Abstract: Surgical stapling instruments include mechanisms for identifying and/or deactivating stapler cartridges for use with the instruments. The stapling instrument includes a drive member for actuating a staple cartridge and a locking member movable from a disabled position permitting distal translation of the drive member through a staple firing stroke, to a locking position inhibiting distal translation of the drive member through the staple firing stroke. The staple cartridge may include a switch movable in a lateral direction to either maintain the locking member in the disabled position or to allow the locking member to move into the locking position. The instrument may further include a stapler cartridge including an annular pin configured to be engaged by a drive member at a an axial position to create a detectable resistance for reload detection by a control unit to identify the type of stapler cartridge present in the surgical stapling instrument.

Abstract: A medical device includes a shaft, an electrically insulative outer cover, an electrically insulative spacer, and a wrist assembly. The outer cover is positioned over an outer surface of the shaft and a distal end portion of the outer cover extends beyond a distal end surface of the shaft. The spacer comprises a first coupling portion, a second coupling portion, and a circumferential annular protrusion. The first coupling portion of the spacer is coupled to an inner surface of the shaft. The wrist assembly is coupled to the second coupling portion of the spacer. The annular protrusion of the spacer includes a shoulder and a seal surface. The shoulder of the annular protrusion is in contact with the distal end surface of the shaft, and the shaft is electrically isolated by the seal surface of the annular protrusion contacting the inner surface of the outer cover.

Abstract: A medical device includes a chassis component having a bottom and an opening defined in the bottom, and a capstan including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a spool between the upper and lower portions. The upper portion of the capstan is supported within the opening of the chassis component. The spool comprises a cable wrap surface and a side wall opposing the bottom of the upper chassis. The side wall of the spool can optionally slope away from the bottom of the chassis component. The medical device can further include a cable guide and a cable. The cable extends from the cable guide to the cable wrap surface of the spool.

Abstract: A medical device includes a blade support, a blade supported by the blade support, and a pin. The blade support includes a bore with an inner portion oriented toward the blade and an outer portion oriented away from the blade. A discontinuity is located at a boundary between the inner and outer portions of the bore. The pin includes a longitudinal axis and a yaw plane is defined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A rotational yaw degree of freedom is defined about the longitudinal axis of the pin. The blade support is operable to rotate about the pin in the yaw degree of freedom, contact the pin at the discontinuity of the bore, and tilts away from the yaw plane at the discontinuity of the bore in response to a force applied in a lateral direction.

Abstract: An end effector that can have an upper jaw and a lower jaw. A wrist can connect the end effector to an elongated shaft. A beam member can be arranged to translate within the upper and lower jaw. An actuation assembly can have a pushing assembly configured to transfer compressive force to the beam member and a pulling assembly configured to transfer tensile force to the beam member.

Abstract: Techniques for control of an instrument include a device having an actuator. To perform an operation with an instrument coupled to the actuator, the instrument is operated according to a state machine by: transitioning the instrument from a gripped state to a clamped state in response to receiving a clamp command; transitioning the instrument from the clamped state to a firing state in response to receiving a fire command; transitioning the instrument from the firing state to a pause state in response to detecting a stall in the actuator used to actuate the instrument; transitioning the instrument from the pause state to a stop firing state in response to a pause limit being reached; and transitioning the instrument from the pause state to the firing state in response to the actuator beginning to move again or after a first predetermined period of time has elapsed since entering the pause state.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft and an end effector. The end effector includes a jaw, and a coupling member configured to receive a first and second reload and to removably couple the first and second reload to the end effector. The coupling member is configured to retain the first reload in a closed position relative to the jaw such that the jaw and the first reload have a tissue gap therebetween. The coupling member is configured to retain the second reload in a closed position relative to the jaw such that the jaw and the second reload have a tissue gap therebetween that is larger than the first tissue gap. The instrument is designed to accommodate reloads with different tissue gaps between the first jaw and the reload, thereby allowing an operator to treat tissue of varying sizes, shapes and thicknesses with the same surgical instrument.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a staple cartridge for a surgical instrument, such as a tissue sealing instrument. The staple cartridge includes a housing and one or more staple assemblies within the housing. The staple assemblies each include one or more staple pushers and associated staples. The staple pushers and housing include coupling elements configured to cooperate with each other to retain the staple assemblies to the housing prior to use in surgery. The coupling elements, along with other components of the cartridge and instrument, result in a smaller staple cartridge relative to conventional devices, allowing for a more compact and maneuverable surgical instrument.

Abstract: A system and method of variable velocity control of an instrument by a computer-assisted device includes a computer-assisted device that includes an actuator and one or more processors. To perform an operation with an instrument coupled to the computer-assisted device, the one or more processors are configured to set a velocity set point of the actuator to an initial velocity, monitor force or torque applied by the actuator to actuate the instrument, when the applied force or torque is above a first force or torque limit, determine whether a total duration of a set of pauses occurring during the operation of the instrument is below a maximum pause threshold, and in response to determining that the total duration is below the maximum pause threshold, pause the operation of the instrument.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a surgical instrument, such as a tissue sealing instrument, with an elongate shaft and first and second jaws movably coupled to the shaft. The second jaw comprises a cavity for receiving a staple cartridge and a substantially longitudinal reinforcing wall extending through the cavity. The instrument further includes a drive member configured to translate through the end effector to close the jaws and to engage a plurality of staples within the staple cartridge to drive the staples into tissue. The reinforcing wall provides additional support for the staple cartridge to inhibit deformation of the staple cartridge during actuation, thereby improving the staple formation in the tissue. This improves the tissue seal provided by the staples without increasing the overall size of the end effector.

