Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130221063 | RELEASABLE TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR AND FASTENER CARTRIDGE HAVING THE SAME - A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical end effector. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a cartridge body, fasteners, and a layer of material releasably secured to the cartridge body. The layer of material can be a tissue thickness compensator. The cartridge body, the fasteners, the tissue thickness compensator and/or the end effector can comprise various features to releasably secure the tissue thickness compensator relative to the cartridge body. For example, the cartridge body can comprise slots, projections, cavities, drivers, locks, and/or keys, the fasteners can comprise barbs, and/or the tissue thickness compensator can comprise mounts and/or connectors. | 08-29-2013 |
20130221064 | FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A RELEASABLE TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR - A fastener cartridge can comprise, one, a cartridge body configured to at least partially store a plurality of fasteners therein and, two, a layer of material attached to the cartridge body by a retention member. The retention member can be deactivated to release the layer from the cartridge body when a firing member is moved through the cartridge body to eject the fasteners from the cartridge body. The retention member can be deactivated at the beginning, the end, and/or at any suitable time during a firing stroke of the firing member. Certain fastener cartridges can comprise a plurality of retention members configured to releasably hold the layer to the cartridge body. In certain circumstances, the retention members can be sequentially released in order to progressively release the layer. | 08-29-2013 |
20140166724 | STAPLE CARTRIDGE INCLUDING A BARBED STAPLE - A staple cartridge is disclosed which includes a cartridge body and a plurality of staples removably stored therein. The staples can include at least one barb extending therefrom. A first group of the staples can have a first unformed height and a second group of the staples can have a second unformed height. A first group of the staples can have a first formed height and a second group of the staples can have a second formed height. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166725 | STAPLE CARTRIDGE INCLUDING A BARBED STAPLE. - An end effector for fastening tissue including an anvil having a deck to support tissue. The deck has a first surface with a first longitudinal row of staple forming pockets, and a second surface, having a second longitudinal row of staple forming pockets wherein the first surface is positioned vertically above the second surface. The end effector also includes a cartridge having plurality of staple cavities arranged in first and second longitudinal rows. The end effector also includes a plurality of staples removably stored within the staple cavities. The staples include a base, a pair of legs extending from the base, wherein each the leg comprises a tip configured to pierce tissue, and wherein each the leg comprises at least one barb extending therefrom. The end effector also has a firing member configured to lift the staple drivers toward the anvil. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166726 | STAPLE CARTRIDGE INCLUDING A BARBED STAPLE - An end effector for fastening tissue including a cartridge having a longitudinal row of staple cavities and a plurality of staples removably stored in the staple cavities. The staple includes a base, a pair of legs extending from the base, and a plane formed by the pair of legs, wherein at least one of the legs has a barb extending therefrom. The barb extends from the leg less than 360 degrees around the leg, wherein the barb extends beyond the plane formed by the legs. The end effector also includes an anvil configured to deform the staples, and a plurality of staple drivers movable within the cavities configured to lift the staples toward the anvil. The end effector further includes a firing member, configured to lift the staple driver system toward the anvil, including a first portion configured to engage the anvil and a second portion configured to engage the cartridge. The firing member is configured to relatively position the anvil and the cartridge. | 06-19-2014 |
20140291379 | TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR COMPRISING A CUTTING MEMBER PATH - A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners. In use, the fastener cartridge can be arranged in a jaw of a surgical fastening device. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward an anvil wherein 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. The cartridge body can further comprise a first knife path configured to receive a cutting member and the tissue thickness compensator can further comprise a second knife path aligned with the first knife path. The second knife path can comprise different portions configured to apply different resistances to the cutting member as the cutting member is advanced through the fastener cartridge. | 10-02-2014 |
20140291380 | FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR AND A GAP SETTING ELEMENT - 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 arranged 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. The fastener cartridge can further comprise a gap setting element which can be configured to control the distance between the anvil, the support portion, and/or the tissue thickness compensator. | 10-02-2014 |
20140291381 | FASTENER CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLIES - A fastener cartridge assembly. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a fastener, a cartridge body, and a tissue thickness compensator. The fastener can comprise a base, a first leg extending from the base, and a second leg extending from the base. The cartridge body can comprise a fastener cavity for receiving the fastener and a trajectory control for controlling the trajectory of the first and second legs of the fastener. The fastener can be removable from the fastener cavity along a fastener axis. The trajectory control can extend inwardly toward the fastener axis and can bias the first leg and the second leg toward alignment with the fastener axis when the fastener is positioned in the fastener cavity. | 10-02-2014 |
20140291382 | FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATOR INCLUDING OPENINGS THEREIN - A fastener cartridge assembly. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a cartridge body, a tissue thickness compensator releasably secured relative to the cartridge body, and a fastener removably positioned in a staple cavity of the cartridge body. The tissue thickness compensator can comprise a first clearance aperture extending along a first predefined trajectory and a second clearance aperture extending along a second predefined trajectory. The fastener can comprise a first leg aligned with the first clearance aperture and moveable along the first predefined trajectory, a second leg aligned with the second clearance aperture and moveable along the second predefined trajectory. The first and second predefined trajectories can be parallel. | 10-02-2014 |
