A surgical stapling instrument comprising an end effector movable between an open configuration and a clamped configuration, a closure drive configured to place said end effector in the clamped configuration, and a staple firing drive is disclosed. The stapling instrument further comprises a control system which utilizes the closure drive during a staple firing stroke of the staple firing drive to configure the end effector. The control system can also be operated to utilize the staple firing drive to close the end effector in lieu of the closure drive.

Described herein are drive systems and methods. One exemplary system includes a tool having a proximal handle and a catheter body. The tool can be mated with a rail and the rail mated with a frame. The connection between the tool and rail and/or the rail and frame can allow relative movement of the tool with respect to the frame, a patient, and/or a point of reference. In one exemplary configuration the handle of the tool rotates around an axis that corresponds to a portion of the catheter body, such that rotational movement of the handle has a minimal impact on longitudinal movement and/or position of a distal end of the tool.

It is disclosed an actuation mechanism for performing an action, where the actuation mechanism comprises: a first movable trigger assembly having a first trigger; a second movable trigger assembly have a second trigger, where the first trigger is movable independently with respect to the second trigger during a portion of movement of the first trigger and/or the second trigger; and a driving member in engagement with the first trigger assembly and the second trigger assembly, respectively, wherein, the first trigger assembly and the second trigger assembly are applied different mechanical advantages.

A medical device may include a shaft, and a first tool extending from a distal end of the shaft. The medical device also may include a control assembly coupled to the shaft. The control assembly may include a console, a first grip extending proximally from the console, and a second grip extending proximally from the console. The control assembly also may include a first deflection actuator configured to deflect the first tool about a longitudinal axis of the first tool, a first rotation actuator configured to rotate the first tool about the longitudinal axis of the first tool, and a first longitudinal actuator configured to move the first tool along the longitudinal axis of the first tool.

An improved surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. In some embodiments, the end effector includes a pair of curved jaw members and blade assembly having a cutting blade at its distal end. The trigger mechanism drives blade assembly longitudinally within the elongate shaft such that the cutting blade protrudes between the jaw members. To help the trigger mechanism push the blade assembly around the curved jaws, the distal end of blade has a graduated flexibility that easily bends to the shape of the jaw members. The distal end of the blade may also be provided with a low friction coating so that it can easily slide between the jaw members.

Devices, systems and methods for passing a suture. In general, described herein are suturing devices, such as suture passers, as well as methods of suturing tissue. These suture passing devices may include dual deployment suture passers in which a first distal jaw member is moveable at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body of the device and the second distal jaw member is retractable proximally to the distal end region of the elongate body and/or the first jaw member.

An actuation assembly for a tissue recruiting device for recruiting tissue and closing a defect. The actuation assembly includes one or more control actuators operable to control the position and rotation of an actuation element coupled to a grasping device. The grasping device is configured to grasp tissue. The actuation assembly is operable by a user to deploy the grasping device via the actuation element to grasp tissue. The actuation assembly may independently deploy multiple grasping devices, such as on opposite sides of a defect. The actuation assembly may also deploy a closure mechanism configured to circumferentially surround the deployed grasping devices to close the defect.

Disclosed are devices and methods for creating a bore in bone. The devices and methods described involve controlling the drive and measuring the drilling energy of a working tool such that a user can avoid injuries to surrounding structures.

Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for facilitating control of a tool or tools. The systems can allow a user to control multiple degrees of freedom. One such system allows a user to control multiple degrees of freedom of two tools simultaneously. Another such system allows a user to control multiple degrees of freedom with a single hand. Frames and rails for supporting and/or constraining movement of a tool or tools are also described herein.

An improved surgical instrument having an end effector mounted on the end of an elongate shaft extending from a handle. The end-effector is capable of several different operations, including grasping, cutting, and sealing and/or coagulating tissue, and one of the operations is controlled by a trigger mechanism contained within the handle. The end effector includes a pair of curved jaw members and a blade assembly having a cutting blade at its distal end. The trigger mechanism is arranged to drive the blade assembly longitudinally within the elongate shaft such that the cutting blade protrudes between jaw members. In order to help trigger mechanism push the blade assembly around the curved jaws, the distal end of the blade has a graduated flexibility such that it can more easily bend to the shape of the jaw members. The distal end of blade may also be provided with a low friction coating.