Motor-driven surgical cutting instrument

A motor-driven surgical cutting and fastening instrument that comprises an end effector, an electric motor, and a motor control circuit. The motor control circuit is for monitoring a parameter of the electric motor that is indicative of movement of a moveable member of the end effector, and for adjustably controlling the electric motor based on the monitored parameter to thereby adjustably control movement of the moveable member of the end effector during forward rotation of the electric motor.

Surgical stapling system comprising an end effector including an implantable layer

A surgical stapling system for stapling patient tissue is disclosed. The stapling system comprises a handle, a shaft, an end effector, and a firing system. The end effector comprises an anvil, a staple cartridge, an implantable layer, and anchors. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body comprising a deck surface including a plurality of staple cavities. The staple cartridge further comprises a plurality of staples and a longitudinal slot. The staples comprise a first longitudinal row of staples having a first unformed height and a second longitudinal row of staples having a second unformed height. The firing system comprises a tissue cutting edge and is configured to translate within the longitudinal slot such that the anchors are progressively transected by the tissue cutting edge to progressively release the implantable layer from the cartridge body while the staples are progressively ejected from the staple cavities to staple the patient tissue.

Staple cartridge comprising an implantable layer

A Staple cartridge assembly for stapling patient tissue is disclosed comprising a staple cartridge including a deck. The deck includes a plurality of staple cavities and is configured to support the tissue. The staple cartridge assembly further includes a plurality of staples removably stored in the staple cavities and an implantable layer positioned adjacent to the deck. The implantable layer comprises a composite absorbable material, wherein the composite absorbable material comprises at least two distinct fibrous materials. At least one freeze-dried medicament is releasably held on at least one of the fibrous materials. The staple cartridge assembly further includes a liquid impermeable film wrapped around the staple cartridge and the implantable layer.

Adapter assemblies for interconnecting surgical loading units and handle assemblies

An adapter assembly includes an elongated body, a switch, a sensor link, and an annular member. The elongated body includes a proximal portion configured to couple to a handle assembly and a distal portion configured to couple to a surgical loading unit. The switch is configured to be toggled in response to the surgical loading unit being coupled to the distal portion of the adapter assembly. The sensor link is disposed within the distal portion of the adapter assembly and biased toward a distal position. The sensor link is longitudinally movable between a proximal position and the distal position. The annular member is disposed within the distal portion and is rotatable between a first orientation, in which the annular member prevents distal movement of the sensor link, and a second orientation, in which the sensor link moves distally to toggle the switch.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH WIRELESS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONTROL UNIT AND REMOTE SENSOR

A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise an end effector comprising at least one sensor. The surgical instrument may also comprise an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft. The handle may comprise a control unit electrically coupled to the shaft such that the shaft radiates signals as an antenna from the control unit to the sensor and receives radiated signals from the sensor. Other components electrically coupled to the shaft may also radiate the signals.

Surgical stapling apparatuses with lockable end effector positioning systems

A surgical instrument that comprises a housing, an elongate shaft configured for operable attachment to a surgical end effector, and a selectively lockable rotation system is disclosed. The selectively lockable rotation system comprises a mounting member coupled to the elongate shaft and being rotatably supported on the housing for selective rotation relative to the housing about a longitudinal axis defined by the elongate shaft. The selectively lockable rotation system further comprises a switch member supported for selective longitudinal movement relative to the housing and the mounting member between an unlocked position wherein the mounting member is freely rotatable relative to the housing and a locked position wherein a locking formation on a distal end of the switch member is in retaining engagement with the mounting member to prevent the mounting member and the elongate shaft from rotating relative to the housing.

Fastener cartridge assembly comprising a cam and driver arrangement

A surgical stapling assembly comprising an anvil, a firing member, and a replaceable cartridge is disclosed. The replaceable cartridge comprises a longitudinal slot, a first row of staple cavities, a second row of staple cavities, first staples, second staples, staple drivers, and a sled. The sled comprises a plurality of first rails positioned on a first side of the longitudinal slot and a plurality of second rails positioned on a second side of the longitudinal slot. The first rails are configured to lift the drivers toward the anvil to deform the first staples to a first formed height and the second staples to a second formed height. The first formed height is different than the second formed height. At least one first rail of the plurality of first rails comprises a height which is different than the height of another first rail of the plurality of first rails.

Stapling assembly configured to produce different formed staple heights

A stapling assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The stapling assembly comprises an anvil jaw, a firing member, and a replaceable cartridge jaw comprising a tissue-supporting deck including a first longitudinal step and a second longitudinal step. The first longitudinal step is positioned above the second longitudinal step. The replaceable cartridge jaw further comprises a longitudinal slot, a first longitudinal row of staple cavities, a second longitudinal row of staple cavities, a plurality of first staples, a plurality of second staples, a plurality of drivers, and a sled. The sled is configured to lift the drivers toward the anvil jaw to deform the first staples to a first formed height and the second staples to a second formed. The first formed height is different than the second formed height.

Implantable layer assemblies

An end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, and a staple cartridge assembly. At least one of the first jaw and the second iaw is movable to compress tissue between the first jaw and the second jaw. The staple cartridge assembly comprises a staple cartridge, a plurality of staples, and a first layer. The staple cartridge includes a deck comprising a plurality of staple cavities. The first layer comprises a composite absorbable material including at least two distinct fibrous materials. The first layer is attached to the first jaw by an attachment system comprised of polyglycolic acid that wraps over the first layer in more than two places. The end effector further comprises a second layer comprising a composite absorbable material including at least two distinct fibrous materials. The second layer is attached to the second jaw in more than two places.

Staple cartridge comprising staples positioned within a compressible portion thereof

A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.