Abstract: A method includes providing a graphical representation of a surgical site, grasping the tissue of the patient with first and second jaw members of an end effector including a location sensor, illuminating optical light into the grasped tissue at the first jaw member, receiving the optical light that has passed through the grasped tissue, at the second jaw member, processing the received light to identify a vessel, which is encompassed within the grasped tissue, receiving location information of the end effector from the location sensor, synchronizing a location of the identified vessel within the graphical representation based on the location information, and displaying the identified vessel at the synchronized location in the graphical representation.

Abstract: A system includes a surgical instrument configured to perform a laparoscopic surgical operation, a location sensor configured to identify a spatial relationship between an anatomical structure and the surgical instrument, and a processor configured to receive a graphical representation of a patient, determine proximity of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument with the anatomical structure of the patient based on the spatial relationship, and generate a warning based on the determination of proximity.

Abstract: A system includes a surgical instrument configured to perform a laparoscopic surgical operation, a location sensor configured to identify a spatial relationship between an anatomical structure and the surgical instrument, and a processor configured to receive a graphical representation of a patient, determine proximity of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument with the anatomical structure of the patient based on the spatial relationship, and generate a warning based on the determination of proximity.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an end effector assembly and a sensor. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members each defining an electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface. At least one of the first or second jaw members is movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue between the tissue-contacting surfaces thereof. The electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces of the first and second jaw members are adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy for conducting energy through tissue grasped therebetween to treat tissue. The sensor is configured to sense at least one property of smoke produced as a result of the conduction of energy through tissue grasped between the electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces.

Abstract: A method of surgery includes inserting a surgical instrument into a surgical site, supplying energy from a surgical generator to tissue at the surgical site via the surgical instrument to treat the tissue, sensing at least one property of smoke at the surgical site, and determining at least one parameter of smoke at the surgical site based upon the at least one property. The method further includes controlling the supply of energy from the surgical generator based upon the at least one parameter and/or providing an output based upon the at least one parameter.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument configured for insertion into a surgical site, a sensor configured to sense at least one property of smoke at the surgical site, and a surgical generator including a controller and an energy output. The energy output is configured to supply energy to the surgical instrument for application to tissue at the surgical site to treat the tissue. The controller is configured to receive the at least one property, determine at least one parameter of smoke at the surgical site based upon the at least one property, and control the energy output based upon the at least one parameter and/or provide an output based upon the at least one parameter.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an end effector assembly and an electrosurgical generator. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members, one or both of which is movable relative to the other for grasping tissue between tissue-contacting surfaces thereof. One or both of the jaw members includes a sensor configured to sense at least one property associated with the grasped tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes a controller and an energy output configured to supply electrosurgical energy to the tissue-contacting surface of one or both of the jaw members for conduction through the grasped tissue to seal the grasped tissue. The controller is configured to receive the at least one sensed property, determine at least one condition of collagen within the grasped tissue based upon the at least one sensed property, and control the energy output based upon the determined at least one condition of the collagen within the grasped tissue.

Abstract: A method includes providing a graphical representation of a surgical site, grasping the tissue of the patient with first and second jaw members of an end effector including a location sensor, irradiating a laser onto the grasped tissue at the first jaw member, detecting laser speckle data from the grasped tissue at the first jaw member, processing the laser speckle data to identify a vessel which is encompassed within the grasped tissue by generating a laser speckle image, receiving location information of the end effector from the location sensor, synchronizing a location of the identified vessel within the graphical representation based on the location information, and displaying the identified vessel at the synchronized location in the graphical representation.

Abstract: A system includes a surgical instrument configured to perform a laparoscopic surgical operation, a location sensor configured to identify a spatial relationship between an anatomical structure and the surgical instrument, and a processor configured to receive a graphical representation of a patient, determine proximity of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument with the anatomical structure of the patient based on the spatial relationship, and generate a warning based on the determination of proximity.

Abstract: A method includes providing a graphical representation of a surgical site, grasping the tissue of the patient with first and second jaw members of an end effector including a location sensor, irradiating a laser onto the grasped tissue at the first jaw member, detecting scattered laser that has passed through the grasped tissue, at the second jaw member, processing the scattered laser to calculate a first frequency shift and to identify a vessel which is encompassed within the grasped tissue, receiving location information of the end effector from the location sensor, synchronizing a location of the identified vessel within the graphical representation based on the location information, and displaying the identified vessel at the synchronized location in the graphical representation.

Abstract: A method includes providing a graphical representation of a surgical site, grasping the tissue of the patient with first and second jaw members of an end effector including a location sensor, illuminating optical light into the grasped tissue at the first jaw member, receiving the optical light that has passed through the grasped tissue, at the second jaw member, processing the received light to identify a vessel, which is encompassed within the grasped tissue, receiving location information of the end effector from the location sensor, synchronizing a location of the identified vessel within the graphical representation based on the location information, and displaying the identified vessel at the synchronized location in the graphical representation.