes positioning a retaining member over the recess in the end effector body to retain the distal end feature of the cable within the retaining member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft, a force transmission mechanism disposed at a first end of the shaft, an end effector disposed at a second end of the shaft, an actuation element that extends along the shaft from the force transmission mechanism to the end effector, and an actuation element guide extending along the shaft. The actuation element guide defines a lumen in which the actuation element guide is received. The actuation element guide is compressed into a pre-compressed state along at least a portion of an axial length of the shaft. The actuation element guide can be compressed between first and second blocks of the instrument. The instrument can include a flush tube configured to receive a cleaning fluid, with the actuation element guide being in flow communication with the flush tube to receive the cleaning fluid in the lumen of the actuation element guide.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. An end effector assembly includes an end effector body portion coupled to the distal end of the shaft. A cable having a distal end feature extending radially outwardly from the cable extends through the shaft between the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft. A proximal surface of the distal end feature of the cable abuts a distal surface portion of the end effector body portion. A method of assembling a surgical instrument including an end effector body and a retaining member includes inserting a distal end feature of a cable within a recess in the end effector body and positioning a retaining member over the recess in the end effector body to retain the distal end feature of the cable within the retaining member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft, a force transmission mechanism disposed at a first end of the shaft, an end effector disposed at a second end of the shaft, an actuation element that extends along the shaft from the force transmission mechanism to the end effector, and an actuation element guide extending along the shaft. The actuation element guide defines a lumen in which the actuation element guide is received. The actuation element guide is compressed into a pre-compressed state along at least a portion of an axial length of the shaft. The actuation element guide can be compressed between first and second blocks of the instrument. The instrument can include a flush tube configured to receive a cleaning fluid, with the actuation element guide being in flow communication with the flush tube to receive the cleaning fluid in the lumen of the actuation element guide.

Abstract: An articulable medical device includes a link, a transfer member, a tool member, and a non-drive wire. The tool member has a base portion movably coupled to the transfer member, and a contact portion configured to engage a target tissue. The transfer member is rotatably coupled to the link to rotate with the tool member relative to the link from a first orientation to a second orientation. The non-drive wire has a first end portion coupled to an energy source, a second end portion coupled to the tool member contact portion, and a central portion between the first and second end portions that includes a transition portion disposed within a cavity defined within the base portion of the tool member, a distal portion of the link, or the transfer member, which has a compact first configuration in the first orientation and an expanded second configuration in the second orientation.

Abstract: Methods for treating tissue, and surgical assemblies and related methods are disclosed in which a single input is used to sequentially articulate two members. A medical device includes an input link movable through an input link range of motion, a jaw coupled with the input link, and a tissue manipulation member coupled to the input link and positioned to manipulate a tissue gripped by the jaw. The input link range of motion includes a first portion and a second portion. The input link within the first portion of the input link range of motion drives the jaw through a jaw range of motion. The input link within the second portion of the input link range of motion drives the tissue manipulation member through a tissue manipulation member range of motion.

Abstract: Methods for treating tissue, and surgical assemblies and related methods are disclosed in which a single input is used to sequentially articulate two members. A medical device includes an input link movable through an input link range of motion, a jaw coupled with the input link, and a tissue manipulation member coupled to the input link and positioned to manipulate a tissue gripped by the jaw. The input link range of motion includes a first portion and a second portion. The input link within the first portion of the input link range of motion drives the jaw through a jaw range of motion. The input link within the second portion of the input link range of motion drives the tissue manipulation member through a tissue manipulation member range of motion.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. An end effector assembly includes an end effector body portion coupled to the distal end of the shaft. A cable having a distal end feature extending radially outwardly from the cable extends through the shaft between the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft. A proximal surface of the distal end feature of the cable abuts a distal surface portion of the end effector body portion. A method of assembling a surgical instrument including an end effector body and a retaining member includes inserting a distal end feature of a cable within a recess in the end effector body and positioning a retaining member over the recess in the end effector body to retain the distal end feature of the cable within the retaining member.

Abstract: Methods for treating tissue, and surgical assemblies and related methods are disclosed in which a single input is used to sequentially articulate two members. A medical device includes an input link movable through an input link range of motion, a jaw coupled with the input link, and a tissue manipulation member coupled to the input link and positioned to manipulate a tissue gripped by the jaw. The input link range of motion includes a first portion and a second portion. The input link within the first portion of the input link range of motion drives the jaw through a jaw range of motion. The input link within the second portion of the input link range of motion drives the tissue manipulation member through a tissue manipulation member range of motion.