20150053737 | END EFFECTOR DETECTION SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS - A surgical instrument system can comprise a surgical instrument, a first end effector, and a second end effector, wherein the end effectors are attachable to the surgical instrument. The first end effector can comprise a first set of stored data pertaining to the first end effector, wherein the surgical instrument is configured to ascertain the first set of data and enter a first operating state. The second end effector can comprise a second set of stored data pertaining to the second end effector, wherein the surgical instrument is configured to ascertain the second set of data and enter a second operating state. The surgical instrument is further configured to enter a default operating state if said surgical instrument is unable to ascertain a set of stored data from an end effector. | 02-26-2015 |
20150053739 | FIRING MEMBER RETRACTION DEVICES FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS - A surgical instrument that includes a motor-powered drive unit that drives a portion of a firing member assembly in an axial direction to actuate a surgical end effector coupled to the instrument. The instrument may further include a retraction system configured to interact with the firing member assembly to permit a clinician to manually retract the portion of the firing member assembly should it become jammed or inadvertently stopped during a firing process. The surgical instrument includes a locking arrangement that interfaces with the retraction system and the motor-powered drive unit to prevent the transfer of the retraction forces generated by the retraction system to the motor shaft without physically separating portions of the motorized drive unit. | 02-26-2015 |
20150053741 | TAMPER PROOF CIRCUIT FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT BATTERY PACK - A surgical instrument includes a shaft, an end effector extending distally from the shaft, and a housing extending proximally from the shaft. The housing includes a motor configured to generate at least one motion to effectuate the end effector, and a power source configured to supply power to the surgical instrument, wherein the power source includes a casing, a data storage unit, and a deactivation mechanism configured to interrupt access to data stored in the data storage unit. In addition, the power source includes a battery pack and a deactivation mechanism configured to deactivate the battery pack if the casing is breached. | 02-26-2015 |
20150053742 | FIRING TRIGGER LOCKOUT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS - A surgical instrument system can comprise, one, a surgical instrument including a handle, a shaft comprising a distal end, and a trigger and, two, an end effector attachable to the shaft. The instrument can further include a firing member and a motor configured to move the firing member toward the distal end, wherein the trigger is configured to operate the motor. The surgical instrument system can further include a plurality of sensors configured to detect one or more error conditions, a plurality of indicators, and a controller in communication with the plurality of sensors and the indicators, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate the indicators to indicate the error conditions detected. A surgical instrument can comprise a plurality of actuators and a plurality of actuator locks, wherein the controller can actuate one or more of the actuator locks to indicate the error condition detected. | 02-26-2015 |
20150053745 | CONDUCTOR ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRICALLY POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH ROTATABLE END EFFECTORS - A surgical instrument that includes a housing that has an elongated shaft assembly attached thereto that is configured to be rotated relative to the housing. The surgical instrument further includes a conductor arrangement that facilitates transfer of electrical power or current from a power source which may be located in the housing or external to the housing to a distal portion of the elongated shaft assembly or to a surgical end effector coupled thereto. The surgical instrument may further include a travel limiting arrangement for limiting the amount of rotary travel of the elongated shaft assembly relative to the housing to a predetermined range of rotary travel. | 02-26-2015 |
20150053746 | 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. | 02-26-2015 |
20150053748 | SECONDARY BATTERY ARRANGEMENTS FOR POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS - A power system, for powering a surgical instrument including an end effector and a motor configured to generate at least one motion to effectuate the end effector, includes a primary power source configured to supply a first power to operate the surgical instrument, wherein the primary power source is detachable from the surgical instrument, a secondary power source configured to supply a second power to operate the surgical instrument when the primary power source is detached from the surgical instrument, wherein the secondary power source is rechargeable, and wherein the primary power source is configured to charge the secondary power system, and a power management circuit configured to selectively transmit the first power from the primary power source and the secondary power from the secondary power source to operate the surgical instrument. | 02-26-2015 |
20150053749 | CLOSURE INDICATOR SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS - A surgical instrument system can comprise a surgical instrument and an end effector, wherein the end effector can comprise a distal end, a proximal connection portion configured to attach the end effector to the surgical instrument, a first jaw, and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw, wherein the second jaw is movable between an open orientation, a partially-closed orientation, and a closed orientation. The end effector can further comprise at least one sensor configured to detect the orientation of the second jaw and an array of indicators configured to simulate the orientation of the second jaw. | 02-26-2015 |
20150054753 | INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS - An interactive display. The interactive display can include a first layer of information and a second layer of information. The first layer of information can include video feedback of a surgical instrument as viewed by an endoscope. The second layer of information can include a control panel, feedback measured and/or sensed by the surgical instrument, and/or controls for controlling the surgical instrument. A user can interface with the interactive display via a touch screen. | 02-26-2015 |
20150076209 | 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. | 03-19-2015 |
20150076210 | 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. | 03-19-2015 |