Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for retracting a cutting assembly in the event of a failure on a motorized electrosurgical device. For example, a surgical device is provided that includes a handle portion with an elongate shaft that has first and second jaws configured to engage tissue. The device also includes a cutting assembly configured to cut tissue engaged between the first and second jaws and a drive shaft that moves the cutting assembly. A gear box is provided in the device that is coupled to the drive shaft, and a motor is coupled to the gear box for driving the gear box. The device has a normal mode in which power can be provided to the motor to drive the gear box, and the device has a bailout mode in which the motor and gear box can be manually rotated as a unit.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a plurality of body portions aligned along the longitudinal axis and a flexible locking member. The flexible locking member is operable to secure the body portions in relation to each other and in relation to the shaft. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Surgical tools are provided herein that are configured to apply suction and irrigation at a surgical site during the course of a surgical procedure. A surgical tool can include a handle that has a suction flow path configured to provide suction therethrough and an irrigation flow path configured to provide irrigation therethrough. The suction flow path and the irrigation flow path can share a common path along at least partial lengths thereof. An elongate shaft can extend distally from the handle and can have an inner lumen that is in communication with the suction flow path and the irrigation flow path. The inner lumen can thus be configured to provide suction from the suction flow path to a surgical site to remove matter therefrom and to provide irrigation from the irrigation flow path to the surgical site to provide fluid thereto.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, a user input feature, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a blade cooling system. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade that may be coupled with an ultrasonic transducer. The clamp arm is configured to pivot toward and away from the ultrasonic blade. The cooling system is operable to deliver liquid coolant to the ultrasonic blade to thereby cool the ultrasonic blade. The user input feature is operable to both actuate the clamp arm and actuate the cooling system.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for retracting a cutting assembly in the event of a failure on a motorized electrosurgical device. For instance, a surgical device is provided that includes a handle portion with an elongated shaft having first and second jaws. The device includes a cutting assembly configured to cut tissue engaged between the first and second jaws. A motor is included to drive the cutting assembly, and a processor is coupled to the motor. An actuator on the device is configured to receive an input from a user that causes power to be supplied to the motor. The device has a normal mode in which the processor controls the motor, and the device has a bailout mode in which the processor is bypassed and power is delivered directly to the motor.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for retracting a cutting assembly in the event of a failure on a motorized electrosurgical device. For example, a surgical device is provided with a handle that has an elongate shaft assembly with first and second jaws for engaging tissue. A cutting assembly is included in the surgical device that cuts tissue engaged between the first and second jaws. The surgical device also includes a drive shaft that extends from the handle through the elongate shaft and moves the cutting assembly relative to the first and second jaws, and a motorized gear assembly that causes movement of the drive shaft. In an exemplary embodiment, the elongate shaft assembly is detachable from the handle such that, when detached, the drive shaft can be manually retracted relative to the elongate shaft to retract the cutting assembly from to the first and second jaws.

Abstract: A surgical device for use in combination with a percutaneous elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis. The shaft comprises a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end comprising an attachment mechanism. A surgical end effector is selectively attachable in vivo and detachable in vivo to the attachment mechanism of the percutaneous elongate shaft. A percutaneous elongate loader comprises an articulating distal end. The distal end comprises a tube with an opening at the distal tip, the tube being dimensioned to receive the surgical end effector. The distal end further comprises an engagement feature capable of frictionally holding the surgical end effector in the tube during in vivo attachment to and in vivo detachment from the percutaneous elongate shaft.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, a user input feature, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a blade cooling system. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade that may be coupled with an ultrasonic transducer. The clamp arm is configured to pivot toward and away from the ultrasonic blade. The cooling system is operable to deliver liquid coolant to the ultrasonic blade to thereby cool the ultrasonic blade. The user input feature is operable to both actuate the clamp arm and actuate the cooling system.

Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical device comprises an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis, the shaft comprising a distal end and a proximal end. A plurality of arms project distally from the distal end of the elongate shaft, the arms each comprising a lateral notch. The arms are axially slideable relative the elongate shaft and are medially deflectable. An elongate pin is positioned medially relative the arms. The elongate pin is axially slideable relative the arms between a locked position preventing medial deflection of the arms and an unlocked position allowing medial deflection of the arms. A surgical end effector is selectively attachable in vivo and detachable in vivo to the mating feature of the arms, the surgical end effector comprising a torque transfer means and tissue contact apparatus that open and close in response to the axial movement of the two arms when attached to the surgical end effector.

Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling motorized surgical devices are provided. In general, the methods and devices can allow a surgical device to grasp and cut tissue. In some embodiments, the device's motor can begin providing power for grasping and/or cutting tissue in response to an output from the device's sensor, the device can adjust power provided by the motor based on whether the device is clamping tissue or is being fired, the device can adjust an amount of power provided by the motor based on an amount of user-applied force to the device's actuator and/or can control drive direction of the motor based on the amount of the force, the device can maintain a force applied to the device, the device can self-shift the motor, and/or the device can adjust an amount of power provided to the device's end effector based on a degree of the end effector's closure.