Abstract: Methods for treating tissue, and surgical assemblies and related methods are disclosed in which a single input is used to sequentially articulate two members. A surgical assembly includes an end effector, a base supporting the end effector, an input link movable relative to the base through a range of motion between a first configuration and a second configuration, and an actuation mechanism. The end effector includes a first articulated member and a second articulated member. The actuation mechanism drivingly couples the input link to the first articulated member within a first portion of the range of motion and drivingly coupling the input link with the second articulated member within a second portion of the range of motion so that a movement of the input link from the first configuration to the second configuration articulates the first articulated member and then articulates the second articulated member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument can include a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a wrist coupled to the distal end of the shaft and configured to articulate in multiple degrees of freedom. An end effector having jaws may be supported by the wrist. The surgical instrument can further include a first drive element extending from the proximal end of the shaft to the end effector, the first drive element being configured to transmit forces to move the jaws relative to each other between open and closed positions, and a second drive element extending from the proximal end of the shaft to the end effector, the second drive element being configured to transmit forces to translate a component of the end effector in a longitudinal direction relative to the jaws. The component can be configured to translate independently of movement of the jaws.

Abstract: A steerable device may comprise an elongate, flexible body comprising a plurality of articulatable segments along at least part of a length of the body, a plurality of coil pipes extending in a spiral configuration along the articulatable segments, a plurality of tendons respectively received within the plurality of coil pipes, and an actuator coupled to the plurality of tendons, the actuator being configured to apply an actuation force to the tendons to selectively actuate articulation of the articulatable segments.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft, a force transmission mechanism disposed at a first end of the shaft, an end effector disposed at a second end of the shaft, an actuation element that extends along the shaft from the force transmission mechanism to the end effector, and an actuation element guide extending along the shaft. The actuation element guide defines a lumen in which the actuation element guide is received. The actuation element guide is compressed into a pre-compressed state along at least a portion of an axial length of the shaft. The actuation element guide can be compressed between first and second blocks of the instrument. The instrument can include a flush tube configured to receive a cleaning fluid, with the actuation element guide being in flow communication with the flush tube to receive the cleaning fluid in the lumen of the actuation element guide.

Abstract: The present invention relates, generally, to the reduction or elimination of permanent and catastrophic herniations in Bowden cables or coil pipes in articulating devices or snake-like robots. More particularly, the present invention relates managing the coil pipes in a spiral pattern along the articulating device or snake-like robot to reduce or eliminate the necessity of the Bowden cables or coil pipes to slide along the length of the articulating device or snake-like robot. Reduction or elimination of the necessity for the Bowden cables or coil pipes to slide reduces or eliminates catastrophic herniations in articulating devices or snake-like robots undergoing one or more articulations.

Abstract: A surgical instrument can include a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a wrist coupled to the distal end of the shaft and configured to articulate in multiple degrees of freedom. An end effector having jaws may be supported by the wrist. The surgical instrument can further include a first drive element extending from the proximal end of the shaft to the end effector, the first drive element being configured to transmit forces to move the jaws relative to each other between open and closed positions, and a second drive element extending from the proximal end of the shaft to the end effector, the second drive element being configured to transmit forces to translate a component of the end effector in a longitudinal direction relative to the jaws. The component can be configured to translate independently of movement of the jaws.

Abstract: A surgical instrument can include a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a wrist coupled to the distal end of the shaft and configured to articulate in multiple degrees of freedom coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The surgical instrument can further include an end effector supported by the wrist, wherein the end effector includes a cutting element and jaws configured to grip tissue and fuse tissue via electrosurgical energy. The surgical instrument can be configured for use with a teleoperated robotic surgical system that can include a patient side console configured to interface to actuate the surgical instrument and a surgeon side console configured to receive inputs from a surgeon to control the actuation of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: Methods for treating tissue, and surgical assemblies and related methods are disclosed in which a single input is used to sequentially articulate two members. A surgical assembly includes an end effector, a base supporting the end effector, an input link movable relative to the base through a range of motion between a first configuration and a second configuration, and an actuation mechanism. The end effector includes a first articulated member and a second articulated member. The actuation mechanism drivingly couples the input link to the first articulated member within a first portion of the range of motion and drivingly coupling the input link with the second articulated member within a second portion of the range of motion so that a movement of the input link from the first configuration to the second configuration articulates the first articulated member and then articulates the second articulated member.