Abstract: A surgical staple including at least two deformable members which can be bent upon contacting an anvil of a surgical stapler. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the deformable members can include a non-circular cross-section which can dictate the direction and manner in which the deformable members are bent. In at least one embodiment, the non-circular cross-section can include a flat portion which can cause the deformable members to bend in the direction of the flat portion. In various embodiments, the at least two deformable members can be connected by a dissolvable or bioabsorbable crown. In at least one various embodiment, the crown can dissolve and can, depending on the cross-sectional geometry of the deformable members, reduce the force or pressure applied to soft tissue captured within the staple by the bent deformable member.

Abstract: A tissue thickness compensator may generally comprise a first layer comprising a first biocompatible material sealingly enclosed in a water impermeable material and a second layer comprising a second biocompatible material comprising at least one encapsulation, wherein the first biocompatible material expands when contacted with a fluid. The tissue thickness compensator may comprise a haemostatic agent, an anti-inflammatory agent, an antibiotic agent, anti-microbial agent, an anti-adhesion agent, an anti-coagulant agent, a medicament, and/or pharmaceutically active agent. The encapsulation may comprise a biodegradable material to degrade in vivo and/or in situ. The tissue thickness compensator may comprise a hydrogel. The reaction product may comprise a fluid-swellable composition. Articles of manufacture comprising the tissue thickness compensator and methods of making and using the tissue thickness compensator are also described.

Abstract: A stapling system comprising an anvil comprising an anvil ledge, a channel comprising a channel ledge, a firing member, a replaceable unfired staple cartridge, and a locking member is disclosed. The firing member comprises a first projection configured to engage the anvil ledge and a second prosection configured to engage the channel ledge. The firing member is movable distally during a staple firing stroke. The replaceable unfired staple cartridge comprises staples, a vertical slot configured to receive the firing member during the staple firing stroke, and a sled comprising a central portion configured to slide within the vertical slot. The locking member is movable vertically and spring-biased into a locked configuration which inhibits the firing member from being advanced through the staple firing stroke when a previously-fired staple cartridge is assembled to the stapling system instead of the replaceable unfired staple cartridge.

Abstract: Methods and devices create an intestinal braking effect, are non-invasive or minimally invasive, and may be reversible. These methods and devices are accomplished via stabilized implantable systems, and ingestible pills. In one embodiment, the implantable system comprises a device delivering a therapeutic substance to a target location within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient in order to initiate an intestinal braking effect which would promote sensations of satiety and stimulate excess weight loss for the patient.

Abstract: A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement.

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: A surgical system that includes a surgical end effector that has a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein one of the first and second jaws is movable between open and closed positions. A firing member is axially movable between a starting position and an ending position and is configured to slidably engage each of the first and second jaws. A firing drive member interfaces with a rotary output member, such that rotation of the rotary output member about a first rotary output axis imparts a firing motion to the firing member.

Abstract: An interactive control unit is disclosed. The interactive control unit includes an interactive touchscreen display, an interface configured to couple the control unit to a surgical hub, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive input commands from the interactive touchscreen display located inside a sterile field and transmit the input commands to the surgical hub to control devices coupled to the surgical hub located outside the sterile field.

Abstract: A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement.

Abstract: A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement.

Abstract: A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for controlling the activation of energy surgical instruments are disclosed. An advance energy surgical instrument, such an electrosurgical instrument or an ultrasonic surgical instrument, can include one or more sensor assemblies for detecting the state or position of the end effector, arm, or other components of the surgical instrument. A control circuit can be configured to control the activation of the surgical instrument according to the state or position of the components of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A detachable motor-powered surgical instrument. The instrument may include a housing that includes at least one engagement member for removably attaching the housing to an actuator arrangement. A motor is supported within the housing for supplying actuation motions to various portions of a surgical end effector coupled to the housing. The housing may include a contact arrangement that is configured to permit power to be supplied to the motor only when the housing is operably attached to the actuator arrangement.

Abstract: A stapling assembly comprising an end effector movable from an open configuration to a closed configuration is disclosed. The end effector comprises an anvil and a staple cartridge comprising a first tissue-contact surface, a second tissue-contact surface stepped up from the first tissue-contact surface, an annular row of cavities, and a plurality of staples removably stored in the cavities. The anvil is configured to transition the staples from an unformed configuration to a formed configuration. Each staple comprises a crown, a first staple leg extending from the crown, and a second staple leg extending from the crown. The first staple leg and the second staple leg define a plane intersecting the crown in the unformed configuration. The first staple leg is bent toward a first side of the plane in the formed configuration. The second staple leg is bent toward a second side of the plane in the formed configuration.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a pivoting member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The ultrasonic blade is positioned distal to the shaft assembly. The pivoting member is pivotable with respect to the blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the blade. One or both of the shaft assembly or the pivoting member comprise a guide feature. The guide feature is configured to provide lateral alignment of the distal portion of the pivoting member with the blade as the pivoting member is pivoted to the closed position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a handle, a motor configured to output a rotary motion, a drive system operably responsive to the rotary motion, a power source configured to supply power to the motor, an end effector, a firing member operably responsive to the drive system, and means for monitoring the current supplied to the motor and limiting the current supplied to the motor when the current draw exceeds a predetermined threshold is disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector including an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. A firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. A firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The acoustic waveguide is coupled with the transducer. The articulation section includes a collar that is located distal to a nodal portion of the waveguide and is operable to deflect the end effector away from the longitudinal axis. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section. The articulation drive assembly comprises at least one translating articulation driver coupled with the collar. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue even when the articulation section is in an articulated state.

Abstract: An end effector comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities, and a translatable member is disclosed. One of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable between an open position and closed positions relative to the other of the first jaw and the second jaw. The translatable firing member comprises a first portion configured to engage the first jaw, a second portion configured to engage the second jaw, and an attachment configured to contact one of the first jaw and the second jaw. The first portion is comprised of a metal. The attachment is comprised of a resilient material.

Abstract: A stapling system is disclosed. The stapling system comprises an anvil, a channel, a firing bar, a replaceable staple cartridge, and a locking member. The anvil comprises an anvil ledge. The channel comprises a channel ledge. The firing bar comprises a first projection configured to engage the anvil ledge and a second projection configured to engage the channel ledge. The replaceable staple cartridge comprises staples, a vertical slot configured to receive the firing bar during a staple firing stroke, and a sled movable between a proximal unfired position and a distal fired position. The locking member is movable vertically and spring-biased into a locked configuration which inhibits the firing bar from being advanced through the staple firing stroke. The sled comprises a proximally-extending portion configured to overcome the spring bias of the locking member if the sled is in its proximal unfired position.