Abstract: Techniques for controlling grasping include a manipulator configured to be releasably coupled to an instrument, the instrument having an end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw; a drive system configured to apply a force or torque to the instrument to cause the end effector to grasp a material between the first jaw and the second jaw; and a processor. The processor is configured to monitor a force or torque applied by the drive system to cause the end effector to grasp the material and in response to a determination that the applied force or torque is below a lower limit of an acceptable range of force or torque, reverse a direction of the applied force or torque.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an end effector include an end effector for grasping a material, a drive system coupled to the end effector, a user interface, and a processor. The processor is configured to actuate the drive system to clamp the material using the end effector and in response to detecting successful clamping of the material, display a timer on the user interface. The timer provides an indication of when conditions will be safe to proceed with stapling of the material clamped by the end effector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling staple firing include a manipulator, a drive system, and a processor. The manipulator is configured to be releasably coupled to an instrument. The instrument has an end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw. The drive system is configured to apply a force or torque to the instrument to cause staple firing to occur using the end effector. The processor is configured to monitor a force or torque applied by the drive system to cause staple firing to occur and in response to determining that the applied force or torque is outside of an acceptable range of force or torque, maintain application of clamping by the first jaw and the second jaw while suspending application of the force or torque that causes the staple firing to occur.

Abstract: A plasma storage container includes a bottle, with a connector (which may be unitarily formed) connected to a neck of the bottle. A gasket may be positioned between the neck and the connector to provide a seal along an interface therebetween. Inlet and outlet tubes are connected (e.g., via bonding) to the connector, with the connector defining an inlet flow path from the inlet tube to the interior of the bottle and an outlet flow path from the interior of the bottle to the outlet tube. A bottom end of the inlet flow path may extend farther into the interior of the bottle than the bottom end of the outlet flow path.

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 computer implemented method includes receiving a monophonic voice signal. The fundamental frequency of the voice signal is estimated and corresponding harmonics are identified. An interface is generated to receive adjustable amplification coefficient selections for the harmonics. The harmonics are amplified with received amplification coefficient selections and recombined with the high frequency voice signal components to provide an enhanced output signal.

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: 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 systems and related methods for detecting whether a surgical instrument lacks a surgical cartridge in an unfired condition. A method of detecting that a surgical instrument lacks a surgical cartridge in an unfired condition mounted to the surgical instrument includes commanding a movement of the actuation output in a direction opposite to a firing direction for the surgical cartridge, detecting that an actuation amount of the actuation output as a result of the commanded movement is at or above a threshold actuation amount, and in response to detecting that the actuation amount of the actuation output is at or above the threshold actuation amount, determining that the surgical instrument lacks a surgical cartridge in the unfired condition mounted to the surgical instrument.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an end effector include an end effector for grasping a material, a drive system coupled to the end effector, a user interface, and a processor. The processor is configured to actuate the drive system to clamp the material using the end effector and in response to detecting successful clamping of the material, display a timer on the user interface. The timer provides an indication of when conditions will be safe to proceed with stapling of the material clamped by the end effector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an end effector include an end effector for grasping a material, a drive system coupled to the end effector, and a processor. The processor is configured to use the drive system to grasp a material using the end effector, determine a grasping separation parameter of the end effector, determine, based on the determined grasping separation parameter, a prediction of success or failure in configuring the end effector for firing a staple through the material, and based on the determined grasping separation parameter, output an indicator of whether it is safe to proceed with stapling of the material grasped by the end effector.

Abstract: Surgical systems configured to determine whether a surgical cartridge is present and unfired. A surgical system includes a surgical instrument, a drive source, a sensor and a controller. The surgical instrument is configured to receive and support a surgical cartridge. The drive source is drivingly coupled with an actuation output. The sensor is configured to generate a sensor output indicative of movement of the actuation output. The controller controls the drive source to attempt to actuate the actuation output opposite to the firing direction by a predetermined amount. The controller determines that the surgical cartridge is present and unfired when the resulting actuation amount of the actuation output is less than a threshold actuation amount.

