Articulating clip applier

A surgical apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue is provided. The surgical apparatus includes a housing, a drive assembly, a trigger, and a shaft assembly. The trigger is operatively connected with the drive assembly. The drive assembly is at least partially positioned within the housing. The shaft assembly extends distally from the housing and has a first tubular member pivotally connected with a second tubular member located distally from the first tubular member. An articulation mechanism is operatively connected between the first and second tubular members, and includes a gear rack, at least one gear, and a gear segment, respectfully connected with each other to pivot the second tubular member about the pivot axis. The gear rack and at least one gear are located within the first tubular member. The gear segment extends proximally from the second tubular member.

Surgical circular stapler with tissue retention arrangements

Surgical instruments and procedures for performing a circular anastomosis of a tubular organ. The surgical instruments may include selectively deployable tissue acquisition members configured to puncture through a portion of the tubular organ and position the portion of the organ adjacent to a fastener face of a staple cartridge supported in the instrument. At least one cutting member may be radially deployed and rotated to sever the positioned portion of organ from a distal portion of the organ. An anvil may be employed to draw another portion of the organ adjacent to the portion of organ positioned adjacent to the fastener face of the staple cartridge. The staples may then be deployed through the adjacent portions of organ and an annular knife may be advanced through the adjacent organ portions to complete the anastomosis.

Transwall visualization arrangements and methods for surgical circular staplers

A surgical instrument is disclosed. Various embodiments include an elongated shaft that defines a central axis and has a distal end portion that is configured to operably support a circular staple cartridge therein. At least one detection member may be operably supported within the elongated shaft. Each detection member may have a distal portion that is radially deployable away from the central axis upon application of a deployment motion thereto. The distal end portions may have a bumper or light mounted thereto.

Linear cutting and stapling device with selectively disengageable cutting member

A surgical stapling instrument including a selectively actuatable cutting member. The stapling instrument may be used as a surgical stapler without cutting tissue or, if desired, the surgeon may selectively actuate the cutting member to cut tissue as the staples are being deployed and formed. A stapling instrument can include an actuator knob that has at least one pusher bar attached thereto. Advancement of the actuator knob in a distal direction causes the pusher bars to apply a firing motion to the staples contained within a staple cartridge supported within the stapling instrument. A knife bar may be selectively coupleable to the actuator knob by a selector switch that is movable from an actuated position wherein movement of the actuator knob in the distal direction advances the knife bar which has a cutting blade portion to advance between rows of staples in the staple cartridge to an unactuated position wherein movement of the actuator knob advances the pusher bars without advancing the knife bar.

Tissue acquisition arrangements and methods for surgical stapling devices

A surgical instrument that includes an elongated shaft that defines defining a central axis. The elongated shaft may have a distal end portion that is configured to operably support a circular staple cartridge therein. A tissue acquisition shaft may be axially movable within the elongated shaft such that a distal end portion of the tissue acquisition shaft may be distally advanced beyond the distal end portion of the elongated shaft. At least one tissue acquisition member may be pivotally attached to the distal end portion of the tissue acquisition shaft such that at least one tissue acquisition member is selectively pivotable about a corresponding acquisition axis that is substantially parallel to the central axis from a retracted position to deployed positions upon application of a deployment motion thereto. Various embodiments include an annular cutting member that is supported by the distal end of the elongated shaft for selective axial travel relative thereto.

Circular stapling instruments with secondary cutting arrangements and methods of using same

Surgical instruments are disclosed. Various non-limiting embodiments may include an elongated shaft that has a distal end portion that is configured to operably support a circular staple cartridge therein. A tissue acquisition shaft may be rotatably supported within said elongated shaft and have a distal portion that protrudes distally beyond the distal end portion of the elongated shaft. At least one tissue acquisition member may be pivotally attached to the distal end portion of the tissue acquisition shaft such that the tissue acquisition members are selectively pivotable from a retracted position to deployed positions upon application of a deployment motion thereto. A rotatable cutting member may be operably supported adjacent to the tissue acquisition member and being selectively rotatable about the central axis upon application of a cutting actuation motion thereto.

APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PROTECTING ADJACENT STRUCTURES DURING THE INSERTION OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT INTO A TUBULAR ORGAN

A device for protecting tissues and structures adjacent to a tubular organ during performance of a surgical procedure on a portion of the tubular organ. Various embodiments may comprise a member that may be deployed through a surgical instrument in a first configuration and expanded to a second configuration such that when in the second configuration, the protective member may extend substantially around an outer circumference of the portion of the tubular organ.

Articulating clip applier cartridge

An end effector is provided and includes a distal housing portion and a proximal housing portion interconnected to one another by a knuckle portion, wherein the knuckle portion permits rotation of the distal housing portion relative thereto and articulation of the distal housing portion relative to the proximal housing portion; a jaw assembly supported in the distal end of the distal housing portion, the jaw assembly including a first jaw and a second jaw movable between a spaced apart and an approximated position; and a plurality of fasteners loaded within the distal housing portion, each of the plurality of fasteners defining a fastener axis extending in a direction substantially parallel to a pair of legs thereof, each of the plurality of fasteners being arranged within the base portion such that the fastener axis is disposed at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the distal housing portion.

Ultrasonic surgical instrument blades

An ultrasonic surgical instrument including an ultrasonically actuated blade or end effector having a treatment portion. The blade can define a central axis and at least one axis which is transverse to the central axis, wherein the transverse axis can lie within a plane which is perpendicular, or normal, to the longitudinal axis and can define a cross-section of the treatment portion. Such a cross-section can include a central portion and a step extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion can comprise a width, and wherein the step can comprise a cutting edge. In at least one embodiment, the cutting edge can be defined by first and second surfaces which define an angle therebetween. In various embodiments, the position of the cutting edge and/or the angle between the cutting edge surfaces can be selected in order to balance the blade with respect to the transverse axis.

Covert message redaction and recovery in a wireless communication device

A wireless communication device comprises a user interface, a memory, a wireless communication interface, and a processing system. The wireless communication interface is configured to wirelessly receive a message. The processing system is configured to direct the memory to store the message. The processing system is configured to drive the user interface to display the message, display a message redaction indicator, and responsively receive a message redaction instruction. The processing system is configured to redact a portion of the message responsive to the message redaction instruction and direct the memory to store the redacted portion of the message. The processing system is configured to drive the user interface to display the message without the redacted portion, display a message recovery indicator, and responsively receive a message recovery instruction. The processing system is configured to recover the message responsive to the message recovery instruction and drive the user interface to display the message with the previously redacted portion.