End effectors with same side closure and firing motions

A surgical end effector for use with a surgical stapler for stapling tissue is disclosed. The end effector may comprise a frame portion, a staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples, a first jaw member, a second jaw member, and a rotation joint. The second jaw member is pivotably movable relative to the first jaw member about the rotation joint. The second jaw member is configured to apply a closing motion against the tissue and a firing motion to deform the staples, wherein both the closing motion and the firing motion are applied to the tissue from the same side of the tissue.

Staple cartridge comprising an implantable layer

A surgical end effector comprising a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a compressible portion intermediate the staple cartridge and the anvil is disclosed. The compressible portion comprises a plurality of tubular members.

Staple cartridge comprising implantable layers

A staple cartridge comprising a cartridge body is disclosed. A plurality of staple cavities are defined in the cartridge body. The cartridge body compriese a deck. The staple cartridge further comprises a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities, an implantable first layer of material supported by the deck, an implantable deflectable support extending from the implantable first layer of material, and an implantable second layer of material supported by the implantable deflectable support.

End effector with implantable layer

An end effector for stapling patient tissue is disclosed. The end effector comprises a frame comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a plurality of staples, a firing system configured to implant the staples into the patient tissue, an implantable layer comprising a tissue-contacting surface and a support surface, and an array of securement members extending above and below the support surface of the implantable layer. The securement members are detached from the frame concurrently with the firing system being actuated to implant the staples.

Staple cartridge comprising a compressible layer

A staple cartridge that comprises a cartridge body, wherein a plurality of staple cavities are defined in the cartridge body is disclosed. The staple cartridge further comprises a plurality of staples removably positioned in the staple cavities and a compressible layer releasably positioned adjacent to the cartridge body. The compressible layer comprises a plurality of compression springs.

End effector with redundant closing mechanisms

End effectors with redundant closing mechanisms, and related tools and methods are disclosed. The disclosed end effectors may be particularly beneficial when used for minimally invasive surgery. An example surgical tool comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a tool body disposed at the distal end of the shaft, a jaw movable relative to the tool body between a clamped configuration and an open configuration, a first actuation mechanism coupled with the jaw and operable to vary the position of the jaw relative to the tool body between the clamped configuration and the open configuration, and a second actuation mechanism coupled with the jaw. The second actuation mechanism has a first configuration where the jaw is held in the clamped configuration and a second configuration where the position of the jaw relative to the tool body is unconstrained by the second actuation mechanism.

Fiber optic sensor guided navigation for vascular visualization and monitoring

A method for visualizing branches of a lumen includes inserting (402) a fiber optic shape sensing device into a lumen and determining (404) changes in the lumen based upon strain induced in the fiber optic shape sensing device by flow in the lumen. Locations of branches are indicated (410) on a rendering of the lumen. An instrument is guided (414) to the locations of branches indicated on the rendering.

Ultrasonic anastomosis instrument with piezoelectric sealing head

An apparatus includes a body, a shaft, an ultrasonic element, and an annular clamp pad. The shaft extends distally from the body. The ultrasonic element is located at the distal end of the shaft. The ultrasonic element includes a distally presented annular face. The clamp pad is movable toward the distally presented annular face of the ultrasonic element. When tissue is compressed between the clamp pad and the distally presented annular face of the ultrasonic element, the ultrasonic element may be activated with ultrasonic energy. The resulting ultrasonic vibrations may sever and seal the tissue captured between the distally presented annular face and the clamp pad, resulting in an anastomosis. The apparatus may thus be used to join two hollow tubular tissue structures, such as portions of a gastrointestinal tract.

Ultrasonic surgical instrument with electrosurgical feature

A surgical instrument system includes an end effector, a generator, and a controller. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and at least one electrode surface. The generator provides power to the end effector. The end effector applies ultrasonic energy to tissue via the blade or RF energy to tissue via the at least one electrode surface. The controller is configured to select between one or both of ultrasonic energy or RF energy, and thereby control the generator to provide the selected one or both of ultrasonic energy or RF energy at the end effector, based on a sensed operating condition of the end effector. The controller may select between ultrasonic energy and RF energy based on whether a clamp arm is in an open position relative to the blade, based on which button is being activated, and based on whether tissue is sensed at the end effector.

Adaptive virtual intelligent agent

Embodiments of an adaptive virtual intelligent agent (“AVIA”) service are disclosed. It may include the functions of a human administrative assistant for an enterprise including customer support, customer relationship management, and fielding incoming caller inquiries. It also has multi-modal applications for the home through interaction with AVIA implemented in the home. It may engage in free-form natural language dialogs. During a dialog, embodiments maintain the context and meaning of the ongoing dialog and provides information and services as needed by the domain of the application. Over time, the service automatically extends its knowledge of the domain (as represented in the Knowledge Tree Graphs) through interaction with external resources. Embodiments can intelligently understand and converse with users using free-form speech without pre-programmed deterministic sequences of questions and answers, can dynamically determine what it needs to know to converse meaningfully with users, and knows how to obtain information it needs.