Abstract: A system comprises a surgical instrument comprising an end effector comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member, the second jaw member comprising or being configured to receive a plurality of staples; and an actuation mechanism operably coupled to the end effector to actuate the end effector to perform at least one of a clamping procedure or a staple firing procedure. The system further comprises a drive system configured to drive the actuation mechanism, a controller operably coupled to the drive system, and a user interface operably coupled to the controller, which is configured to determine the clamping procedure or the staple firing procedure has failed based on a magnitude of an actuation force applied by the drive system to the actuation mechanism; and cause the user interface to output a failure indication indicative of the failure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling staple firing include a manipulator, a drive system, and a processor. The manipulator is configured to be releasably coupled to an instrument. The instrument has an end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw. The drive system is configured to apply a force or torque to the instrument to cause staple firing to occur using the end effector. The processor is configured to monitor a force or torque applied by the drive system to cause staple firing to occur and in response to determining that the applied force or torque is outside of an acceptable range of force or torque, maintain application of clamping by the first jaw and the second jaw while suspending application of the force or torque that causes the staple firing to occur.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling staple firing include an end effector, a drive system configured to apply a force or torque to cause staple firing to occur, and a processor. The end effector includes a first jaw and a second jaw holding staples. The processor is configured to monitor the applied force or torque to cause staple firing to occur and maintain application of clamping by the first jaw and the second jaw while suspending application of the force or torque that causes the staple firing, when the applied force or torque is outside an acceptable range of force or torque.

Abstract: Surgical instruments and assemblies for sealing and cutting tissue monitor jaw angle and/or jaw clamping force to provide feedback to an operator of the surgical instrument indicative of whether the tissue is suitable clamped for sealing and/or cutting. A surgical instrument or assembly includes a jaw operable to clamp tissue, a sealing mechanism, a cutting mechanism, an actuation monitoring assembly, and a feedback assembly. The actuation monitoring assembly monitors jaw angle and/or clamping force. The feedback assembly outputs feedback to the operator, based on the jaw angle and/or clamping force, as to whether the current clamping angle and/or jaw angle is suitable for sealing and/or clamping tissue.

Abstract: Surgical instruments and assemblies for sealing and cutting tissue monitor jaw angle and/or jaw clamping force to provide feedback to an operator of the surgical instrument indicative of whether the tissue is suitable clamped for sealing and/or cutting. A surgical instrument or assembly includes a jaw operable to clamp tissue, a sealing mechanism, a cutting mechanism, an actuation monitoring assembly, and a feedback assembly. The actuation monitoring assembly monitors jaw angle and/or clamping force. The feedback assembly outputs feedback to the operator, based on the jaw angle and/or clamping force, as to whether the current clamping angle and/or jaw angle is suitable for sealing and/or clamping tissue.

Abstract: A computer-assisted device include an actuator and one or more processors. The computer-assisted device is configured to support an instrument having an end effector located at a distal end. To perform an operation with the instrument, the one or more processors are configured to operate the end effector according to a state machine having a first state and a second state. In the first state a velocity set point of the actuator is set to a first velocity. In the second state the velocity set point of the actuator is set to a second velocity lower than the first velocity. The state machine transitions from the first state to the second state when a force or torque applied by the actuator is above a first threshold and transitions from the second state to the first state when the force or torque applied by the actuator is below a second threshold.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft and an end effector coupled to the shaft. The end effector includes a first member, a knife member, and a second member. The first member is movable towards a distal end of the end effector. The knife member is pivotally coupled to the first member. The second member is movable towards the distal end of the end effector. The knife member is configured to be in a cutting position during a translation of the first and second members towards the distal end of the end effector. The knife member is rotatable relative to the first member to stow the knife member into a non-cutting position after the translation of the first and second members towards the distal end of the end effector.

Abstract: A system and method of variable velocity control of a surgical instrument in a computer-assisted medical device including an end effector located at a distal end of the instrument, an actuator, and drive mechanisms for coupling force or torque from the actuator to the end effector. To perform an operation with the instrument, the computer-assisted medical device sets a velocity set point of the actuator to an initial velocity, monitors force or torque applied by the actuator, reduces the velocity set point when the applied force or torque is above a first threshold, increases the velocity set point when the applied force or torque is below a second threshold, decreases the velocity set point to zero when the applied force or torque is above a maximum threshold, and drives the actuator based on the velocity set point. The first and second thresholds are lower than the maximum threshold.