A surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic waveguide extending through a body assembly. An ultrasonic blade connects to the ultrasonic waveguide. A clamp arm assembly of the surgical instrument is able to move from an opened position for receiving a tissue toward a closed position for clamping the tissue. The clamp arm assembly includes a clamp body and a clamp pad facing the ultrasonic blade. A clamp arm actuator of the surgical instrument is able to move from a first position toward a second position to direct the clamp arm assembly from the opened position toward the closed position. A modular coupling of the surgical instrument connects to the clamp pad such that at least the clamp pad can be disconnected relative to the ultrasonic blade for replacement thereof.

A surgical instrument, has an end effector that includes an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm that moves relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position. The clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position. A clamp arm actuator connects to the clamp arm and moves from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to direct the clamp arm from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position. A spacer connects with the clamp arm to inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.

A surgical instrument includes an end effector that has an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm that is movable relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward a closed position. The ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm are able to receive tissue in the opened position, and the clamp arm is able to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade in the closed position. There is a first electrode connected with the clamp arm, and a second electrode associated with the ultrasonic blade. The electrodes are able to apply bipolar radiofrequency (RF) energy to tissue captured in the end effector. The instrument further has a first button for activating the ultrasonic blade to provide a cutting and sealing mode at the end effector. There is also a second button for activating the electrodes to provide a spot coagulation mode at the end effector.

Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with image guidance or navigation system and hand held devices having pistol type grips and other handpieces.

Surgical devices are disclosed herein that generally include an intracorporeal elbow joint to facilitate translational movement of an end effector while allowing a body portion of the surgical device and a trocar or working channel through which the device is inserted to be maintained in a fixed angular orientation relative to the patient. This allows a plurality of such devices to be used effectively with a single incision or access device. Such devices also generally provide end effector movement with six degrees of freedom, while maintaining a mechanical linkage between the user and the end effector and while mimicking and/or mirroring natural user movement. Various methods related to such devices are also disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for treating disorders of the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, including methods and apparatus for dilating ostia, passageways and other anatomical structures, endoscopic methods and apparatus for endoscopic visualization of structures within the ear, nose, throat or paranasal sinuses, navigation devices for use in conjunction with image guidance or navigation system and hand held devices having pistol type grips and other handpieces.

Medical devices, such as forceps including a handpiece having a housing and an inner shaft that extends out of the handpiece along a longitudinal axis to transfer motion to an end effector. The inner shaft being rotatable with respect to the handpiece. An outer shaft that is rotatable with respect to the housing is loated around the inner shaft. The medical device further including an end effector coupled to the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The outer shaft rotationally constrained to the inner shaft at a first longitudinal location and at a second longitudinal location.

An electrosurgical forceps includes first and second shaft members and first and second jaw members extending distally from the respective first and second shaft members. A pivot couples the first and second shaft members with one another such that the first and second shaft members are movable relative to one another between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position to move the first and second jaw members relative to one another between an open position and a closed position. The jaw members are configured to facilitate tissue treatment, tissue division, and blunt tissue dissection.

A surgical device for operating on tissue comprises an end effector, a disposable shaft assembly, and an interface assembly. The shaft assembly comprises an articulation section operable to provide deflection of the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The interface assembly comprises a plurality of pivotable base sections. The interface assembly comprises a plurality of drive components associated with drive shafts driven by an external system and each drive component is associated with a section of the base. The drive components are operable to cause rotation of one or both of the shaft or end effector and movement of components of the end effector. The drive components are further operable to cause articulation of the articulation section. The base sections are pivotable toward each other to couple with the shaft assembly or away from each other to disengage the shaft assembly.

A surgical instrument includes a shaft defining an axis, an end effector coupled to a distal portion thereof, a fixed handle coupled to a proximal portion thereof, a drive bar, a movable handle, and a linkage. The drive bar is disposed within the shaft and operably coupled to the end effector. The movable handle is movable relative to the fixed handle between open and closed positions and is coupled to the drive bar via a first pin on the axis. The linkage includes a first end portion coupled to the movable handle via a second pin and a second end portion coupled to the shaft via a third pin on the axis. In the closed position of the movable handle, the second pin is disposed in a near-over-center position relative to the axis to reduce a force necessary to maintain the movable handle in the closed position.