Abstract: A surgical stapling system includes an anvil, a blade, a motor and gear assembly, a motor power supply, and a motor controller. A method of controlling the motor includes receiving first and second data indicative of operations of the motor under first and second conditions, respectively, and adjusting a motor control signal based on a difference between the first and second data. Another method includes receiving initial manufacture motor and gear assembly data from a manufacture and operational data during an initial use of the system, and adjusting parameters of the control signal based on a difference between the manufacture data and the operational data. Another method includes controlling a pulse-width modulated (PWM) motor control signal, receiving data regarding an interaction between the blade and a tissue clamped by the anvil, and adjusting a frequency of the PWM signal based on the data related to the interaction.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for controlling a tissue-treatment motion by a surgical instrument are disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: A method of adjusting velocity in a motorized surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument comprises a displacement member configured to translate within the surgical instrument over a plurality of predefined zones, a motor coupled to the displacement member to translate the displacement member, a control circuit coupled to the motor, a position sensor coupled to the control circuit, the position sensor configured to measure the position of the displacement member and a timer circuit coupled to the control circuit, the timer circuit configured to measure elapsed time. The method includes setting a directed velocity of the displacement member; determining an actual velocity of the displacement member; determining an error between the directed velocity of the displacement member and the actual velocity of the displacement member; and controlling the actual velocity of the displacement member based on the magnitude of the error.

Abstract: A method of operating a surgical instrument is disclosed comprising driving a displacement driver a first distance with a motor, measuring a time period required to drive the displacement driver the first distance, presenting an indicia on a display indicative of a velocity mode for the displacement driver, receiving a user input corresponding to the velocity mode, and setting a velocity of the motor based on the user input.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly and an end effector, which includes first and second jaws pivotably coupled together. The first jaw includes a first electrode, and the second jaw includes a second electrode. The jaws may be used to clamp a portion of patient tissue and apply a non-therapeutic, or low voltage, radio frequency (RF) signal to the tissue. Based on the measured response of the current and voltage passing through the tissue, the apparatus can determine various characteristics of the clamped tissue, such as whether the tissue comprises body fluids, blood vessels, tendons, intestines, and/or fat. Once it is determined that the clamped tissue is the correct tissue type, the apparatus may then apply a therapeutic RF signal (e.g., a signal capable of sealing or cauterizing the tissue).

Abstract: Various systems and methods of controlling a surgical instrument are disclosed. In one aspect, the surgical instrument includes an end effector that is pivotable between an unarticulated position and an articulated position, a knife bar movable between an unfired position and a fired position. The surgical instrument is configured to determine a firing state according to whether the knife bar is moving between the unfired position and the fired position, determine an articulation state according to whether the displacement member is moving between the first position and the second position, and then initiate a power shutdown mode according to the firing state and the articulation state.

Abstract: A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member, a motor coupled to the displacement member, a control circuit coupled to the motor, a position sensor coupled to the control circuit, and a timer circuit coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive, from the position sensor, a position of the displacement member in a current zone defined by a set displacement interval, measure time at a set position of the displacement interval, wherein the measured time is defined as the time taken by the displacement member to traverse the displacement interval, and set a command velocity of the displacement member for a subsequent zone based on the measured time in the current predefined zone.

Abstract: A method of adjusting velocity in a motorized surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument comprises a displacement member configured to translate within the surgical instrument over a plurality of predefined zones, a motor coupled to the displacement member to translate the displacement member, a control circuit coupled to the motor, a position sensor coupled to the control circuit, the position sensor configured to measure the position of the displacement member and a timer circuit coupled to the control circuit, the timer circuit configured to measure elapsed time. The method includes setting a directed velocity of the displacement member; determining an actual velocity of the displacement member; determining an error between the directed velocity of the displacement member and the actual velocity of the displacement member; and controlling the actual velocity of the displacement member based on the magnitude of the error.

Abstract: A control circuit usable with a surgical instrument including a displacement member, a motor configured to translate the displacement member, and a position sensor configured to monitor a position of the displacement member is provided. The control circuit includes logic configured to provide a motor set point velocity to the motor and display a first indicia on a display indicative of the motor set point velocity.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: Various systems and methods of controlling the display of a knife position of a surgical cutting instrument according to the position of a displacement member. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member movable between a first position and a second position to drive a cutting member between an unfired position and a fire position, a sensor configured to detect a position of the displacement member and provide a signal indicative thereof and a display. The surgical instrument determines whether the knife is retracting and then only begins decrementing the displayed knife position once the displacement member has retracted from the distal or second position of its firing stroke by a particular distance.

Abstract: A motorized surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a displacement member. A motor is coupled to the displacement member and a control circuit. A position sensor is coupled to the control circuit and a timer circuit to measure elapsed time. The control circuit is configured to determine a position of the displacement member, determine an error between directed and actual velocity and adjust the directed velocity based on the error in comparison to one or more thresholds. The control circuit also is configured to adjust the rate of change of the directed velocity based on the one or more thresholds. The control circuit also is configured to determine a zone in which the displacement member is located and set the directed velocity based on the zone in which the displacement member is located.

Abstract: An image acquisition system includes a plurality of illumination sources, each configured to emit light having a specified central wavelength, a first light sensing element having a first field of view and configured to receive illumination reflected from a portion of a surgical site, a second light sensing element having a second field of view and configured to receive illumination reflected from a second portion of the surgical site, and a computing system. The computing system is configured to receive data from the first light sensing element and from the second light sensing element, compute imaging data based on the data received from the first and second light sensing elements, and transmit the imaging data for receipt by a display system. The second field of view may overlap at least a portion of the first field of view. A control system of the image acquisition system may function similarly.

Abstract: Various surgical hubs are disclosed. A surgical hub comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to: receive a first self-describing data packet from a first data source, the first self-describing data packet comprising a first preamble, a first data payload, a source of the first data payload, and a first encryption certificate, wherein the first preamble defines the first data payload and the first encryption certificate verifies the authenticity of the first data packet; parse the received first preamble; and interpret the first data payload based on the first preamble.

Abstract: Various systems and methods of controlling a surgical instrument are disclosed. The surgical instrument can include one or more sensors that are configured to detect or measure parameters associated with the use of the instrument and a display. A control circuit can be configured to detect whether the instrument is articulating, firing, clamping, and so on according to relationships between the detected parameters. The control circuit can further cause the display to display an image or sequences of images according to the particular operational state of the instrument. The images can provide alerts, instructions on how to use the instrument, or information detected by the one or more sensors, such as the position of the knife during transection.