Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a body, shaft, and end effector. The shaft couples the end effector and body together. The end effector comprises an anvil and lower jaw configured to receive a surgical staple cartridge. The anvil is configured to pivot toward and away from the staple cartridge and lower jaw. The shaft assembly comprises a knife member configured to longitudinally translate to thereby substantially simultaneously cut clamped tissue and staple the severed tissue. The end effector may comprise lockout features configure to prevent longitudinal translation of the knife member. The end effector or staple cartridge may comprise lockout bypass features configured to prevent lockout of the knife member. These lockout bypass features may operate to permit longitudinal translation of the knife member once or multiple times. The end effector may comprise features configured to ensure proper alignment of the anvil relative to the staple cartridge.

Abstract: Methods for resetting a fuse in a surgical instrument are disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector includes a first jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second jaw that includes an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets. The first and second jaws are operable to clamp and staple tissue positioned therebetween. A tip member is movably disposed at a distal end of the anvil and is configured to toggle relative to the anvil between a first discrete position and a second discrete position. The tip member in the first discrete position is oriented angularly toward the first jaw, and the tip member in the second discrete position is oriented angularly away from the first discrete position.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a jaw body configured to couple with an end effector portion of a surgical stapler and cooperate with an opposing jaw to compress, staple, and cut tissue. An anvil surface of the jaw body has a plurality of staple forming pockets configured to form a plurality of staples. An elongate slot extends through the anvil surface from a proximal slot end at a proximal end of the staple forming pockets to a distal slot end at a distal end of the staple forming pockets. A first slot portion is configured to slidably receive a first portion of a firing member, and a second slot portion opens to the anvil surface and is configured to slidably receive a second portion of the firing member. A dimension of the second slot portion varies along the longitudinal axis between the proximal slot end and the distal slot end.

Abstract: A staple cartridge including a cartridge body and a first RFID feature. The cartridge body defines a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the cartridge body. The cartridge body is configured to be received within a jaw of a surgical stapler. The cartridge body also defines a plurality of staple apertures that are configured to house staples. The proximal portion of the cartridge body defines a pocket, and the pocket is proximal to a proximal most staple aperture of the plurality of staple apertures. The first RFID feature is fixed within the pocket. The first RFID feature is configured to communicate with a second RFID feature presented by the jaw of the surgical stapler.

Abstract: A staple driver actuator for a surgical stapler includes a base having at least one bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a plane and is configured to slide longitudinally relative to a jaw of the surgical stapler. The base also has at least one top surface parallel to the plane. The staple driver actuator further includes at least one rail extending upwardly from the base. The rail includes at least one first cam surface. The first cam surface is inclined relative to the plane, and the first cam surface is longitudinally aligned with at least a portion of the at least one top surface.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector configured to receive a staple cartridge. The end effector is actuatable between an open state for receiving tissue and a closed state for clamping the tissue. A closure system operatively coupled with the end effector is operable to actuate the end effector from the open state to the closed state. A firing system operatively coupled with the end effector is actuatable to fire the end effector to staple and cut the clamped tissue. A lockout member operatively coupled with the closure system and the firing system is configured to inhibit actuation of the closure system to prevent closure of the end effector when an unspent staple cartridge is absent from the end effector. The lockout member is also configured to inhibit actuation of the firing system to prevent repeated firing with the same staple cartridge.

Abstract: A staple driver actuator for a surgical stapler includes a base having at least one bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a plane and is configured to slide longitudinally relative to a jaw of the surgical stapler. The base also has at least one top surface parallel to the plane. The staple driver actuator further includes at least one rail extending upwardly from the base. The rail includes at least one first cam surface. The first cam surface is inclined relative to the plane, and the first cam surface is longitudinally aligned with at least a portion of the at least one top surface.

Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector includes a first jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second jaw that includes an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets. The first and second jaws are operable to clamp and staple tissue positioned therebetween. A tip member is movably disposed at a distal end of the anvil and is configured to toggle relative to the anvil between a first discrete position and a second discrete position. The tip member in the first discrete position is oriented angularly toward the first jaw, and the tip member in the second discrete position is oriented angularly away from the first discrete position.

