Abstract: An end effector of an instrument is positioned in a patient. An ultrasonic blade of the end effector is positioned against tissue in the patient. The ultrasonic blade is activated to vibrate ultrasonically while the ultrasonic blade is positioned against tissue. At least one electrode of the end effector is positioned against tissue in the patient. The at least one electrode is activated to apply RF electrosurgical energy to tissue against which the at least one electrode is positioned against tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm assembly. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with an acoustic waveguide of the shaft assembly. The clamp arm assembly is pivotable toward and away from the ultrasonic blade. The clamp arm assembly includes a clamp pad and an electrode. The clamp pad is configured to compress tissue against the ultrasonic blade. The clamp pad has a proximal end, a distal end, and a pair of lateral sides extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The electrode is operable to apply RF energy to tissue. The electrode extends along both lateral sides of the clamp pad. The electrode further extends around the distal end of the clamp pad.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical stapler comprising: a support base; a trigger; a handle; a retaining pin operatively connected to and extending distally from a support base, the support base being operable in the surgical stapler to cause the stapler to position staples near tissue; and a unit lockout rotatable about a pivot fixed to the handle. The unit lockout comprises an upper end near and under at least one blocking plate in the stapler; and another end facing the trigger to prevent it from firing when the upper end is blocked from upward movement by the at least one blocking plate. Whereas the upper end of the unit lockout is moved relative to the at least one blocking plate so that the upper end of unit lockout is no longer under the at least one blocking plate to permit the unit lockout to rotate about the pivot.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency. In various embodiments, an ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency. In various embodiments, an ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical stapler comprising: a support base; a trigger; a handle; a retaining pin operatively connected to and extending distally from a support base, the support base being operable in the surgical stapler to cause the stapler to position staples near tissue; and a unit lockout rotatable about a pivot fixed to the handle. The unit lockout comprises an upper end near and under at least one blocking plate in the stapler; and another end facing the trigger to prevent it from firing when the upper end is blocked from upward movement by the at least one blocking plate. Whereas the upper end of the unit lockout is moved relative to the at least one blocking plate so that the upper end of unit lockout is no longer under the at least one blocking plate to permit the unit lockout to rotate about the pivot.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. The clamp arm comprises a clamp pad. The clamp arm is movable toward the ultrasonic blade to compress tissue between the clamp pad and the ultrasonic blade in two stages. During the first stage, the clamp arm is configured to compress tissue with only a distal portion of the clamp pad. During the second stage, the clamp arm is configured to compress tissue with the distal portion and a proximal portion of the clamp pad. Thus, the tissue compression begins at the distal portion and subsequently progresses toward the proximal portion.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency. In various embodiments, an ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, and an end effector. The shaft extends distally from the body. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an active feature configured to operate on tissue. The body includes a drive feature operable to drive the active feature of the end effector. The body is operable to selectively couple with a variety of power sources such that the drive feature may receive electrical power form a battery or from a corded power source, based on a user's preference. The body may include a handpiece that has a socket configured to receive a battery or cable adapter. The body may removably receive various kinds of shaft assemblies to provide various operating modalities. The shaft assemblies may include user interface features.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a handpiece housing that operably supports an electrical contact assembly therein that is in electrical communication with a signal source. An acoustic assembly is supported within the handpiece housing in rotatable contact with the electrical contact assembly. In various embodiments, the signal source produces at least one of an ultrasonic signal and a radio frequency signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a linear stapler having a multi-functional retaining pin subassembly. The linear stapler comprises a handle stem connecting an anvil to a handle, and the retaining pin subassembly is movably supported on the handle stem and comprises a connecting cover having a retaining pin extending from the connecting cover. The present invention also provides a multi-functional retaining pin subassembly. The retaining pin subassembly can achieve cartridge alignment and tissue retention during the firing of the stapler and protect tissue from unintended damage.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency. In various embodiments, an ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a surgical instrument that can supply mechanical energy and electrical energy to an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may be operated in a first operating mode in which a transducer of the surgical instrument produces mechanical energy, or vibrations, that are transmitted to the end effector and a second operating mode in which electrical energy, or current, can flow through the end effector to perform electrosurgery. In another general aspect, the surgical instrument may comprise a clamp, or jaw, which can be moved into a closed position to hold tissue against a waveguide, or blade, of the end effector. In the second operating mode of the surgical instrument, current can flow from a power source, through the waveguide, and return to the power source through a path comprising the jaw.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an abrasive compact includes ultra-hard particles which are sintered, bonded, or otherwise consolidated into a solid body. The compact also includes various physical characteristics having a continuous gradient, a multiaxial gradient, or multiple independent gradients.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a surgical instrument that can supply mechanical energy and electrical energy to an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may be operated in a first operating mode in which a transducer of the surgical instrument produces mechanical energy, or vibrations, that are transmitted to the end effector and a second operating mode in which electrical energy, or current, can flow through the end effector to perform electrosurgery. In another general aspect, the surgical instrument may comprise a clamp, or jaw, which can be moved into a closed position to hold tissue against a waveguide, or blade, of the end effector. In the second operating mode of the surgical instrument, current can flow from a power source, through the waveguide, and return to the power source through a path comprising the jaw.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a transducer configured to produce a standing wave of vibrations along a longitudinal axis having a node and an anti-node at a predetermined frequency. In various embodiments, an ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer. In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a method of assembling the transducer for the ultrasonic surgical instrument. In various embodiments, the method comprises selecting piezoelectric elements and arranging the piezoelectric elements relative to the node to minimize the difference in magnitude between the currents drawn by the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a handpiece housing that operably supports an electrical contact assembly therein that is in electrical communication with a signal source. An acoustic assembly is supported within the handpiece housing in rotatable contact with the electrical contact assembly. In various embodiments, the signal source produces at least one of an ultrasonic signal and a radio frequency signal.

Abstract: In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency. In various embodiments, an ultrasonic blade extends along the longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. In various embodiments, the ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer.