Powered surgical instruments with communication interfaces through sterile barrier

A surgical instrument system that comprises a shaft and a handle assembly releasably couplable to the shaft. The handle assembly comprises a disposable outer housing defining a sterile barrier. The disposable outer housing is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The handle assembly further comprises a control inner core receivable inside the disposable outer housing in the open configuration. The disposable outer housing is configured to isolate the control inner core within the sterile barrier in the closed configuration. The surgical instrument system further comprises an end effector releasably couplable to the shaft and an electrical interface assembly configured to transmit data and power between the control inner core and the end effector. The electrical interface assembly comprises a first interface portion on a first side of the sterile barrier, and a second interface portion on a second side of the sterile barrier opposite the first side.

SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS FOR POWER TRANSMISSION ACROSS STERILE BARRIER

A handle assembly for use with a surgical instrument system. The handle assembly comprises a disposable outer housing defining a sterile barrier, a control inner core receivable inside the disposable outer housing in the open configuration, a wireless electrical interface assembly, and a wired electrical interface assembly. The disposable outer housing is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The disposable outer housing is configured to isolate the control inner core within the sterile barrier in the closed configuration. The wireless electrical interface assembly configured to effect a wireless transmission through the sterile barrier. The wireless electrical interface assembly comprises a first wireless-interface portion on a first side of the sterile barrier and a second wireless-interface portion on a second side of the sterile barrier opposite the first side. The wired electrical interface assembly configured to effect a wired transmission through the sterile barrier.

METHOD FOR TISSUE TREATMENT BY SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

A method for treating tissue using a surgical instrument including at least one electrode and a staple cartridge is disclosed. The method includes causing the at least one electrode to deliver a therapeutic energy to the tissue in a first phase of a surgical treatment by the surgical instrument, deploying staples from the staple cartridge into the tissue in a second phase of the surgical treatment, monitoring a first tissue property in the first phase of the surgical treatment, switching from the first phase to the second phase if at least one of two conditions is met, setting a parameter of the second phase of the surgical treatment based on at least one measurement of the first tissue property determined in the first phase of the surgical treatment, and monitoring a second tissue property, different from the first tissue property, in the second phase of the surgical treatment.

ACTUATOR FOR RELEASING A TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR FROM A FASTENER CARTRIDGE

A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical end effector. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a cartridge body having fastener cavities, fasteners removably positioned in the fastener cavities, a layer of material releasably secured relative to the cartridge body, a connector configured to secure the layer of material to the cartridge body at a location distal to at least one fastener cavity, and an actuator. The layer of material can be a tissue thickness compensator. When actuated, the actuator can overcome the connector, and can overcome the connector prior to the removal of the fasteners from the fastener cavities. The actuator can be actuated at a location proximal to at least one fastener cavity, and can extend distally past at least one fastener cavity toward the connector.

Surgical stapler having downstream current-based motor control

A surgical stapler. The surgical stapler includes a drive system, an electric motor, a battery and a control system. The drive system includes an actuation member. The electric motor is mechanically coupled to the drive system. The battery is electrically couplable to the electric motor. The control system includes an H-bridge circuit electrically couplable to the electric motor. The control system is configured to control the electric motor based on a sensed parameter associated with the electric motor, a position of the actuation member and a velocity of the actuation member.

Powered surgical instruments with multi-phase tissue treatment

A surgical instrument that comprises an end effector comprising a first jaw, a second jaw, a staple cartridge, and at least one electrode. The surgical instrument further comprises a drive member, a motor assembly, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to cause the at least one electrode to deliver a therapeutic energy to the tissue in a first phase of a surgical treatment, cause the motor assembly to move the drive member to deploy staples into the tissue in a second phase of the surgical treatment, monitor a first tissue property in the first phase, and switch from the first phase to the second phase if at least one of two conditions is met, set a parameter of the second phase based on at least one measurement of the tissue property determined in the first phase, and monitor a second tissue property, in the second phase.

Articulatable surgical instruments with single articulation link arrangements

A surgical instrument that comprises an elongate shaft assembly that defines a shaft axis. A surgical end effector is pivotally coupled to the elongate shaft assembly for selective pivotal travel about an articulation axis that extends transversely relative to the shaft axis. The surgical instrument further includes an articulation system that comprises a single articulation driver that is supported for longitudinal travel along a path that is laterally offset from the shaft axis. A cross link is coupled to the articulation driver and extends transversely across the shaft axis to be coupled to the surgical end effector.

Surgical instrument with cartridge release mechanisms

An end effector for use with a surgical stapling instrument. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw comprises an anvil comprising a proximal camming member. At least one jaw is movable relative to the other to close the end effector. The second jaw comprises an elongated channel comprising a proximal channel aperture and a staple cartridge insertable into the elongated channel. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body and a cartridge pan. The cartridge pan comprises a proximal pan aperture configured to be positioned partially distal to the proximal channel aperture when the staple cartridge is assembled with the elongated channel in an unlocked configuration. The camming member is configured to proximally translate the cartridge pan relative to the cartridge body from the unlocked configuration to a locked configuration during a transition of the end effector to a closed configuration.

Powered surgical instruments with external connectors

A modular surgical instrument system, comprising a handle assembly, comprising a disposable outer housing configured to define a sterile barrier. The disposable outer housing comprises a first housing-portion and a second housing-portion movable relative to the first housing-portion between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The handle assembly further comprises a control inner core receivable inside the disposable outer housing in the open configuration. The disposable outer housing is configured to isolate the control inner core in the closed configuration. The modular surgical instrument system further comprises a primary wired interface configured to transmit data and power between the control inner core and at least one of modular components of the modular surgical instrument system, a secondary interface comprising a sensor located within the outer housing, and a control circuit configured to confirm a primary connection through the primary wired interface based on at least one sensor reading.

Devices and methods of managing energy dissipated within sterile barriers of surgical instrument housings

A surgical instrument is disclosed herein. The surgical instrument includes a handheld device and an adapter assembly. The handheld device includes a first drive assembly and a power source. The adapter assembly includes an outer housing that defines an internal cavity configured to accommodate a handheld device. The adapter assembly is configured to establish a sterile barrier around the handheld device. The surgical instrument includes an energy management system configured to extract energy dissipated by the handheld device from the internal cavity without disrupting the sterile barrier. In some aspects, the surgical instrument further includes a plurality of interchangeable end effectors and the adapter assembly includes a drive interface assembly. The plurality of interchangeable end effectors can include different drive interfaces and operating modes, and the drive interface assembly can connect the first drive assembly of the handheld device to each end effector of the plurality of interchangeable end effectors.