Abstract: A surgical stapling system includes a motor, a gear reducer assembly, a drive train, and a motor controller. A method of controlling the motor includes applying a first signal to the motor, receiving drive train operational data, comparing the drive train data to baseline data, and applying a signal having a different shape than the first signal to the motor. A method of characterizing the motor includes transmitting a perturbation signal, receiving motor function parameters, determining stapler system characteristics, and adjusting a controller function. A method of controlling a stepper motor includes applying a signal to the stepper motor, receiving stepper motor operational data, comparing the data to baseline data, and adjusting the signal. Another method of controlling the motor includes receiving motor rotational data, receiving gear rotation data, calculating a mechanical transfer function, determining non-idealities of the stapling system, and modifying a control signal based on the non-idealities.

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

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed including a motor-powered firing system comprising a firing motor, a motor-powered closure system comprising a closure motor, and a control system. The firing motor is configured to drive a firing member between an unfired position and a fired position. The closure motor is configured to transition an end effector between an open state and a clamped state. The control system is configured to set a first parameter of the motor-powered closure system, based on a received first input, drive the end effector toward the clamped state with the motor-powered closure system using the first parameter, monitor a second parameter associated with the end effector transitioning toward the clamped state, set a third parameter of the motor-powered firing system, based on a received second input and the monitored second parameter, and drive the firing member toward the fired position using the third parameter.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system comprising a motor system and a control circuit is disclosed. The motor system comprises a motor and a drive train movable by the motor to actuate a firing member through a staple firing stroke. The control circuit is coupled to the motor, wherein, during the staple firing stroke, the control circuit is configured to perform a first sensory action to determine if a speed of the motor can be increased to a first target speed, monitor a result of the first sensory action, adjust a parameter of a subsequent sensory action based on the monitored result of the first sensory action, and perform the subsequent sensory action with the adjusted parameter.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrosurgical instrument including an end effector with a cartridge having an asymmetric cartridge body.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an end effector, a motor, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to activate the motor to distally advance a firing member within a body of the end effector. The processing unit is further configured to detect an initiation condition. In response to detecting the initiation condition, the processing unit is configured to activate an algorithmic bumping mode. The bumping mode includes activating the motor to advance the firing member distally with a first plurality starting and stopping motions at a first rate and a first power level. The bumping mode further includes activating the motor to retract the firing member proximally with a second plurality of starting and stopping motions at a second rate and a second power level. The first rate is different than the second rate. The first power level is different than the second power level.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, a firing member movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, a firing system comprising a motor, and a control system. The firing system is configured to drive the firing member through the firing stroke. The control system is configured to drive the firing member from the unfired position toward the fired position with the firing system, detect a force to fire the firing member toward the fired position, pause advancement of the firing member for a first amount of time, based on the detected force to fire, resume advancement of the firing member after the first amount of time, and pause advancement of the firing member for a second amount of time, wherein the second amount of time is based on the first amount of time.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, a motor, a firing assembly, an end effector, and a control circuit. The motor is activatable to actuate the firing assembly through a firing stroke to staple and sever tissue with the end effector. The control circuit is configured to monitor one or more use metrics of the surgical instrument. Responsive to at least one of the one or more use metrics exceeding a predetermined threshold, the control circuit is further configured to initiate at least one of providing a notification to a user or disabling the firing assembly.

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: Disclosed is a method of adapting energy modality due to a short circuit or tissue type grasped in the jaws of an end effector of a surgical instrument. The method includes selecting an electrode in an array of segmented electrodes during a pre-energy activation cycle. The method includes applying a sub-therapeutic electrical signal to the selected electrode to differentiate between a shorted electrode and low impedance tissue grasped in the jaws of the end effector. The method includes determining the selected electrode is shorted based on a measured electrical parameter received by the control circuit after applying the sub-therapeutic electrical signal and blending monopolar and bipolar RF energy. The method includes determining that the selected electrode is shorted and switching output energy of the RF generator between monopolar and bipolar RF energy.

Abstract: A method for authenticating the compatibility of a staple cartridge with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The method can comprise inserting a staple cartridge into a surgical instrument, receiving a first signal from a first RFID tag on a first component of the staple cartridge with an RFID reader system, receiving a second signal from a second RFID tag on a second component of the staple cartridge with the RFID reader system, comparing the first signal and the second signal to stored data for a compatible staple cartridge, and locking a staple firing system of the surgical instrument if the first signal and the second signal do not match the stored data for a compatible staple cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical instrument controls communication capabilities between the surgical instrument and a removeable component. The surgical instrument may determine parameters associated with the surgical instrument and the removable component. Based on the parameters, the surgical instrument determines a level or tier of communication between the surgical instrument and the removable component. The surgical instrument may determine to configure one or more of the following levels: one-way static communication with the component; two-way communication with the component; real-time two-way communication with the component; and communication with a surgical hub.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, a motor, a firing assembly, an end effector, and a control circuit. The motor is activatable to actuate the firing assembly through a firing stroke to staple and sever tissue with the end effector. The control circuit is configured to monitor one or more use metrics of the surgical instrument. Responsive to at least one of the one or more use metrics exceeding a predetermined threshold, the control circuit is further configured to initiate at least one of providing a notification to a user or disabling the firing assembly.

Abstract: A surgical system is disclosed. The surgical system includes a monopolar return pad and a surgical hub wirelessly coupled to the monopolar return pad. The surgical hub includes a control circuit configured to determined a presence and a position of a patient on the monopolar return pad according to data received from the monopolar return pad.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body including staple formation features is disclosed.

Abstract: A staple cartridge comprising a power management circuit is disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a firing drive including a leverage selection mechanism is disclosed.

Abstract: Examples herein describes a powered surgical end-effector that may include a controllable jaw configured to operate on a tissue, an updatable memory having stored therein a default actuation algorithm, and and a processor. The processor may be configured to operate in a first mode at a first time, wherein in the first mode the processor may be configured to operate an aspect of the controllable jaw according to the default actuation algorithm. The processor may receive data at a second time, after the first time, that may cause the processor to operate in a second mode, wherein in the second mode the processor may be configured to operate an aspect of the controllable jaw according to an alternative actuation algorithm.

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.