Abstract: A surgical end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a jaw member. The blade is adapted to receive ultrasonic and electrosurgical energy and defines a distal face. The jaw member is movable relative to the blade from a spaced-apart to an approximated position for clamping tissue and includes a structural body having a body portion and a distal cap portion. The distal cap portion defines an electrode that receives electrosurgical energy. The jaw member further includes a jaw liner engaged within the body portion and extending therefrom towards the blade such that, in the approximated position, the jaw liner contacts the blade to define a gap distance between the electrode and the distal face to facilitate bipolar electrosurgical tissue treatment upon conduction of bipolar energy between the electrode and the distal face and through tissue in contact therewith.

Abstract: A method of treating tissue includes clamping tissue between an ultrasonic blade and a jaw member and simultaneously: transmitting ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade to vibrate the ultrasonic blade at a first blade velocity thereby heating the clamped tissue; and supplying electrosurgical energy, at a constant voltage, to the jaw member and the ultrasonic blade at different potentials such that the electrosurgical energy is conducted therebetween and through the clamped tissue to heat the clamped tissue. An impedance of the clamped tissue is monitored and the simultaneous transmission of ultrasonic energy and supply of electrosurgical energy is terminated and/or a notification is output once the clamped tissue is sealed, as indicated by the impedance of the clamped tissue being equal to or greater than a threshold impedance. Surgical instruments and end effectors thereof for treating tissue in this manner are also provided.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing having an elongated body extending distally therefrom. The elongated body defines a first articulating portion and a second articulating portion. The elongated body defines a lumen therein. An end effector is supported at a distal end portion of the elongated body. A flexible waveguide extends through the lumen of the elongated body. A proximal end portion of the flexible waveguide connects to an ultrasonic transducer. A distal end portion of the flexible waveguide is connected with the end effector. the flexible waveguide defines a first articulating portion having a narrower thickness than a thickness of other portions of the flexible waveguide and a second articulating portion having a narrower thickness than a thickness of other portions of the flexible waveguide.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic waveguide defining a blade at a distal end portion thereof. The ultrasonic waveguide is configured to transmit ultrasonic energy therealong to the blade. The blade defines a plurality of surfaces. At least one lumen is defined at least partially through the blade. The at least one lumen establishes a flow path through the blade extending from a first open end on one surface of the plurality of surfaces to a second open end on a different surface of the plurality of surfaces. The at least one lumen is configured to urge fluid through the blade along the flow path from the one surface to the different surface.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing having an elongated body extending distally therefrom. The elongated body defines a first articulating portion and a second articulating portion. The elongated body defines a lumen therein. An end effector is supported at a distal end portion of the elongated body. A flexible waveguide extends through the lumen of the elongated body. A proximal end portion of the flexible waveguide connects to an ultrasonic transducer. A distal end portion of the flexible waveguide is connected with the end effector. the flexible waveguide defines a first articulating portion having a narrower thickness than a thickness of other portions of the flexible waveguide and a second articulating portion having a narrower thickness than a thickness of other portions of the flexible waveguide.

Abstract: A tissue closure system for closing vaginal tissue includes a tissue closure device having an end effector supporting one or more sutures securable to vaginal tissue. The one or more sutures may be separated from the end effector and tied to the vaginal tissue. The tissue closure system may include a tissue approximation device configured to apply negative pressure to vaginal tissue for approximating portions of the vaginal tissue together.

Abstract: An ultrasonic end effector includes a substantially cylindrical blade and a jaw including a structural body and a jaw liner. The jaw is movable from an open to a clamping position, wherein the blade-facing surface of the jaw liner opposes the blade with the first and second blade-facing surfaces of the structural body disposed on either side of the jaw liner and the blade. The blade defines a first longitudinal axis and a first radius, the first and second blade-facing surfaces of the structural body cooperate to define a second radius centered on a second longitudinal axis, and the blade-facing surface of the jaw liner defines a third radius centered on a third longitudinal axis. The first radius and the second radius of curvature are different from one another.

Abstract: A method of performing bariatric surgery using a robotic surgical system includes positioning a gastrectomy device in a selected location in a stomach; applying an adherent material to the stomach along a desired transection line; and cutting the stomach along the desired transection line delineated by the adherent material.

Abstract: A colpotomy system includes an energy source and a uterine manipulator that is electrically coupled to the energy source. The uterine manipulator supports a colpotomy cup and extends to a conductive distal tip portion. The colpotomy cup includes a conductive surface. One or both of the conductive distal tip portion and the conductive surface of the colpotomy cup are configured to return monopolar energy to the energy source.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a housing, an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector extending distally from the elongated shaft, and a transducer assembly disposed at least partially within the elongated shaft. The end effector includes a jaw and an ultrasonic blade. The jaw is configured to pivot relative to the ultrasonic blade from an open position to a clamping position for clamping tissue therebetween. The transducer assembly is distally-spaced from the housing and includes proximal and distal transducers interconnected by a connector. The ultrasonic blade is connected to the distal transducer such that ultrasonic energy produced by the proximal transducer is transmitted along the connector and the distal transducer to the ultrasonic blade and such that ultrasonic energy produced by the distal transducer is transmitted to the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a fluid source, an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic waveguide coupled to and extending distally from the ultrasonic transducer, and an ultrasonic blade disposed at a distal end of the ultrasonic waveguide and configured to receive ultrasonic energy produced by the ultrasonic transducer and transmitted along the ultrasonic waveguide to vibrate the ultrasonic blade for treating tissue therewith. The ultrasonic blade is configured to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for conducting electrosurgical energy to tissue to treat tissue. The ultrasonic blade defines a lumen extending at least partially therethrough to at least one opening. The lumen is configured for fluid communication with a fluid source to enable the delivery of fluid from the fluid source through the lumen and out the at least one opening into a surgical site to facilitate electrosurgical tissue treatment.

