A surgical stapling apparatus includes a tool assembly, at least one surgical buttress, and a resilient, porous material. The tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly pivotably coupled to the cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a first tissue facing surface defining staple retaining slots. The anvil assembly includes a second tissue facing surface defining staple pockets for forming staples expelled from the staple retaining slots of the cartridge assembly. The at least one surgical buttress is releasably disposed on at least one of the first and second tissue facing surfaces. The resilient, porous material is releasably disposable between the first and second tissue facing surfaces and in contact with the at least one surgical buttress. The resilient, porous material is configured to expel a liquid therefrom upon compression thereof by an approximation of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly.

A jaw restraint is provided to temporarily secure an anvil assembly relative to a cartridge assembly during shipping. The jaw restraint generally includes a body portion having an upper arm for releasably securing the anvil assembly and a lower arm for releasably securing the cartridge assembly. An inwardly projection is provided between the upper and lower arms. The anvil assembly is secured between the upper arm and the inwardly directed projection and the cartridge assembly is secured between the lower arm of the inwardly directed projection. One or more finger members extending proximally from the body portion may be provided to facilitate biasing the upper arm away from the lower arm to release the anvil and cartridge assemblies from the jaw restraint. The jaw restraint may be provided with structure for engagement with shipping packaging.

A two-part tissue thickness compensator assembly can include a first tissue thickness compensator configured to be positioned relative to an anvil of a surgical stapler, a second tissue thickness compensator configured to be positioned relative to a staple cartridge of the surgical stapler, and a hinge connecting the first tissue thickness compensator to the second tissue thickness compensator. The first and/or second tissue thickness compensators may include additional engagement features, such as a raised ridge that engages a slot in the anvil and/or the staple cartridge. In certain embodiments, the first and/or second tissue thickness compensators may include an encasement that contains a suitable biologic agent. An end effector assembly may be provided for attachment to a surgical instrument that includes, for example, a staple cartridge, an anvil, a first tissue thickness compensator positioned on the anvil, and a second tissue thickness compensator positioned on the staple cartridge.

A surgical instrument including an end effector that has a selectively reciprocatable implement movably supported therein. The implement is selectively advanceable in a distal direction upon application of a rotary actuation motion thereto and retractable in a proximal direction upon application of a rotary retraction motion thereto. An elongate shaft assembly is coupled to the end effector and is configured to transmit the rotary actuation motion and rotary retraction motion to the reciprocatable implement from a robotic system that is configured to generate the rotary actuation motion and said rotary retraction motion.

A method for creating a flexible fastener line is disclosed. The fastener line comprises fasteners oriented in directions which are transverse or oblique to a tissue incision created by a cutting member. The fasteners can translate and/or rotate within the tissue when the tissue is stretched thereby creating flexibility within the tissue.

A surgical system is disclosed including a surgical instrument including a replaceable staple cartridge. The replaceable staple cartridge includes a first RFID tag including a first set of information and a sled including a second RFID tag including a second set of information. A retainer includes a third RFID tag including a third set of information. The first set of information, the second set of information, and the third set of information collectively form a unique combination representative of the replaceable staple cartridge. A remote storage system includes a set of compatible combinations. The controller compares the unique combination to the set of compatible combinations to determine if the replaceable staple cartridge is compatible for use with the surgical instrument. The controller prevents at least one operation of the surgical instrument if the controller determines that said unique combination is not compatible for use with the surgical instrument.

An apparatus and a method are provided for a sterile staple implant kit that a surgeon may unpack and utilize during a surgery. The staple implant kit comprises a group of complementary surgery-specific instruments that are packaged in a sterile state, An instrument tray is configured to preserve the instruments in the sterile state until the staple implant kit is opened during the surgery. The instrument tray is configured to provide the surgeon with easy access to the instruments during the surgery. The staple implant kit comprises at least a staple inserter and a surgical staple suitable for being implanted in parallel holes drilled across a bone fusion or fixation site of a patient. The surgical staple preferably is loaded in a relaxed configuration into the staple inserter. A staple retention clip retains the surgical staple in the staple inserter until the staple is distracted during the surgery.

Various systems and methods for tracking surgical procedure costs are disclosed. A computer system, such as surgical hub, is configured to be communicably coupled to a plurality of surgical devices. The computer system can be programmed to identify the surgical devices that are being utilized during a surgical procedure via perioperative data received from the surgical devices and then calculate the total cost associated with the surgical devices used in the surgical procedure. The total cost can include an aggregation of the maintenance costs of each of the reusable surgical devices and the replacement costs of the nonreusable surgical devices consumed during the surgical procedure.

A surgical stapler includes a handle assembly 80 made of paper pulp products or other eco-friendly material. The handle assembly and components of the staple mechanism housing are designed to accommodate the decreased material strength of the handle assembly. Handle retainer ears 110 are attached to the staple mechanism housing and prevent flexing of the lever grip. The retainer ears in combination with a raised circular boss 16 of the handle assembly facilities the use of lower strength materials, such as paper pulp products. An efficient staple housing mechanism includes a new return spring 120, a visual guide rod or alignment indicator 150 and a flattened stapler guide 130. An improved lever grip includes concentrically trimmed arc in the lever grip sidewalls 117. An improved lever grip includes an extended arched rear section 113 to comport with a new positive mating area 115 of the handle.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an endoscopic surgical device is provided. The surgical device includes a handle assembly including a drive mechanism actuatable by a trigger; and an endoscopic assembly including a proximal end portion extending from the handle assembly; a distal end portion pivotably connected to the proximal end portion of the endoscopic assembly; and a rotatable inner actuation shaft extending from the handle assembly and into the distal end portion of the endoscopic assembly, the inner actuation shaft including a flexible portion extending across the pivot connection. The surgical device includes an end effector selectively connectable to the distal end portion of the endoscopic assembly and to a distal portion of the rotatable inner actuation shaft. The surgical device includes a shipping wedge to support an end effector.