Surgical stapler having a powered handle

A powered handle for a surgical stapler can have a drive system including an electric motor. The powered handle can include a manual articulation mechanism to articulate a jaw assembly coupled to a reload shaft connected to the handle. The manual articulation mechanism can include a ball screw mechanism that translates an articulation member responsive to rotation of an articulation knob when an instrument shaft is engaged with the handle. The articulation mechanism includes a release function that allows the jaw assembly to return to a longitudinally centered orientation. The powered handle includes a battery pack serving as a power supply for the drive system. A control system can control actuation of the motor based on user inputs and operating parameters of the stapler and can provide certain motor drive profiles for predetermined positions of the stapler. The powered handle can include a manual return mechanism.

Modular stapling assembly

A modular shaft assembly is disclosed. The modular shaft assembly includes one or more inputs configured to receive input motions from a surgical instrument system, such as a handle, for example. The shaft assembly further includes one or more on-board inputs configured to generate input motions. The input motions received and generated by the shaft assembly are transferrable to an end effector of the shaft assembly to perform various functions at the end effector. The end effector can include a staple cartridge and a firing member which is movable between a proximal position and a distal position to eject staples from the staple cartridge. The end effector can include a plurality of jaw members and the firing member can comprise camming members which are configured to position the jaw members relative to one another.

Pixel structure

A pixel structure includes a pixel electrode, a data selection line and an isolation line. The isolation line is disposed along the pixel electrode. The pixel electrode is configured to store a pixel voltage. The data selection line is configured to transmit a data signal. The isolation line is configured to reduce an influence of an electric field of the data signal on the pixel voltage of the pixel electrode. A projection area of the isolation line is overlapped with a projection area of the pixel electrode.

Staple cartridge and methods for surgical staplers

A surgical stapler, cartridge assembly, and related methods are disclosed. A cartridge assembly for a surgical stapler has a first cartridge portion; and a second cartridge portion; wherein each of the first and second cartridge portions has an upper surface for engaging tissue, and a slot to house a staple. A proximal portion of each of the first and second cartridge portions has a guide portion having at least one of a channel or a protrusion for guiding at least a portion of an i-beam. The second cartridge portion is removably couplable to the first cartridge portion to form a channel.

Surgical stapler with timer and feedback display

A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp.

Surgical instrument having interlocking mechanism

A surgical instrument has an interlocking function and includes an end effector, an elongated portion and a handle portion. Two ends of the elongated portion are respectively connected to the end effector and the handle portion. The handle portion includes a handle housing, a rotatable knob arranged on a distal portion of the handle portion and operatively to be reciprocated along the longitudinal direction of the elongated portion, and a locking assembly including at least one slide member and a lockout gear. The slide member is arranged between the rotatable knob and the handle housing, and axially fixed with the rotatable knob so as to be reciprocated with the rotatable head for being operatively engaged with the slide member. The slide member is circumferentially fixed with the handle portion, and the lockout gear is rigidly mounted at a proximal portion of the elongated portion. The safety of the surgical instrument may be improved due to high structural stability and high stability between components.

Apparatus for detecting or monitoring for a chemical precursor in a high temperature environment

An apparatus and method are disclosed for monitoring and/or detecting concentrations of a chemical precursor in a reaction chamber. The apparatus and method have an advantage of operating in a high temperature environment. An optical emissions spectrometer (OES) is coupled to a gas source, such as a solid source vessel, in order to monitor or detect an output of the chemical precursor to the reaction chamber. Alternatively, a small sample of precursor can be periodically monitored flowing into the OES and into a vacuum pump, thus bypassing the reaction chamber.

POWERED STAPLER HAVING VARYING STAPLE HEIGHTS AND SIZES

A loading unit of a powered surgical stapling instrument includes anvil and cartridge assemblies. The anvil assembly includes a first tissue contacting surface, and the cartridge assembly includes a second tissue contacting surface, a first plurality of staples, a second plurality of staples, and a plurality of pushers. The second tissue contacting surface defines a knife channel partitioning the second tissue contacting surface into first and second portions. Each of the first and second portions includes an inner tissue contacting surface and an outer tissue contacting surface. The inner tissue contacting surface defines a first row of retention slots. The inner tissue contacting surface and the first tissue contacting surface define a first tissue gap. The outer tissue contacting surface defines a second row of retention slots. The outer tissue contacting surface and the first tissue contacting surface define a second tissue gap larger than the first tissue gap.

Instrument insertion compensation

Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for compensating for insertion of an instrument into a working channel of another instrument in a surgical system. According to one embodiment, a method of compensation includes: detecting insertion of an insertable instrument into a working channel of a flexible instrument; detecting, based on a data signal from at least one sensor, a position change of a distal portion of the flexible instrument from an initial position: generating a control signal based on the detected position change; and adjusting a tensioning of a pull wire based on the control signal to return the distal portion to the initial position.

Data processing systems for fulfilling data subject access requests and related methods

In various embodiments, before a data subject request can be processed, the data subject's identity may need to be verified. In various embodiments, the system provides a mechanism to automatically detect the type of authentication required for a particular data subject based on the type of Data Subject Access Request being made and automatically issues a request to the data subject to verify their identity against that form of identification. For example, a subject rights request might only require two types of authentication, but a deletion request may require four types of data to verify authentication. The system may automatically detect which is type of authentication is required based on the DSAR and send an appropriate request to the data subject to verify their identity.