Abstract: A jaw member of a surgical instrument includes a structural body including a tissue-facing surface having an elongated opening defined therethrough and defining an internal cavity in communication with the elongated opening. A jaw liner of a material that is not conducive to molding includes an internal portion substantially filling the internal cavity and extending to the elongated opening. A method of manufacturing a jaw member of a surgical instrument includes preparing a material, forging the material into an internal cavity defined within a structural body of a jaw member, and setting the material such that the material substantially fills the internal cavity and is retained therein thereby forming a jaw liner of the jaw member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic transducer supported by a housing and an elongated assembly extending distally therefrom. The elongated assembly includes a jaw and a waveguide coupled to the transducer and defining a blade having upper and lower tissue-contacting surface and first and second lateral surfaces disposed therebetween that are coated with a material. The jaw is pivotable relative to the blade and includes a structural base having a backspan and first and second uprights extending from the backspan. The jaw further includes a jaw liner supported within the structural base and positioned to oppose the upper tissue-contacting surface with the first and second uprights disposed on either side of the blade. In an ultrasonic mode, ultrasonic energy produced by the transducer is transmitted along the waveguide to the blade. In an electrosurgical mode, electrosurgical energy is conducted between the blade and the first and second uprights.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a transducer configured to produce a first mode of ultrasonic energy and a waveguide coupled to the transducer. The waveguide includes a proximal body portion coupled to and extending distally from the transducer. The proximal body portion is configured to receive the first mode of ultrasonic energy from the transducer for transmission therealong. The waveguide further includes a distal body portion, a blade extending distally from the distal body portion, and an articulation portion interconnecting the proximal and distal body portions. The articulation portion is configured to enable articulation of the distal body portion relative to the proximal body portion, to receive the first mode of ultrasonic energy from the proximal body portion, convert the first mode of ultrasonic energy into a second mode of ultrasonic energy, and transmit the second mode of ultrasonic energy along the distal body portion to the blade.

Abstract: An articulating surgical end effector includes an expandable pivot defined at a distal end of an ultrasonic waveguide, a socket at least partially receiving the expandable pivot within an interior volume thereof, and a blade extending distally from the socket. The socket is configured to articulate about the expandable pivot in any direction, and the expandable pivot and socket together are configured to enable ultrasonic energy transmission through the ultrasonic waveguide to the blade in any articulated position of the socket relative to the expandable pivot.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for treating tissue includes an articulating elongated shaft (14), a drive shaft (124) extending through the elongated shaft and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis defined by the drive shaft, and an end effector assembly 100) coupled to a distal end portion of the elongated shaft. The end effector assembly includes a jaw member (110) and a blade member (112) configured to oscillate in response to a rotation of the drive shaft (124) to treat tissue disposed between the jaw member and the blade member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for treating tissue includes an articulating elongated shaft (14), a drive shaft (28) extending through the elongated shaft and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis defined by the drive shaft, and an end effector assembly (100) coupled to a distal end portion of the elongated shaft. The end effector assembly includes a jaw member (110) and a blade member (112) configured to rotate in response to a rotation of the drive shaft to treat tissue disposed between the jaw member and the blade member.

Abstract: An articulating ultrasonic surgical end effector for use with a hand-held surgical instrument or a robotic surgical system includes an articulation assembly, a clevis operably coupled to the articulation assembly, and a transducer assembly pivotably coupled to the clevis. The transducer assembly includes a transducer housing and an ultrasonic transducer and a waveguide disposed within the transducer housing. The waveguide is coupled to the ultrasonic transducer and extends distally from the ultrasonic transducer. The transducer assembly also includes an ultrasonic blade disposed at the distal end of the waveguide and extending from the transducer housing and a clamp arm pivotably coupled to the transducer housing and movable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a clamping position. Ultrasonic energy produced by the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted along the waveguide to the ultrasonic blade for treating tissue.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a housing, an ultrasonic transducer supported by the housing, an end effector assembly distally-spaced from the housing, a clamp lever, and a sensor. The end effector assembly includes an ultrasonic blade operably coupled to the ultrasonic transducer for receiving ultrasonic energy produced by the ultrasonic transducer, and a jaw member pivotable relative to the blade from an open position towards a clamping position for clamping tissue between the jaw member and the blade and imparting a clamping force to the clamped tissue. The clamp lever is operably coupled to the housing and the jaw member such that actuation of the clamp lever relative to the housing pivots the jaw member towards the blade. The sensor is configured to sense whether the clamp lever is sufficiently actuated so as to impart the clamping force to the clamped tissue.

Abstract: A forceps includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a shaft, an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft, and a drive assembly including a drive bar. The end effector assembly includes jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions. The drive bar is slidably disposed within the shaft and coupled to the end effector assembly such that translation of the drive bar relative to the shaft moves the jaw members between the spaced-apart and approximated positions. The second portion includes a housing (or portion thereof) and a handle assembly including a movable handle that is coupled to the housing and movable relative thereto between first and second positions. The first and second portions are releasably couplable with one another to operably couple the movable handle with the drive bar such that moving the movable handle actuates the jaw members.