A surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil defining a plurality of staple forming pockets, and a stapling head assembly, and a retracting assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a body, a coupling member capable of actuating the anvil, a deck surface, a staple driver assembly, and a knife member. The staple driver assembly actuates through a first firing stroke and a second firing stroke. In the first firing stroke, the staple driver assembly drives a plurality of staples against the staple forming pockets. In the second firing stroke, the staple driver actuates distally past the deck surface. The knife member includes a cutting edge that can sever tissue during the first firing stroke while remaining in a retracted position that is proximal relative to the staple deck surface during the second firing stroke. The retracting assembly can drive the knife member into the retracted position during the first firing stroke.

Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing various surgical sites from different or shared surgical approaches to achieve a common or cooperative surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and must operate differently, but in concert with, one another to effect a desired surgical treatment.

Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing a common body cavity of a patient from different approaches to achieve a common surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of surgical tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and operate in concert with one another to effect a desired surgical treatment.

Systems, devices, and methods for controlling cooperative surgical instruments with variable surgical site access trajectories are provided. Various aspects of the present disclosure provide for coordinated operation of surgical instruments accessing a common surgical site from different approach and/or separate body cavities to achieve a common surgical purpose. For example, various methods, devices, and systems disclosed herein can enable the coordinated treatment of tissue by disparate minimally invasive surgical systems that approach the tissue from varying anatomical spaces and must operate differently, but in concert with one another, to effect a desired surgical treatment.

A loading unit coupleable to a surgical stapling system is disclosed. The loading unit comprises an end effector, a firing system, and a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a clamped position. The firing system comprises a firing assembly and an indicator. The firing assembly is movable toward a distal position through the end effector in response to a firing motion from the surgical stapling system. The indicator is configured to visually communicate a position of the firing assembly to a user of the surgical stapling system. The shaft assembly is removably couplable with the surgical stapling system and comprises an open slot region aligned with the firing assembly. The open slot region extends proximally with respect to the second jaw.

A loading unit coupleable to a surgical stapling system is disclosed. The loading unit comprises an end effector, a firing system, and a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw movable relative to the first jaw between an open position and a clamped position. The firing system comprises a firing assembly and an indicator. The firing assembly is movable toward a distal position through the end effector in response to a firing motion from the surgical stapling system. The indicator is configured to visually communicate a position of the firing assembly to a user of the surgical stapling system. The shaft assembly is removably couplable with the surgical stapling system and comprises an open slot region aligned with the firing assembly. The open slot region extends proximally with respect to the second jaw.

An anvil assembly includes a circular anvil head that supports a crush ring, an anvil cap that supports an o-ring, and a circular anvil buttress member. The cap connects to the head and is movable relative to the head between approximated and unapproximated positions. The crush ring is spaced from the cap when the cap is in the approximated position and movable into engagement with the cap to move the cap to the unapproximated position. The buttress member includes a body portion and an extension portion. The body portion is supported on the head and the extension portion is secureable between the o-ring and the head when the cap is in the approximated position. The extension portion is releasable from between the o-ring and the head when the cap is disposed in the unapproximated position so that the body portion separates from the head.

A surgical device includes a housing, and internal components that are lubricated. The housing is formed from sections that are joined together to enclose the internal components. The surgical device includes one or more filters that are compressed between the housing sections and/or received in voids of the housing to contain the lubricant within the housing of the device. In aspects of the disclosure, the filter is formed of a material or materials that absorb the lubricant but allow passage of steam or water.

A trocar assembly for releasable engagement with an adapter assembly of a surgical stapling instrument includes a bearing assembly for distributing the axial load experienced by a drive member during tissue stapling. The bearing assembly is disposed within a housing between a flange of the housing and a flange of a drive member. The bearing assembly is configured to rotatably support the drive member and includes a thrust bearing, a rigid member, and a compressible member disposed between the thrust bearing and the rigid member. The compressible member includes a first compressed condition having a first thickness during a clamping stroke of the surgical stapling instrument and a second compressed condition having a second thickness during a stapling stroke of the surgical stapling instrument. The second thickness is less than the first thickness.

A surgical stapling apparatus. Various embodiments include a rotatable elongated body that extends from a rotatable shroud on handle assembly and has a distal end configured for attachment to a disposable loading unit. The apparatus further includes a lockable rotation system for selectively locking the rotatable shroud to prevent rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis.