Adapter direct drive with manual retraction, lockout, and connection mechanisms for improper use prevention

A surgical device adapter for coupling an end effector to a handle assembly is provided. The surgical device adapter includes a housing and a drive mechanism disposed within the housing and couplable to the handle assembly and the end effector. The surgical device adapter also includes a drive coupling assembly coupled to the surgical device adapter and selectively couplable to the handle assembly. The drive coupling assembly includes retraction assembly movable from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration the retraction assembly is disengaged from the drive mechanism and in the second configuration the retraction assembly is engaged with the drive mechanism and prevents coupling of the handle assembly to the surgical device adapter.

Apparatus and method for differentiating between tissue and mechanical obstruction in a surgical instrument

A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes: a handle assembly; a jaw assembly comprising a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples and an anvil to form the plurality of staples upon firing; a drive assembly at least partially located within the handle and connected to the jaw assembly and the lockout mechanism; a motor disposed within the handle assembly and operatively coupled to the drive assembly; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the controller configured to control supply of electrical current to the motor and to monitor a current draw of the motor, wherein the controller is further configured to terminate the supply of electrical current to the motor in response to a rate of change of the current draw indicative of a mechanical limit of at least one of the jaw assembly, the drive assembly, or the motor.

Surgical end effector having buttress retention features

A piece of buttress material and an end-effector of a surgical instrument including features which can aid a surgeon in properly and quickly attaching the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In various embodiments, a piece of buttress material can include retention features which can be engaged with portions of an end-effector to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to at least a portion of the end-effector. Similarly, an end-effector can include features configured to engage portions of a piece of buttress material to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In at least one embodiment, more than one piece of buttress material can be releasably retained to an end-effector.

Laparoscopic clamp load measuring devices

A surgical end effector comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, a strain gauge, and a thickness measurement cartridge is disclosed. The first jaw comprises a first jaw undersurface. The first jaw is selectively movable relative to the second jaw. The strain gauge is supported by the second jaw and configured to communicate with a central processing unit configured to calculate thickness of tissue. The thickness measurement cartridge comprising a cartridge body and a pivot formation. The cartridge body is configured to be removably supported in the second jaw such that a tissue contacting surface thereon faces the first jaw undersurface. The pivot formation on the cartridge body facilitated pivotal movement of the cartridge body relative to the second jaw.

TORQUE OPTIMIZATION FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

A control system having speed management control. The control system can be in signal communication with a battery, and the battery can be coupled to a motor. The speed management control can include a pulse width modulation circuit, which can control the duration of pulses supplied from the battery to the motor. The motor can include a primary set of coils and a secondary set of coils. The control system can direct surplus current to the secondary set of coils to maximize the torque generated by the motor.

TORQUE OPTIMIZATION FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

A control system having speed management control. The control system can be in signal communication with a battery, and the battery can be coupled to a motor. The speed management control can include a pulse width modulation circuit, which can control the duration of pulses supplied from the battery to the motor. The motor can include a primary set of coils and a secondary set of coils. The control system can direct surplus current to the secondary set of coils to maximize the torque generated by the motor.

SURGICAL END EFFECTOR HAVING BUTTRESS RETENTION FEATURES

A piece of buttress material and an end-effector of a surgical instrument including features which can aid a surgeon in properly and quickly attaching the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In various embodiments, a piece of buttress material can include retention features which can be engaged with portions of an end-effector to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to at least a portion of the end-effector. Similarly, an end-effector can include features configured to engage portions of a piece of buttress material to releasably retain the piece of buttress material to the end-effector. In at least one embodiment, more than one piece of buttress material can be releasably retained to an end-effector.

Surgical instrument comprising a removable battery

A surgical stapling instrument can comprise a handle comprising a housing comprising a battery dock cavity, a proximal end, a distal end, a pistol grip comprising a proximal side and a distal side, and an electric motor positioned in the housing. The instrument further comprises a shaft extending distally from the distal end of the handle, and a staple cartridge extending distally from the shaft, wherein the staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples removably stored therein. The instrument further comprises a battery extending proximally with respect to the proximal side of the pistol grip when the battery is removably seated in the battery dock cavity, wherein the battery comprises a counterbalance to the shaft and the staple cartridge about the pistol grip, and wherein the battery is configured to supply electrical power to the electric motor.

Apparatus and method for differentiating between tissue and mechanical obstruction in a surgical instrument

A surgical instrument is provided. The surgical instrument includes: a handle assembly; a jaw assembly comprising a staple cartridge containing a plurality of staples and an anvil to form the plurality of staples upon firing; a drive assembly at least partially located within the handle and connected to the jaw assembly and the lockout mechanism; a motor disposed within the handle assembly and operatively coupled to the drive assembly; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor, the controller configured to control supply of electrical current to the motor and to monitor a current draw of the motor, wherein the controller is further configured to terminate the supply of electrical current to the motor in response to a rate of change of the current draw indicative of a mechanical limit of at least one of the jaw assembly, the drive assembly, or the motor.

Articulation features for ultrasonic surgical instrument

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.