An apparatus for operating on tissue includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes an acoustic waveguide. The waveguide is configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm, and a clamp pad. The blade is in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The clamp arm is configured to pivot about a first pivot point toward and away from the ultrasonic blade and includes a coupling feature. The clamp pad is selectively attachable to the blade to acoustically isolate the clamp arm from the ultrasonic blade. The coupling feature of the clamp arm is configured to provide a snap fit between the clamp pad and the clamp arm and thereby permit manipulation of the clamp pad for removal of the clamp pad from the clamp arm.

An occluder device is provided for occluding a cardiovascular defect or a gap between a medical device and adjacent body tissue, the device including a compliant balloon defining a fluid-tight balloon chamber and a balloon channel forming a longitudinal passage from a proximal to a distal side of the balloon, the balloon including a fluid port for filling a fluid into the balloon chamber. A tip and a base are coupled to the distal and the proximal sides of the balloon, respectively. At least one connecting strut is attached to the tip and to the base. An elongate actuator is disposed longitudinally slidable in the balloon channel and connected to the tip, and longitudinally slidable with respect to the base so as to set a distance between the tip and the base. A lock is configured to maintain the distance between the tip and the base. Other embodiments are also described.

A vibration transmitter includes: a proximal end extending portion; a supported portion; a distal end extending portion; a first relay unit provided between the supported portion and the proximal end extending portion; and a second relay unit provided between the supported portion and the distal end extending portion. The second relay unit includes a horn that is constructed such that an outer diameter at a position continuously adjacent to the supported portion is larger than: (i) an outer diameter of the first relay unit at a position continuously adjacent to the supported portion, and (ii) the outer diameter of the distal end extending portion. The horn expands amplitude of vibration output from a distal end of the distal end extending portion to be larger than a maximum amplitude at an antinode of vibration in the first relay unit or the proximal end extending portion.

A loading unit for use with a surgical instrument includes a body configured for coupling to a surgical instrument and defining a longitudinal axis and having proximal and distal ends, and an end effector coupled to the distal end of the body. The end effector includes a staple cartridge assembly having a staple cartridge and an anvil assembly having an anvil plate. A drive assembly is at least partially disposed within the body. The drive assembly includes an actuator member having a roller engageable with at least one of the staple cartridge assembly or the anvil assembly. The roller is configured to rotate upon longitudinal movement of the drive assembly to facilitate movement of the drive assembly and relative movement of the staple cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly between open and approximated conditions.

A trocar release assembly includes a housing, a release button, first and second springs, and a pin. The housing has top and bottom faces, side faces, and end faces. The end faces include opposed openings that define a passage between. The passage is configured to receive a sleeve of a trocar assembly. The release button is movably coupled to the housing and is movable between a compressed position and an expanded position. The first spring is positioned between the housing and the release button to bias the release button towards the expanded position. The pin slides within a chamber of the housing and is slidable between a retracted position and an extended position. The second spring is operably coupled with the pin to bias the pin towards an extended position.

A surgical instrument includes: a handle and a working head connected with the handle, in which the handle or the working head provides a power; a firing sleeve assembly detachably connected with the working head, in which a clip-jaw is provided on a side of the firing sleeve assembly far away from the working head; and a clip-cartridge assembly inserted into the firing sleeve assembly and detachably connected with the working head. The working head includes: a firing drive assembly for driving the firing sleeve assembly to achieve closing or opening of the clip-jaw, a clip delivery drive assembly for driving the clip-cartridge assembly to deliver a ligating clip, and a switching assembly for transmitting the power to the firing drive assembly or the clip delivery drive assembly.

A medical device for joining materials is provided. The device comprises a piercing element configured to penetrate materials to be joined. The piercing element is sufficiently sharp to penetrate materials to be joined and comprises a hollow interior along at least a portion of its length configured to distal advancement of a fastener therethrough; and an open tip through which the fastener can be pushed. The device can be used for fastening materials including tissue, synthetic mesh, and biologic mesh (e.g., ADM).

A powered handle assembly includes a motor assembly, a rack, a shaft, and a pinion that couples the motor assembly to the rack. The shaft supports the pinion and is movable to move the pinion from a first position engaged with the rack to a second position disengaged from the rack to facilitate manual retraction of the rack.

A powered handle assembly includes a motor assembly, a rack, a spur gear, and a manual retract mechanism. The spur gear is movable from a position engaged with the motor assembly and the rack to a positioned disengaged from the motor assembly and engaged with the rack to facilitate manual retraction of the rack.

A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw, a moveable second jaw, and one or more mounting brackets that retain said second jaw to said first jaw is disclosed.