Abstract: A staple driver actuator for a surgical stapler includes a base having at least one bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a plane and is configured to slide longitudinally relative to a jaw of the surgical stapler. The base also has at least one top surface parallel to the plane. The staple driver actuator further includes at least one rail extending upwardly from the base. The rail includes at least one first cam surface. The first cam surface is inclined relative to the plane, and the first cam surface is longitudinally aligned with at least a portion of the at least one top surface.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector configured to receive a staple cartridge. The end effector is actuatable between an open state for receiving tissue and a closed state for clamping the tissue. A closure system operatively coupled with the end effector is operable to actuate the end effector from the open state to the closed state. A firing system operatively coupled with the end effector is actuatable to fire the end effector to staple and cut the clamped tissue. A lockout member operatively coupled with the closure system and the firing system is configured to inhibit actuation of the closure system to prevent closure of the end effector when an unspent staple cartridge is absent from the end effector. The lockout member is also configured to inhibit actuation of the firing system to prevent repeated firing with the same staple cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector includes a first jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge and a second jaw that includes an anvil having a plurality of staple forming pockets. The first and second jaws are operable to clamp and staple tissue positioned therebetween. A tip member is movably disposed at a distal end of the anvil and is configured to toggle relative to the anvil between a first discrete position and a second discrete position. The tip member in the first discrete position is oriented angularly toward the first jaw, and the tip member in the second discrete position is oriented angularly away from the first discrete position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a body, shaft, and end effector. The shaft couples the end effector and body together. The end effector comprises an anvil and lower jaw configured to receive a surgical staple cartridge. The anvil is configured to pivot toward and away from the staple cartridge and lower jaw. The shaft assembly comprises a knife member configured to longitudinally translate to thereby substantially simultaneously cut clamped tissue and staple the severed tissue. The end effector may comprise lockout features configure to prevent longitudinal translation of the knife member. The end effector or staple cartridge may comprise lockout bypass features configured to prevent lockout of the knife member. These lockout bypass features may operate to permit longitudinal translation of the knife member once or multiple times. The end effector may comprise features configured to ensure proper alignment of the anvil relative to the staple cartridge.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient includes a surgical instrument having a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The end effector includes an upper jaw and a lower jaw configured to pivot to receive a tissue of the patient therebetween. The upper and lower jaws respectively have upper and lower crush surfaces, which extends generally parallel with a centerline and are configured to receive the tissue thereagainst. The upper jaw also includes an anvil, whereas the lower jaw includes a staple cartridge and a deck facing the anvil. In addition, the lower jaw has a plurality of staple opening formed through the deck with a plurality of staples received therein. The upper and lower crush surfaces are configured to compress the tissue therebetween with a crush pressure configured to sever the tissue along the upper and lower crush surfaces.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector configured to receive a staple cartridge. The end effector is actuatable between an open state for receiving tissue and a closed state for clamping the tissue. A closure system operatively coupled with the end effector is operable to actuate the end effector from the open state to the closed state. A firing system operatively coupled with the end effector is actuatable to fire the end effector to staple and cut the clamped tissue. A lockout member operatively coupled with the closure system and the firing system is configured to inhibit actuation of the closure system to prevent closure of the end effector when an unspent staple cartridge is absent from the end effector. The lockout member is also configured to inhibit actuation of the firing system to prevent repeated firing with the same staple cartridge.

Abstract: A staple driver actuator for a surgical stapler includes a base having at least one bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a plane and is configured to slide longitudinally relative to a jaw of the surgical stapler. The base also has at least one top surface parallel to the plane. The staple driver actuator further includes at least one rail extending upwardly from the base. The rail includes at least one first cam surface. The first cam surface is inclined relative to the plane, and the first cam surface is longitudinally aligned with at least a portion of the at least one top surface.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a body, a shaft, and an end effector. The end effector includes a first jaw, a second jaw, and a tip. The second jaw includes an anvil. At least one of the first jaw or the second jaw is configured to move relative to the other of the first jaw or the second jaw between an open position and a closed position. The tip is connected with the anvil. The tip includes a deformable member. The tip is movable relative to the anvil between first and second discrete positions using the deformable member. The tip remains in the first discrete position located closer toward the cartridge until the deformable member is acted upon by an external input force. The tip remains in the second discrete position that is located further from the cartridge until the deformable member is acted upon by the external input force.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a body, shaft, and end effector. The shaft couples the end effector and body together. The end effector comprises an anvil and lower jaw configured to receive a surgical staple cartridge. The anvil is configured to pivot toward and away from the staple cartridge and lower jaw. The shaft assembly comprises a knife member configured to longitudinally translate to thereby substantially simultaneously cut clamped tissue and staple the severed tissue. The end effector may comprise lockout features configure to prevent longitudinal translation of the knife member. The end effector or staple cartridge may comprise lockout bypass features configured to prevent lockout of the knife member. These lockout bypass features may operate to permit longitudinal translation of the knife member once or multiple times. The end effector may comprise features configured to ensure proper alignment of the anvil relative to the staple cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector is actuatable between an open state for receiving tissue and a closed state for clamping the tissue. A closure system is operable to actuate the end effector from the open state to the closed state. A firing system is operable to actuate the end effector in the closed state to staple the clamped tissue. A firing lockout mechanism is movable between a lockout state that inhibits actuation of the firing system, and a bypass state that permits actuation of the firing system. The firing lockout mechanism is configured to maintain the lockout state until the end effector assumes the closed state, and is further configured to transition from the lockout state to the bypass state in response to the end effector assuming the closed state.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a body, shaft, and end effector. The shaft couples the end effector and body together. The end effector comprises an anvil and lower jaw configured to receive a surgical staple cartridge. The anvil is configured to pivot toward and away from the staple cartridge and lower jaw. The shaft assembly comprises a knife member configured to longitudinally translate to thereby substantially simultaneously cut clamped tissue and staple the severed tissue. The end effector may comprise lockout features configure to prevent longitudinal translation of the knife member. The end effector or staple cartridge may comprise lockout bypass features configured to prevent lockout of the knife member.