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.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system includes an ultrasonic generator configured to provide an electrical drive signal, an ultrasonic transducer configured to receive the electrical drive signal and to produce ultrasonic mechanical motion in response thereto, and a blade coupled to the ultrasonic transducer and configured to receive the ultrasonic mechanical motion from the ultrasonic transducer for treating tissue in contact therewith. The ultrasonic transducer defines a saturation point and the ultrasonic generator is configured to drive the ultrasonic transducer substantially at the saturation point such that the ultrasonic mechanical motion produced by the ultrasonic transducer is substantially equal to a maximum ultrasonic mechanical motion of the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical forceps includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom with an end effector operably coupled thereto. The end effector includes first and second jaw members movable relative to one another between open and closed positions. A first handle is pivotably coupled to the housing and is movable relative to a second handle disposed on the housing, the first handle configured to actuate the jaw members between the open and closed positions upon movement thereof relative to the second handle. A trigger is operably coupled to the housing and is configured to deploy a knife between the first and second jaw members upon actuation thereof. An energy activation switch is coupled to an electrosurgical energy source such that activation thereof supplies energy to the first and second jaw members, the energy activation switch is disposed on the trigger.

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.

Abstract: An articulating ultrasonic surgical end effector includes a clevis, a transducer housing pivotably coupled to the clevis, an ultrasonic transducer disposed within the transducer housing, a waveguide extending distally from the ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic blade disposed at the distal end of the waveguide, a shaft extending distally from the transducer housing about at least a portion of the ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm pivotably coupled to the shaft 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 therewith.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system includes a waveguide defining first and second longitudinal lumens extending through at least a portion of a length of the waveguide. A distal transverse lumen is defined within the waveguide transversely through at least a portion of the waveguide to intersect and interconnect the first and second longitudinal lumens. First and second proximal transverse lumens extend from first and second proximal transverse apertures within the waveguide transversely through portions of the waveguide to intersect the first and second longitudinal lumens, respectively. Inflow and outflow conduits are fluidly coupled with the first and second proximal transverse apertures, respectively, to enable the inflow of fluid into the first longitudinal lumen and the outflow of fluid from the second longitudinal lumen, respectively.

Abstract: A surgical end effector assembly includes an ultrasonic blade adapted to connect to an ultrasonic transducer configured to transmit ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade, first and second panels disposed on opposite sides of the ultrasonic blade in laterally-spaced relation relative thereto, and a jaw pivotable relative to the ultrasonic blade and the first and second panels between open and clamping positions. At least two of the ultrasonic blade, the first and second panels, or the jaw may be energizable to different electrical potentials for transmitting an electric signal therebetween and through tissue for at least one of interrogating tissue or treating tissue.

Abstract: An articulating ultrasonic surgical end effector includes a clevis, a transducer housing pivotably coupled to the clevis, an ultrasonic transducer disposed within the transducer housing, a waveguide extending distally from the ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic blade disposed at the distal end of the waveguide, a shaft extending distally from the transducer housing about at least a portion of the ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm pivotably coupled to the shaft 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 therewith.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a housing, an elongated shaft, an end effector, and an actuation mechanism. The housing pivotally supports a movable handle between unactuated, first actuated, and a second actuated positions. The elongated shaft extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The end effector has a pair of opposed jaw members that are movable between an open configuration in which the jaw members are spaced apart from one another and a closed configuration in which the jaw members are closer together. The actuation mechanism is configured to transition the end effector between the open and closed configurations as the movable handle is pivoted between the unactuated and first actuated positions and to maintain the end effector in the closed configuration when the moveable handle is between the first and second actuated positions.

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: A surgical device includes a housing, an elongated shaft, an end effector, and an actuation mechanism. The housing pivotally supports a movable handle between unactuated, first actuated, and a second actuated positions. The elongated shaft extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The end effector has a pair of opposed jaw members that are movable between an open configuration in which the jaw members are spaced apart from one another and a closed configuration in which the jaw members are closer together. The actuation mechanism is configured to transition the end effector between the open and closed configurations as the movable handle is pivoted between the unactuated and first actuated positions and to maintain the end effector in the closed configuration when the moveable handle is between the first and second actuated positions.