Abstract: Surgical end effectors with increased stiffness are described herein. Increased stiffness can be accomplished in a variety of manners, including by increasing a height of each jaw member of an end effector. For example, end effector jaw members can include tapered heights that decrease from a proximal end of the jaw member to a distal end thereof. In one embodiment, first and second jaw members can each have a height measured at a proximal end thereof that is greater than half of an overall height of the end effector, while at a distal end thereof a sum of heights of the first and second jaw members can approximately equal the overall height of the end effector. Overlapping or otherwise fitting such jaw members together can create an end effector with greater stiffness that can be used to apply greater compression force to tissue during operation.

Abstract: Various surgical devices are provided for shielding tissue from potentially harmful byproducts generated by surgical devices that use energy to treat tissue. In general, a shield member is provided that includes a connector element for removably connecting the shield member to a surgical device and a shield body configured to extend adjacent to an energy-emitting end effector of the device. When energy is delivered to treated tissue captured by the end effector, the shield body can be configured to serve as a physical barrier between the end effector and tissue adjacent to the treated tissue. In this way, the shield member can protect the adjacent tissue from potentially harmful byproducts of the end effector, e.g., heat and steam, and/or can deflect the byproducts back toward the treated tissue.

Abstract: A surgical stapler has a body, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, and an end effector coupled with a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector has a stapling head assembly, an anvil, and a vacuum port. The vacuum port is operable to draw tissue between the stapling head assembly and the anvil. The anvil is operable to move toward and away from the stapling head assembly to thereby capture the tissue drawn between the stapling head assembly and the anvil. The stapling head assembly comprises a plurality of wheel assemblies and staple cartridges. At least one wheel assembly is operable to rotate to thereby move the anvil toward and away from the body. The remaining wheel assemblies are operable to rotate to thereby drive staples through the captured tissue. The body includes user input features operable to drive the wheel assemblies.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector and a handle assembly. The end effector is configured to operate at a first energy level and at a second energy level. The end effector is further configured to transition between an open position and a closed position. The end effector is configured to grasp tissue in the closed position. The handle assembly includes a body, a trigger, and an activation element. The trigger is configured to pivot in a first direction relative to the body to actuate the end effector from the open position to the closed position. The activation element is configured to activate the end effector at either the first energy level or the second energy level. The trigger is configured to either activate the activation element or determine whether the end effector operates at the first energy level or the second energy level.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for retracting a cutting assembly in the event of a failure on a motorized electrosurgical device. For example, a surgical device is provided that includes a handle portion with an elongate shaft that has first and second jaws configured to engage tissue. The device also includes a cutting assembly configured to cut tissue engaged between the first and second jaws and a drive shaft that moves the cutting assembly. A gear box is provided in the device that is coupled to the drive shaft, and a motor is coupled to the gear box for driving the gear box. The device has a normal mode in which power can be provided to the motor to drive the gear box, and the device has a bailout mode in which the motor and gear box can be manually rotated as a unit.

Abstract: A surgical stapler has a body, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body, and an end effector coupled with a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector has a stapling head assembly, an anvil, and a vacuum port. The vacuum port is operable to draw tissue between the stapling head assembly and the anvil. The anvil is operable to move toward and away from the stapling head assembly to thereby capture the tissue drawn between the stapling head assembly and the anvil. The stapling head assembly comprises a plurality of wheel assemblies and staple cartridges. At least one wheel assembly is operable to rotate to thereby move the anvil toward and away from the body. The remaining wheel assemblies are operable to rotate to thereby drive staples through the captured tissue. The body includes user input features operable to drive the wheel assemblies.

Abstract: Surgical devices and methods are described herein that provide improved motor control and feedback, thereby combining advantages of manually-operated and powered surgical devices. In one embodiment, a surgical device includes a proximal handle portion that includes a motor, a distal end effector coupled to the handle portion, and a cutting element configured to cut tissue engaged by the end effector, wherein the motor is configured to supply power that moves the cutting element. The device also includes a motor control mechanism configured to cause the amount of the power to dynamically change in response to a manual user input when the cutting element is moving.

Abstract: Devices and methods for cutting tissue are provided, and more particularly the devices and methods provide for ways to prevent a cutting blade from becoming dislodged or otherwise disassociated from jaws of a surgical device. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical device includes a jaw assembly having first and second jaws and a cutting blade. The cutting blade can include a spring mechanism configured to engage a portion of the second jaw to bias a cutting edge of the cutting blade towards the first jaw such that a top of the cutting blade distal portion contacts a portion of the first jaw. In another exemplary embodiment, a biasing block is included as part of a surgical instrument to help maintain distal ends of two cutting blades hooked against each other to form a single cutting surface. Other devices and methods for cutting tissue are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft assembly, an end effector, an articulation section, and an articulation control assembly. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly and comprises an ultrasonic blade. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft assembly and is operable to articulate to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis. The articulation control assembly comprises first and second threaded members and an articulation control. The first and second threaded members have respective first and second pitch orientations. The articulation control is rotatable to thereby drive articulation of the articulation section by causing translation of the first and second threaded members along a path that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. The axis of rotation of the articulation control is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly.

Abstract: Surgical devices and methods are described herein that provide improved motor control and feedback, thereby combining advantages of manually-operated and powered surgical devices. In one embodiment, a surgical device includes a proximal handle portion that includes a motor, a distal end effector coupled to the handle portion, and a cutting element configured to cut tissue engaged by the end effector, wherein the motor is configured to supply power that moves the cutting element. The device also includes a motor control mechanism configured to cause the amount of the power to dynamically change in response to a manual user input when the cutting element is moving.