Abstract: A medical device drive system can include a rotational input, a coupling member engaged with the rotational input, a first gear having an engagement feature sized and shaped to engage with the coupling member, and a second gear coupled with the first gear, the second gear coupled to a movable element. The system can have a first system state and a second system state. In the first system state the coupling member is not engaged with the engagement feature and the first gear rotates without moving the coupling member. In the second system state the coupling member is engaged with the engagement feature of the first gear and rotation of the rotational input turns the coupling member, the first gear, and the second gear to move the movable element.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft and an end effector. The end effector includes a jaw, and a coupling member configured to receive a first and second reload and to removably couple the first and second reload to the end effector. The coupling member is configured to retain the first reload in a closed position relative to the jaw such that the jaw and the first reload have a tissue gap therebetween. The coupling member is configured to retain the second reload in a closed position relative to the jaw such that the jaw and the second reload have a tissue gap therebetween that is larger than the first tissue gap. The instrument is designed to accommodate reloads with different tissue gaps between the first jaw and the reload, thereby allowing an operator to treat tissue of varying sizes, shapes and thicknesses with the same surgical instrument.

Abstract: A system and method of variable velocity control of an instrument by a computer-assisted device includes a computer-assisted device that includes an actuator and one or more processors. To perform an operation with an instrument coupled to the computer-assisted device, the one or more processors are configured to set a velocity set point of the actuator to an initial velocity, monitor force or torque applied by the actuator to actuate the instrument, when the applied force or torque is above a first force or torque limit, determine whether a total duration of a set of pauses occurring during the operation of the instrument is below a maximum pause threshold, and in response to determining that the total duration is below the maximum pause threshold, pause the operation of the instrument.

Abstract: Surgical clamping and cutting instruments are disclosed. In one aspect, a surgical instrument comprises an elongate shaft with an end effector having first and second jaws, a release member movably coupled to the end effector and a drive member configured to translate relative to the end effector. The instrument further includes a locking member movable from a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, to a second position preventing distal translation of the drive member. The locking member moves into the second position after the drive member has been driven distally. This inhibits or prevents hazardous actuation of a knife or drive beam when, for example, there is a spent or previously fired cartridge in place.

Abstract: Stapler cartridges and surgical apparatus that include a stapler cartridge can include a knife that retracts into the stapler cartridge after cutting stapled tissue to prevent an operator being cut by the knife during replacement of the used stapler cartridge with a new stapler cartridge. A stapler cartridge includes a staple pushing shuttle, a knife member slidably coupled with the staple pushing shuttle, and a cartridge body. The staple pushing shuttle is slidably coupled to the cartridge body. The cartridge body includes a guide track engaged by the knife member and configured so that a cutting blade of the knife member protrudes from the cartridge body during a first portion of a distal movement of the staple pushing shuttle and the cutting blade is retracted into the cartridge body during a second portion of the distal movement of the staple pushing shuttle.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes jaws having an electrode configuration utilized to electrically modify tissue in contact with one or more electrodes. The instrument is removably connectable to an electrosurgical unit via an electrosurgical connector extending from the instrument and a receptacle on the electrosurgical unit. The electrosurgical instrument is rotatable without disrupting electrical connection to the electrodes of the jaws. One or more of the electrodes is retractable. The electrosurgical unit and instrument optimally seals and/or cuts tissue based on identifying the tissue and monitoring the modification of the tissue by the application of radio frequency energy.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for stapler reload detection and identification. A manipulator is configured to have an instrument mounted thereto. The instrument includes an end effector configured to receive a replaceable stapler cartridge. An actuator is drivingly coupled with the pusher member. A control unit is configured to control operation of the actuator to move the pusher member from a first position toward a second position; determine a distance that the pusher member moves from the first position toward the second position before a force limit for the actuator is exceeded; and determine, based on the distance that the pusher member moves, an operational status of the instrument relating to the replaceable stapler cartridge.

Abstract: Surgical instruments, such as clamping and cutting instruments, are provided. In one aspect, a surgical stapling instrument comprises first and second jaws and a drive member configured to move in a distal direction through at least one of the jaws. The instrument further includes a locking member movable between a first position permitting distal translation of the drive member, and a second position impeding distal translation of the drive member, and a switch movable from a proximal position to a distal position. When the switch is in the proximal position, it releasably maintains the locking member in the first position, and when the switch is in the distal position, it allows the locking member to move to the second position. This inhibits or prevents actuation of a knife when there is a spent or previously fired cartridge loaded in the instrument.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a staple cartridge for a surgical instrument, such as a tissue sealing instrument. The staple cartridge includes a housing and one or more staple assemblies within the housing. The staple assemblies each include one or more staple pushers and associated staples. The staple pushers and housing include coupling elements configured to cooperate with each other to retain the staple assemblies to the housing prior to use in surgery. The coupling elements, along with other components of the cartridge and instrument, result in a smaller staple cartridge relative to conventional devices, allowing for a more compact and maneuverable surgical instrument.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a surgical instrument, such as a tissue sealing instrument, with an elongate shaft and first and second jaws movably coupled to the shaft. The second jaw comprises a cavity for receiving a staple cartridge and a substantially longitudinal reinforcing wall extending through the cavity. The instrument further includes a drive member configured to translate through the end effector to close the jaws and to engage a plurality of staples within the staple cartridge to drive the staples into tissue. The reinforcing wall provides additional support for the staple cartridge to inhibit deformation of the staple cartridge during actuation, thereby improving the staple formation in the tissue. This improves the tissue seal provided by the staples without increasing the overall size of the end effector.